So, is it kinda true the SEC was cheating way more than anyone else pre NIL?

Yes.

I think these things are just cyclical.

It seems almost certain to be true. Hell of a coincidence otherwise

Some of it is cyclical. Some of it is their deep pockets. I've been saying for a while that the portal is more of "issue" than NIL and they have been much better at working the portal and constructing teams than the SEC.

Michigan and Indiana did a great job building through the portal. Really Ohio State as well. None of Michigan's starters last night were Michigan signees. Indiana was built almost completely through the portal.

You can't tell me that Texas and Texas A&M don't have all the money that the B1G schools do. The B1G schools have done a better job with their NIL / portal strategy.

Look at the demographic map of the SEC. That helped a ton. Now the money is a lot more than a Dodge Charger, a new home for your “uncle,” or a laundry bag of cash dropped off at your dad’s church. So kids are willing to travel further from home.

The good thing about the old system is that it kept the market in check somewhat.

The Reggie Bush kerfuffle out in California proves that USC was doing it.
I don't doubt that other schools were, as well, but in markets where that school was THE school everyone supported so nobody noticed and nobody mentioned the cars, parents' jobs, etc. that just happened to grace particular very talented athletes.
USC had UCLA close at hand and lots of media to approach if one medium chose to ignore the story.

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is it kinda true the SEC was cheating way more than anyone else pre NIL?

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maybe, but as someone else said sports are cyclical. The SEC had a stranglehold on college athletics for damn near 30 years. It was only a matter of time when others took a step up and we took a step back, especially now when billionaires get to treat the sport like it's a fun pet project and can just purchase whatever roster they want each season.

I think the marginal difference in amounts vs the under the table days is driving the shift as much as anything. A defensive lineman from South GA is probably not going to go to Michigan over Georgia for an additional $10k, but they absolutely will for an additional $500k.

I think the Big 10 has coaches who have been smarter with NIL and the transfer portal. I feel like the SEC is still enamored with the old way of thinking about roster construction, especially in football.

Both Indiana football and Michigan basketball were much older than the teams they were playing. This is clearly the path to success in college athletics as it currently stands.

See Vandy for an SEC football example. 26 players who were 5+ years from high school. Best season ever.

See Auburn 2025 for an SEC basketball example.

The amount of money SEC schools were paying players pre-NIL is a highly sensationalized form of cope.

The portal is the issue. The difference in the SEC teams of the early 2000s was the depth. LSU, Alabama, Georgia, UF, etc were running out two to three deep at most positions of guys who could play on Sunday.


Now those guys in the two to three deep aren’t waiting in line and are transferring.