A while back I stated that the Big 12 was clearly the best conference this season, and that the SEC had (temporarily, at least) relinquished that title.

I stand corrected.

The positive is that, in my opinion, Gregg Doyel looks more foolish than I do. From his column Tuesday:

The arrogant assumption that Florida’s defense will be the difference makes me giggle. Because the truth is, the difference really could be Florida’s defense.

After it gets its ass kicked by the best offense in college football history.

Wrong answer. Thank you for playing.

Despite my unfortunate claim a couple of months ago, I did believe that Florida would win last night. And “Big Game Bob” and “Choklahoma” came through for me, extending their streak of BCS bowl game losses last night to five in a row and three championship games in a row. I was not surprised at all, though I will admit that I didn’t expect even Florida’s defense to hold “the best offense in college football history” (Doyel’s claim, not mine) to only 14 points. I’d only seen OU play one half this year – the second half of the Texas game. But I’d seen the scores and heard about the greatness of their offense. Yet they couldn’t make the plays when they had to last night.

Instead, Tim Tebow put the Gators on his back in the second half and carried them to the title. He made play after play, both running and passing, and the Sooners had no answer for him. I can’t help but wonder if any Heisman voters would like to change their votes about now. Perhaps not, but if I was coaching a college team right now and had first choice of all college football players in the game today, I think I’d go with Tebow.

And so, the SEC does it again, winning the national championship for the third straight year. If Tebow returns to school, and with the reemergence of Alabama this year, the SEC could very well have another representative there again next year with a chance to make it four. (And who knows, maybe Ole Miss will make a run for it as well.)

Overall, the SEC was 6-2 in bowl games, while the Big 12 was 4-3. Two of those losses, obviously, were two of the top three teams in the Big 12 (with Ole Miss beating Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl). The other top Big 12 team, Texas, benefited by playing Ohio State, who has a BCS record of late that is comparable to Oklahoma’s, and still Texas had to win in the final seconds.

Regular seasons are nice and all, but at the end of the year, most teams and conferences are judged by post-season performance. You see it every March in basketball. Who had the most teams in the tournament, the best tournament records, the most sweet 16 and final four teams, etc. Same in January. Bowl games and national championships matter when it comes to determining who is the best in the land. The SEC wins in both categories this year. And, of 11 BCS title games, the SEC has played in 5, and won them all.

In SEC country, you will never convince any SEC fan that any other conference is better, no matter how a season might be going. And once again, I would argue, their convictions have been validated and the SEC remains the best conference in college football.

I believe, and repent of my unbelief.

SEC rules.