Note the new ESPN Power 16.  It features 4 SEC teams, which is not unusual for our league.  What is unusual is that 2 of the 4 are Kentucky and South Carolina.

This has always been the hallmark of this conference, depth.  Even with Tennessee and Auburn looking significantly down from their usual form, and with UGA and Bama looking good but not great thusfar--this conference can boast 1/4 of the consensus top 16 in the country.

That's what makes this conference such a meatgrinder.