While the PAC was playing 9 games, the SEC ensured that all of its teams had at least 3-1 - and many 4-0 - OOC records by playing mostly easy OOC competition at home or in the South.

So, the computers and pollsters LOVED SEC teams because of the nice, shiny OOC records - such that when they played each other, you saw a SOS bump win or lose - real and perceived.

Mike Slive was a genius.