OK, we admitted it. The Big Ten is definitely better than the Southeastern Conference at the top. There are two Big Ten members in the top three in the AP Top 25 poll, three in the top eight and four in the top 10.
The SEC has top-ranked Alabama and Texas A&M at No. 6, and the next ranked team is an-injury-riddled Tennessee team at No. 18.
You can discuss whether the SEC is deeper from top to bottom, but even that's debatable since Indiana is much better than in years past and the bottom of the SEC is pretty gnarly this year with some offenses that are downright stagnant.
Still, that said, beating an SEC team does carry a certain amount of weight nationally. Did anyone else think it was somewhat puzzling that BYU students stormed the field Friday night after the Cougars' win over the worst Mississippi State team in the Dan Mullen era?
OK, that public service announcement aside, the Big Ten may have more better teams, but after watching what happened in Knoxville on Saturday, no league this side of the AFC East has a better team than Alabama.
That was overwhelming and thorough and impressive and relentless. It was so bad that even the most ardent Johnny Vols fans we know had to admit it was impressive. Yes, they admitted it through gritted teeth and with precursors such as "I hate them more than the devil himself, but " but those offerings of compliments were there. It was respect worthy to be more direct.
You have to respect a team that is that deep. Dear buckets, man, when was the last time you noticed when an Alabama player was injured or when an Alabama player turned out to be a huge disappointment or underachieved? Uh, like hardly ever because the Crimson Tide have waves of highly talented dudes salivating to get their chance to play.
You have to respect a defense that comes at you in waves to the point that it feels like the Tide have 14 guys on the field at all times. You have to respect the simplicity of the game when you have that much talent. Alabama knew Tennessee couldn't block its front four/five for more than three seconds, so the Tide pressed every receiver on every play.
A first down for the Vols on Saturday felt like a touchdown, for Pete's sake. On the other side, the Vols were playing so many reserves on defense, Alabama knew that whenever it needed yards, as long as it did not operate in the neighborhood of Derek Barnett, there were yards available.
You have to respect Nick Saban's ability to collect and cultivate talent like no other coach in the history of the game. And if you don't want to believe that praise, know this: Tennessee and Butch Jones have recruited very well over the last three years. The Vols have but two losses - both to top-six ranked teams - and were ranked in the top 10 nationally heading into weekend. And there was no more than one player wearing an orange uniform who would have started for Alabama on Saturday. Seriously, other than Barnett, who wearing a Tennessee uniform would displace a Tide player at his respective position?
And with all that talent, you especially have to respect a team this good that excels at the little things. Did you see how well Alabama's receivers blocked down field and on the edge? That turned 8-yard gains into 28-yard touchdowns. Did you see how well this bunch tackles in space? That prevents 28-yard touchdowns and limits them to 8-yard gains. (Well, provided you have time to throw it 8 yards or can avoid the ball-seeking missile that is Rueben Foster.)
Yes, it was that impressive from to back.
So yes, the Big Ten may be the better conference this year, but no team is better than the Alabama bunch we saw on Saturday.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.