The classic PAC-12 vs SEC debate. It never seems to end, does it? But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because who doesn’t enjoy a good old-fashioned college football argument? Here at Last Word on Sports, we decided to provide our own take on it.
In the case of a hypothetical PAC-12 vs. SEC All-America matchup, who would win? For the purpose of this debate, I will be arguing in favor of the PAC-12; and that’s an easy task.
Before I begin, I’d just like to thank Donald King for taking on this challenge with me and writing in favor of the SEC. For those who haven’t read his side of the debate yet, here it is.
And now, here are the teams, per Athlon Sports:
| 1st Team All-Conference | 1st Team All-Conference | |
| Position: | PAC-12 | SEC |
| QB | Marcus Mariota (Oregon) | Nick Marshall (Auburn) |
| RB | Javorius Allen (USC) | Todd Gurley (Georgia) |
| RB | Byron Marshall (Oregon) | TJ Yeldon (Alabama) |
| WR | Nelson Agholor (USC) | Amari Cooper (Alabama) |
| WR | Jaelen Strong (Arizona State) | Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi) |
| TE | Connor Hamlett (Oregon State) | O.J. Howard (Alabama) |
| OT | Andrus Peat (Stanford) | Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M) |
| OG | Alex Redmond (UCLA) | A.J. Cann (South Carolina) |
| C | Hroniss Grasu (Oregon) | Reese Dismukes (Auburn) |
| OG | Josh Garnett (Stanford) | Alex Kozan (Auburn) |
| OT | Mickey Baucus (Arizona) | Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi) |
| DE | Henry Anderson (Stanford) | Dante Fowler (Florida) |
| DT | Denny Shelton (Washington) | Chris Jones (Mississippi State) |
| DT | Hau’oli Kikaha (Washington) | Robert Nkemdiche (Mississippi) |
| DE | Leonard Williams (USC) | A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) |
| LB | Myles Jack (UCLA) | Trey DePriest (Alabama) |
| LB | Eric Kendricks (UCLA) | A.J. Johnson (Tennessee) |
| LB | Shaq Thompson (Washington) | Ramik Wilson (Georgia) |
| CB | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon) | Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) |
| FS | Su’a Cravens (USC) | Landon Collins (Alabama) |
| SS | Jordan Richards (Stanford) | Cody Prewitt (Mississippi) |
| CB | Marcus Peters (Washington) | Tre’Davious White (LSU) |
| K | Andy Phillips (Utah) | Marshall Morgan (Georgia) |
| P | Tom Hackett (Utah) | Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) |
| KR | Ty Montgomery (Stanford) | Christion Jones (Alabama) |
| PR | Nelson Agholor (USC) | Christion Jones (Alabama) |
| Source: athlonsports.com | ||
QB Comparison:
Do I even need to write anything? Marcus Mariota against Nick Marshall. Mariota is a potential #1 overall pick in 2015, and likely would’ve been the first quarterback taken in the 2014 draft. Marshall, on the other hand, is a converted cornerback; a guy who would be the fifth- or sixth-best quarterback in the PAC-12 at best. With that said, PAC-12 defensive backs have certainly seen better than Marshall, while SEC defenders would likely be surprised by Mariota’s blend of size and deceptive speed; not to mention his NFL caliber arm. I could go on and on about Mariota’s stats and measurables, but I’ll save you time.
Advantage: PAC-12 Quarterback
RB Comparison:
Alright, I confess. This one favors the SEC. Similar to the quarterback debate (although not nearly as extensive of a gap), the SEC running backs steal the show here. Todd Gurley looks like the best running back in the country, while T.J. Yeldon is just another great running back in a long list of names from Alabama’s history. Both will be playing on Sundays in 2015. Javorious Allen is a hulking running back (6-1, 220), while Byron Marshall complements him perfectly as a lightning quick (4.40 40 time) speedster. Allen and Marshall will both have stellar years for USC and Oregon, respectively, but they don’t quite matchup with this imposing SEC backfield duo.
