Status quo?

An entire offseason spent badmouthing the SEC really paid off.

The 2008 season is upon us and it looks like more of the same thus far. The SEC flexed this weekend, as did USC, and everyone else looks to be a cut below (except for Mizzou).

Tennessee can put the exclamation point on the opening weekend for the Southeastern Conference tomorrow night at UCLA. And frankly, they ought to. The Bruins are starting the team equipment manager at QB after a slew of injuries. I expect the Vols to roll. The team they're facing isn't nearly as good as the one they lost to at Cal last season.

Georgia beating Georgia Southern and Florida pounding Hawai'i is nice and all, but Alabama absolutely pasting Clemson is probably the story of the weekend. Considered the best game of the opening slate by many, this was supposed to feature the class of the ACC vs. Nick Saban's still rebuilding Crimson Tide.

After watching that game, it looks like the only thing that made need rebuilding is Tommy Bowden's resume. It's never a good thing when you're coaching tenure is labeled "consistent underachiever".

Additionally, Kentucky managed to completely shut down instate rival Louisville today. That's just more chest thumping fodder for the SEC'ers. Even Vanderbilt was able to beat up Miami (OH).

The only blemish so far was Mississippi State losing to Louisiana Tech. A bottom wrung team losing to a lightweight is a mere speed bump compared to what the ACC and Big Ten experienced this weekend.

If the ACC hadn't experienced perhaps the most embarrassing three day run in conference history there might be more national discussion about the supposed weakness of the Big Ten.

Virginia Tech couldn't get past Eastern Carolina. North Carolina State put up a goose egg against South Carolina. Maryland barely got past FCS Delaware and North Carolina struggled with McNeese State. The capper was the laugher in Atlanta involving Clemson.

Did anyone else get the impression that Tommy Bowden knew his team was vastly overrated going into that game?

More on the Big Ten, Beanie, and the Trojans ahead.