Urban Meyer: SEC in ‘uncharted waters’ after ‘awful start’

Through the first two weeks of the college football season, the SEC is off to a rough start.

The league currently has only two teams ranked in the top 10 in No. 1 Georgia and No. 10 Alabama. And the Crimson Tide suffered a double-digit home loss to Texas last weekend.

From that game, to LSU losing to Florida State, to Texas A&M falling at Miami, it has been an ugly few weeks for the SEC. Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer was asked on Big Noon Kickoff on Saturday if it’s an overreaction to say this is a down year for the SEC. He believes it’s not an overreaction at all.

“It’s not an overreaction. It’s been an awful start – unchartered waters,” Meyer said. “There’s a whole lot of football left. But think about this – six teams in the SEC have lost by double digits, and it’s only September. This blows my mind – only one team in the top 9, and it’s none out of the SEC West. The SEC West usually has three or four teams battling for the SEC Championship.”

Even Georgia, which is ranked No. 1, hasn’t looked unbeatable. The Bulldogs have yet to face a Power 5 opponent, and they were tied with Ball State at the end of the first quarter last weekend.

“You look now – there’s one team that could be standing from the SEC at the end of the year, and they’re having some issues at Georgia,” Meyer said.

Meyer did acknowledge that there is still a lot of football left to be played. But so far, he isn’t impressed.

“You know what? I went back and watched the Alabama game. They’re not far off,” Meyer said. “So it’s a lot of football left, but yes, this is a down start for the SEC. Not an overreaction.”

Former Alabama running back Mark Ingram disagrees about SEC

While Urban Meyer believes the SEC is down in 2023, former Alabama running back Mark Ingram disagrees.

Ingram said on Big Noon Kickoff that the sample size is too small and it’s too early in the season to declare the league down.

“It is a complete overreaction. It’s too early in the season to legitimize these claims,” Ingram said. “LSU in Week 1 – they played a tough game against Florida State, who I have in my playoff. Alabama last week lost to Texas, who you have No. 1 in your playoff. You say they’re the best team in the country. So with LSU and Alabama, they both control their own destiny. So I think it’s an overreaction. It’s too early in the year in Week 2 to say the SEC is down. Let’s talk in November, and we’ll readdress the situation.”