Advantage: SEC Running Backs
Receiver (WR&TE) Comparison:
This is my first disagreement with the SEC article. Nelson Agholor and Jaelen Strong are two of the most complete receivers in college football. Agholor is as elusive as they come and could jump out of the stadium if he wanted to. Jaelen Strong, on the other side of the field, lives up to his last name. At 6’3″, 216 lbs, Strong is known for ripping jump balls away from defensive backs. While Amari Cooper and Laquon Treadwell are both talented young players, Treadwell’s inexperience hurts their chances in a game of All-Stars. Agholor, a junior, and Strong, a senior, possess both the skills and experience to take the advantage in this battle. Meanwhile, Connor Hamlett, the 6’7″, 270 lbs senior out of Oregon State is one of the best safety blankets a quarterback could ask for (40 catches last season). While O.J. Howard out of Alabama is also a big, talented tight end, his mere 14 career catches hurt his case. Once again, the PAC-12’s experience serves it well in this one.
Advantage: PAC-12 Pass Catchers
Offensive Line Comparison:
This one surprised me a bit. I was expecting my opponent to concede this one in favor of the PAC-12, but alas, Donald will not make this easy on me. Let’s begin with Andrus Peat, the left tackle from Stanford. Peat is probably the best offensive linemen in the country and looks like a surefire top 1o pick. Hroniss Grasu out of Oregon is also regarded as perhaps the best in the country at his position (center). While Cedric Ogbuehi of Texas A&M is one of the best tackles in his own right, he can’t protect the quarterback on his own. As for the argument that the SEC offensive line is “nastier” than the PAC-12’s big boys, consider this: the Pac-12 offensive line’s average heights and weights are 6’6″ and 308 lbs. The SEC’s: 6’4.5″ and 303 lbs. The SEC offensive line will have to be a whole lot “nastier” if they want to make up for that differential.
Advantage: PAC-12 Offensive Line
Defensive Line Comparison:
The SEC is known for its dominance on the defensive line, and this year they have another talented crop in the trenches. But not so fast, my friends. The PAC-12 boasts an intimidating group of defensive linemen in their own right. Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson are a nice pair coming off the edge, with the former of the two being a likely first-round pick. Danny Shelton is also one of the nation’s best defensive tackles. However, the SEC might just be too good to beat in this one. Highlighted by Robert Nkemdiche, the SEC defensive line will be dominant as usual.
Advantage: SEC Defensive Line
Linebacker Comparison:
Both squads have extremely talented linebackers; the kind of talent that shines on Sundays. Trey DePriest and Ramik Wilson are tackle machines who are following in the footsteps of fellow Tide and Bulldog greats, respectively. However, the PAC-12’s group of linebackers is the most special and diverse in the country. Myles Jack of UCLA won Freshmen Player of the Year honors on both sides of the ball last season. His Bruin teammate, Eric Kendricks, is equally talented and is sure to follow his brother, Mychal, to the NFL. And none of this even mentions Washington’s Shaq Thompson, the safety-converted-linebacker who might just be even more versatile than Jack. Overall, the PAC-12 is just too talented in this one.
Advantage: PAC-12 Linebackers
Defensive Back Comparison:
This is the most competitive and fun of the eight categories in my opinion. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu would’ve been a first-round pick last season if he entered the draft. Instead, he returns to Oregon as the best defensive player in the college ranks. Meanwhile, the SEC boasts a shutdown corner of their own in Vernon Hargreaves III of Florida, a first-round pick in the making in his own right. Su’a Cravens of USC, and Landon Collins of Alabama, are perhaps the two best safeties in the country. But the difference maker in this matchup comes in the shape of Jordan Richards, the senior leader out of Stanford. Richards returns for his third season as a starter on one of the nation’s most formidable defensive units of the last four years. He’s what gives the PAC-12 the edge in this battle. Not to mention he knows how to lay the lumber.
Advantage: PAC-12 Defensive Backs
Special Teams Comparison
As a freshman last season, Utah’s Andy Phillips made several All-American teams, including Sports Illustrated’s second team All-America. On the other side, Marshall Morgan of Georgia struggled mightily as a freshman (8-14 on FGs). While he improved dramatically as a sophomore, there is no reason to think Phillips won’t do the same. Ty Montgomery made the first team All-America last season as a kick returner for Stanford, while everyone knows the ability Nelson Agholor possesses when he touches the ball. Christion Jones, on the other hand, plays both kick returner and punt returner for the SEC. A special talent, Jones is probably a better punt returner than Agholor, but still does not beat out Montgomery as a kick returner.
Advantage: PAC-12 Specialists
Looking back on all of this, the PAC-12 wins six of the eight categories. With that said, it seems pretty safe to say that the PAC-12 would win this hypothetical matchup. If I had to put a guess on the final score of this game, I’d take the PAC-12 in a solid 38-28 victory.
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