ESPN is starting the “SEC Network.” Syndicated SEC football games will now be seen in more TV markets across the U.S. and as far West as Arizona:

“It gives the SEC even greater exposure for their brand and the quality of their football in major markets around the country,” said Neal Pilson, president of Pilson Communications and former CBS Sports President. “It gives them extra recruiting leverage beyond what CBS and ESPN are giving for national games. I’d say it’s added competition for teams in the Big 12, Pac-10 and Big Ten.”

If you are Pac-10 homer there are two ways to look at this new network. Option 1 (the Debbie downer approach):

SEC bias will thrive because games will be seen in more homes across the country. This might hurt national recruiting and make it harder for a Pac-10 school to make the BCS championship.

My answer to that is you can spend all day worrying and wishing that the Pac-10 got more respect. But at the end of the day, public/media opinion doesn’t matter. Who cares if someone thinks the SEC is the best conference in college football. There is no way to ever know which conference is the toughest (I personally know it is the Pac-10). If you are undefeated at the end of the season you will play in the national championship game. And if you don’t, then maybe changes will finally be made to a flawed system.

I prefer option 2 (the glass half full approach):

Extra SEC games on TV means more SEC cheerleaders on TV. And that is a good thing…

SEC syndicated football games to reach major TV markets in new ESPN package [al.com]

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

(Photo by Icon Sports Media)