Marcus Spears blames NIL, NCAA Transfer Portal for loss of elite talent depth in SEC

Marcus Spears had something to get off his chest Friday.

During an in-studio appearance on ESPN’s First Take, the former LSU and Dallas Cowboys lineman went on the defensive during a heated discussion about the perceived downtrend in the SEC’s dominance over college football.

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The discussion stemmed out of a conversation about No. 7 Notre Dame‘s convincing 23-10 win over No. 2 Georgia, the SEC Champion this season, in Thursday night’s College Football Playoff national quarterfinal Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

The Bulldogs’ stunning loss left just one SEC team — conference runner-up Texas — still alive in the chase to be the next College Football Playoff National Champion. But, when taken in context with the league’s disappointing 8-6 bowl record — including 2-2 in the CFP — as well multiple head-scratching regular-season losses for usual conference leaders Alabama, Georgia and LSU this season, the national narrative is down on the once-dominant SEC.

Spears credited the advent of the NCAA Transfer Portal and name, image and likeness (NIL), which has allowed the former four- and five-star recruits SEC powers previously stockpiled to transfer to other out-of-conference programs, with the leveling of the proverbial playing field that has led to a weaker SEC in 2024. Case-in-point, Ohio State loaded up on elite SEC transfers like former Alabama starters Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin and former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins last offseason.

“This is how I explain the SEC to people: Your second- and third-(team) guys can win Heismans and be first-round draft picks. That no longer exists. Those guys are going to other schools, starting early and playing,” Spears said Friday on First Take. “RC (Ryan Clark) knows this, guys on LSU’s roster when we were there that didn’t play, were first-round picks in waiting. It was no question that they weren’t going to be first-round draft picks, really good players or superstars. You just had to wait, because there was another Heisman Trophy winner or another first-round draft pick in front of you.

“That’s what has changed in the SEC. And I don’t want to hear nobody talk about the SEC and how people hate that they weren’t dominant. The conference won 13 out of (the last) 15 national championships, that’s the reality of where they were. The NIL and the transfer portal have changed that.”

Paul Finebaum predicts a ‘bloody day’ for SEC, shares conference’s biggest fear following Georgia’s loss

The postseason, including the College Football Playoff, hasn’t been a good one for the SEC. It could then get even worse with how this season could potentially end.

Paul Finebaum discussed the issues for the Southeastern Conference during their bowls and playoff games while on Friday’s Get Up. He realizes that many across college football are going to take joy in that, and rightfully so, to an extent, with how the league has shown in the postseason this past month.

“There is a lot of schadenfreude going on in this country and that’s okay,” said Finebaum. “The SEC? The big names have taken some very, very big hits. Tennessee, obviously Alabama in a lesser game. Georgia was the team that everyone was wrapping their arms around. And isn’t it remarkable that the lone SEC team was in the Big 12 a year ago in the College Football Playoff?”

Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.