David Hale Oct 22, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

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College football reporter.

Joined ESPN in 2012.

Graduate of the University of Delaware.

The SEC's tagline that "It Just Means More" has always been something of a punchline to fans outside the league, but after three straight seasons without a team in the national championship game, the jeers have grown louder. The SEC used to enjoy the ultimate bragging rights, but 2022 feels like ancient history, given the pace of change in the sport of late. And after one of the most chaotic weeks in SEC history, it's the lone power conference without an undefeated team.

Still, for all the punchlines "It Just Means More" has provided recently, the premise remains unquestionably true. The league itself might not be the supreme power in college football at the moment, but for SEC fans, Saturdays still hit different.

Think about it: Indiana 's 22-game winning streak ended, but its fans still have all the earnest enthusiasm of a golden retriever.…