SEC fans are a prideful bunch. From historically great programs to wonderful fan traditions to the conference’s recent dominance over the college football landscape, there’s plenty to chant “S-E-C!” about. Here’s a look at five things the conference’s fans can point to after week 6 of the regular season.

  1. Old-school football. The spread offense and it’s prolific yards and points totals has infiltrated even the SEC. On Saturday, purists got a reminder that throwback football is still played down south. Ole Miss and LSU engaged in the kind of smash mouth defensive game that the SEC became known for as it dominated the country over the past decade.
  2. The CFP rankings. There’s a good chance that, when the College Football Playoff committee drops its first set of rankings on Tuesday, three SEC teams will be listed among the top four. That would mean if the season ended tomorrow, all three would be in the playoffs to compete for the championship. Prepare for the avalanche of hate and claims of bias.
  3. The best player in the country? Amari Cooper is dominating his position like no one else in the nation; the gap between him and the next-best receiver in the SEC is a chasm, and the numbers he’s putting up in the conference make his spot at the top of the national ranks seem more impressive. In his junior season, Cooper is climbing the ranks of the best college receivers of all time.
  4. Rising QB stars. Kentucky’s Patrick Towles shredded the top-ranked Mississippi State defense on Saturday, while heralded Tennessee sophomore Josh Dobbs came in against Alabama and sparked the moribund Volunteers offense. While both teams lost, it’s a sign for two programs trying to turn it around that their futures are bright. If Treon Harris can make magic for the Gators against Georgia this weekend, Florida fans will start to forget about their miserable season as well.
  5. True heart. Less than 24 hours after Les Miles’ mother Martha passed away, the coach was on the sidelines with his team as they took on then-No. 3 Ole Miss. Miles tried to downplay his loss in order to focus on the game, but his raw emotion was palpable after the game. The Tigers were clearly fired up to play for the coach they love, as they came out with one of the most impressive defensive efforts of the year.