In scoping out the FanSided network for SEC realignment takes, I found a one from Penn State’s sister site that is sure to delight Auburn football fans.
In discussing the possibility of Penn State joining the SEC–which has not been rumored, though their Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan have–Victory Bell Rings’ Evan Smith (perhaps unknowingly) took a swipe at rival Georgia.
While Smith has a healthy respect and mild fear of the SEC West’s top teams like LSU, Alabama, and Auburn football, he sees the SEC East as the conference’s weaker half, much like the Big Ten West.
"While getting out of the same division as Ohio State sounds great, imagine playing in the SEC West division where you have to beat Alabama, LSU and Auburn just to get to a conference championship game. And that’s prior to the addition of Texas and Oklahoma.The SEC East is much more akin to the Big Ten West. Penn State would have a decent shot here year in and year out, with top teams Florida and Georgia a bit less scary."
To be clear, Georgia does have (many) more wins in the past decade than Auburn football. But despite that, their lack of a national championship has many forgetting that from a national standpoint.
When it comes to the strength of schedule, Auburn will always be up there, considering the yearly matchups against the aforementioned recent national champions in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa. Georgia has doormats like Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee to beat up on instead.
Cam Newton’s title victory in 2010 will always have college football fans associating the Tigers with dominance, and Nick Marshall’s 2013 season certainly helps in that regard too.
Ahead of Auburn football’s Week 3 matchup against Penn State, it’s good to know the Nittany Lions fanbase respects their fellow big cat brethren down on the Plains…and it’s good to know they don’t view Georgia in the same light.