There has been a ton of debate recently over conference realignment.  I don't think it's a secret that a majority of the fanbase wants to end up in the Big Ten based on culture, geography and academics.  However, when looking closely at the academic standings of our school and other schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, it's time we put to bed the notion that our academics would suffer in the SEC.

For purposes of fairness, I used the last 12 team Big 12 lineup, a commonly proposed Big 10 lineup, and a theoretical SEC lineup.

After the jump...

Big 12 (academic average:  100)

Texas:  45

Texas A&M:  58

Baylor:  75

Missouri:  90

Colorado:  94

Iowa State:  97

Kansas:  101

Oklahoma:  101

Nebraska:  101

Oklahoma State:  132

Kansas State:  143

Texas Tech:  160

Common Mizzou fan-proposed B1G (academic average:  51)

Northwestern:  12

Notre Dame:  19

Michigan:  28

Wisconsin:  42

Illinois:  45

Penn State:  45

Ohio State:  55

Purdue:  62

Minnesota:  68

Iowa:  71

Indiana:  75

Missouri:  90

Nebraska:  101

Theoretical SEC (academic average:  95)

Vanderbilt:  17

Texas A&M:  58

Florida:  58

Georgia:  62

Alabama:  75

Auburn:  82

Missouri:  90

Tennessee:  101

South Carolina:  111

Kentucky:  124

LSU:  128

Arkansas:  132

Ole Miss:  143

Mississippi State:  157

Conclusion:  OUR ACADEMIC STANDING WOULD IMPROVE FROM OUR CURRENT CONFERENCE IF WE JOINED THE SEC.  They are a better academic conference than the Big 12.

Not to mention, we'd be one of the worst academic schools in the Big Ten.  No wonder they aren't falling all over themselves to invite us.

Get over your perceived belief that the SEC doesn't care about education.  Sheesh.