Probably not much longer because of the recent expansion of the SEC and if there is any additional expansion that will make its decline more severe. SEC teams have contributed at times 5 or 6 teams in the playoffs in basketball and baseball and several football teams in the top 10 and the bowl games. And that has been going on for some time.
But the fact is expansion has hurt pro ball and college ball and the play off system is bloated. Major league baseball started its decline when it expanded in 1961. Pro basketball and football declined also after expansion. The two teams that were recently added, Missouri and Texas A&M will now be able to recruit those high school prospects from their own states who in the past went to other SEC schools in order to play in the SEC. They will also be able to recruit players from SEC schools who want to go out of state to Missouri or Texas A&M but still be able to play in the SEC. The problem will multiply if more expansion comes about.
Expansion delutes talent and does nothing to make teams competative. It is good for the pocket books of the SEC and the schools but what does that have to do with competition? And the kicker that has to be added is college players leaving early to turn pro. There is only so much top talent out there and when you have to fill your roster with marginal players, that is trouble.
The coaching staffs in the SEC have complained how scheduling SEC games among its teams have become a big problem. Expansion will make that problem worse. LSU's coach Les Miles thinks the SEC scheduling is unfair. There is so much money in college sports that the powers to be has lost sight of the sport itself. That is why the NFL is thinking about adding two more teams to their playoff system.
College sports deserve a better fate.
Note: More than half of the teams in pro football and basketball finish the season with a loosing record and that has been going on for many years now thanks to expansion.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
