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.


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