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

Prime, no one is arguing that. You are absolutely correct that southern players would rather stay home, etc.

The problem was since only a few southern schools were paying they became juggernauts at the expense of the other southern schools. You didn’t see GT and Vandy paying. And many others. Hence, Bama, UGA, Clemson, FSU, Florida we’re able to stockpile talent. So it wasn’t just a BIG issue, it was a non-cheaters problem, As a GT guy I never complained because we all knew the open secret. I am more frustrated that my school allowed us to languish for 30 years instead of buying players. It sucked. And I never had any faith that the NCAA would actually punish anyone. A Clemson player actually posted a pic on social media when it was just getting started with a stack of Benjamins saying he just got paid and nothing, And because I’m buddies with several Auburn bagmen I know the game.

But all that is in the past now, thank god. Now, we have an open above board payment system and it has destroyed the SEC’s main advantage - and the results speak louder than words. Sure, the SEC still has several built in advantages such as a larger talent pool from the high school ranks, the recent history, the fanbases, and the women at these large campuses. But the BIG also has an advantage called money and now a 3 year track record. The SEC used their success to lead to more success which is what the BIG is now doing. Heck, Miami is also riding their post season success to getting the top portal QB.

It’s a new world and everyone except those traditional bagman teams should (and are) rejoicing that the field has leveled. The sport is much healthier when every fanbase has hope. My team just had our highest attendance in a decade and season ticket sales are high and it’s all because we have hope brought to us via the portal and payments. We have more 4 stars on our roster than we’ve ever had. And this same thing is happening all over the country. It’s why Vandy and Indiana are no longer automatic W’s.

You are simply short sighted. You are trying to compare something in the past with something that is on going. The BIG has won 3 Natties in a row. Until we get thru the next 20 years we can’t compare yet. But they are definitely on their way and could easily win 7 out of 10. Ohio State and Michigan aren’t going anywhere. Meanwhile, the only SEC team that made a big move to improve was LSU. Sure, Florida should improve but is that saying much. The team with the easiest path of all is UGA. You SEC guys keep repeating that OSU has an easy path but no one has come close to stopping the Kirby express in the SEC. They’ve won 3 out of the past 4 and return their team so they have a cake walk to the playoffs.