Not always the top line players, but the high 3* and 4* players that were their depth players. Once the starters start getting injured, they don't have a plug and play players like they did before NIL and revenue sharing.

NIL has caught the SEC by surprise. NIL and transfer portal restrictions or regulations used to be the talk of the poorer power schools and G5 schools. It’s a matter of time before the SEC makes regulation talk a reality. The SEC will find a way to work it out so there is a cap while somehow capturing the cream of the crop in order to return back to dominance. 3 years of non SEC champs simply cannot stand. Either that or the pollsters will just make sure to rank 8 SEC schools in the top 10 to saturate the playoff field even more because 5 just wasn’t enough to move the needle in 2025. ** Edited by Calamitous at 1/9/2026, 11:45:44 PM

The argument against a playoff (and now against an expanded playoff) was that only 2-6 teams were really good enough to win it all. But the reality is that most years there are only 1-3 teams that are consistently superior to everyone else and then a large group of 10-15 schools that are also talented but less consistent. That second group has always been able to compete with the top teams and occasionally pull upsets. But they were locked out of the playoffs until last year. The talent hasn’t drastically shifted, it’s just expanded opportunities for teams 5-15 to prove their worth on the field. And the SEC is showing that they are more hype than substance.

That is the 3 Sec schools that have made it recenlty and mostly Uga and Bama. They are not getting there now because of a loss of talent and development of that talent. That talent isn't developing because it is portaling so much. I watched the 4th qtr of the 2018 Sec champ game this week. There was so much NFL talent in that game. Skill players alone for Bama on that roster were Jalen Hurts, Tua, Mac Jones, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs, Brian Robinson, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle, and Devonta Smith, along with 4 or 5 lineman that made the NFL. All except Ruggs have been very solid contributors and some are stars. Ruggs was headed to stardom before his screw up. I wont list the defense from that year but it was loaded. Uga was basically the same across the board. Studs at every single spot. Those 2 teams have no where near that talent now. They are still always high in recruiting rankings but the talent and development just isn't the same. Bama has been hit really hard by the portal this year. Especially on defense. I expect that the natives are going to get really restless in Tuscaloosa next fall. Personally I am not a fan of NIL but if it is what is creating parity then that is a benefit. We may never see another run like Saban had at Alabama. 6 titles in 17 years, 9 Sec titles and more 1st round picks than losses. In the current situation dynasties may not happen.

God has shown his mercy by delivering another SEC-less Championship Game.

Legal NIL moved paying players from the back office to the front office.