This article appeared on ESPN.com:  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=28159
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Florida president Bernie Machen said Wednesday that he is gaining increased support among leaders of Southeastern Conference schools in his push for a playoff for college football in the former Division I-A.

Machen said he proposed his ideas to SEC presidents at a meeting in March in Atlanta and that the topic will be on the official agenda of the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla., in April.

"I will make my formal presentation," Machen said. "This is a big step. I didn't think they'd allow me to be a part of the agenda. But I will have my day in court."

Machen said the SEC needs to lead the way and that time is a factor.

"We need to have these considerations now," Machen said. "Fox wants now to extend our existing BCS deal and if we do that, we're going to be stuck in the same place for the next six to eight years, with a system that could obviously be better."

Machen takes his stand, of course, even though Florida won the national championship under the existing BCS format, which pits the two highest-rated teams in the BCS formula. Machen said movement towards a plus-one format (adding an extra game), a Final Four or eight-team format is not as important as getting a majority opinion among the SEC leaders that a change is beneficial.

"It will take a conference like ours to get this moving in the right direction," Machen said. "We've got to make this a deal with great revenue for league and bowls. Right now, I have more SEC presidents on board than I thought I would. And the majority are willing to listen, which is more than ever before."

Machen said he's spoken to about a hal####ozen presidents outside the SEC to gauge their opinions. And that he has talked to leaders at two BCS bowls who say they "want to be at the table to discuss this, too."

The Big Ten and the Pac-10, with a strong Rose Bowl tie-in, figure to be the conferences least eager to rally support for a college football playoff.

Megalomania

1 : a mania for great or grandiose performance
2 : a delusional mental disorder that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur

     A delusional mental disorder?  Maybe so.  Most people who have disorders don't know they have them. 

    SEC fans carry a certain cockiness and arrogence that would make a spoiled Prom Queen jealous.  Do they have a right to be that smug?  I don't think anyone has a right to be smug.  There are some proud people out there and they don't know how to debate, just attack each others character.  Those of you will have a great career in politics. 

    Here's my explanation for the whole why the SEC is a tougher, (not better conference):

Look at the competition.  I'm not talking about week in and week out.  I'm talking about competition for the conference title. 

BIG TEN:  You have Ohio State and Michigan in a two man race every year.  Sure Iowa or Penn State comes up every year or two to make it look like a wider race, but they often fall victim to the top two. 

Big 12:  Texas and Oklahoma have this conferece on lock down.  Nebraska and Kansas State may be worthy opponets, but it's more like Texas and Oklahoma are the main events and K-State and Nebraska are the undercard. 

Big East:  You have a Louisville and West Viriginia team both trying to flex some muscle.  Rutgers in right there, but with a blow out loss to Cinncinatti hurt them.  I still believe year in and year out, it's a two team marathon. 

PAC-10:  This is a one team race.  USC could speed walk and still beat out Cal.  They've won the last five conference titles.  The PAC-10 also has Oregon, but they aren't consistant enough. 

ACC:  Wow, this conference is having a down year to say the least.  On most years, this is a three to four team race.  Miami, Florida State, and Virginia Tech are your front runners.  Though they are having a downward spiral this year, I believe this is one of the deepest conferences.   

SEC:  Now to the arrogent, pompous SEC.  Say what you want, but they are top heavy.  Every year it could be one of five teams that wins in Atlanta:  Auburn, LSU, Florida, Georgia or Tennessee.  Arkansas already has it's invitation to join the mix and it looks like they will be RSVPing. 

   I'm not saying I'm right or wrong.  I'm just saying this is why I believe the SEC is the strongest and toughest conference.  When half of your conference has a chance of taking home the championship, those are pretty good odds.  Who knows though, I could just be messed up in the head and not even know it.