For years, the SEC wore the crown of college football with swagger and ease. They didn’t just dominate; they flexed—loudly. But this year, something feels… off. Like, what’s going on in Atlanta is making more waves than what’s happening on the field. The Southeastern Conference—aka the Bullies of college football—might be seeing its golden throne wobble. Josh Heupel & Kirby Smart‘s blunder finna cost the SEC some setbacks.

See, on January 6th, Yahoo Sports blew the lid off on IG with big-time analysts and journalists like Ross Dellenger, SI’s Pat Forde, and Old man Dan Wetzel tossing out fire takes about the SEC’s shaky status after a season that had more twists than a daytime soap. And trust me, this tea is piping hot. Dan Wetzel didn’t hold back: “Undoubtedly, the SEC was the number one conference in college football. But what kinda weight can they carry on saying, ‘We deserve four spots in the playoffs?’ See, The Sec, they were literally number one… until this season.

For straight 2 decades, the SEC was literally untouchable. But this season, all going south in the SEC. Kirby Smart’s Georgia losing to Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl and Josh Heupel’s Tennessee getting bodied 42-17 by Ryan Day’s hangover’d Ohio, does not scream ‘We the Best and No.1 conference’ for the SEC. To have a say in ‘we need 4 spots’ in the upcoming season’s playoff would be atrocious after how blunder they performed this season. Safe to say, they are in no position to make a case for 4 spots in the playoffs committee meeting down in Atlanta.

Yahoo sports Journalist Ross Dellenger totally backed with Dan Wetzel’s bold take. “ I think you are right, Dan. I think there’s gonna be pushback against it, there was enough pushback against the 3-3-2-2-1 model….But really, there’s gonna be pushback against changing the seeding. So, this is gonna be a really interesting meeting in Atlanta.” By the looks of it, this meeting ain’t favoring the SEC conference on 4 spot narrative. They are literally in no position to make any case or argument on this matter. The pushback against the SEC finna be diabolical. Can’t wait to see how it folds in Atlanta.

Is SEC supremacy finally over?

The SEC reign was diabolical for the last 18 years. You didn’t question it; you just respected it. 13 national titles in 18 years? That wasn’t dominance; it was a ruthless tyranny. But this season? Whew, baby, the wheels fell off, big time. Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers getting bodied 42-17 by Ohio State? Ugly. Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs getting clowned by Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl? Embarrassing. Is Alabama missing the playoffs in the new 12-team format? Crazy work and crazier the fumble.

The once-mighty SEC sent three teams to the College Football Playoff, and 2 got sent home with “L’s” that’ll literally haunt them till next season. Now, all that’s left is Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns, holding on for dear life in the Cotton Bowl Classic against the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes. Spoiler alert: The analysts and bookies are already favoring Ohio State to get the job done at Arlington, this Friday. Even outside the playoffs, it’s been brutal. Alabama — who swore they should’ve been in over SMU — got cooked by Michigan’s backup squad in the ReliaQuest Bowl. South Carolina? Yeah, they took an L to Illinois in the Citrus Bowl. The Big 10 is out here flexing with a 4-1 record against SEC squads, and honestly, that stat alone feels like a mic drop.

The SEC’s golden era didn’t crumble overnight; it’s more like a slow leak. And here’s the thing: the NIL era and transfer portal are making life a lot harder for those SEC juggernauts. Yet, here we are, with the SEC looking more like the emperor with no clothes. The arrogance — the “S-E-C!” chants, the “We’re built different” vibes — is finally catching up to them. And honestly? Other conferences are eating it up. Texas is the last SEC team standing, but even if they win it all, the damage is done. So, is this the end of the SEC era? Maybe, but most likely not. But one thing’s for sure: when that playoff committee meets in Atlanta, the SEC isn’t walking in with the same swagger. They’ll be fighting for respect just like everyone else. And honestly? It’s about time.