11:52AM EST November 30. 2012 - It seems inevitable that the winner of the Southeastern Conference title game will play Notre Dame for the Bowl Championship Series title.
MORE: SEC rules college football
While there are other one-loss teams, here are five reasons why the SEC winner deserves the right to play for the crown:
1. Been there, done that
The SEC has a proven track record. The league has won six consecutive BCS titles, something the nation has grown tired of hearing about. But fans outside the SEC recognize the league's recent dominance. Why not give the benefit of the doubt to the SEC champion? If it's Alabama, just look at what the Crimson Tide proved last season given another opportunity. If it's Georgia, the Bulldogs will have just beaten a Nick Saban team loaded with talent.
2. Beat the man to be the man
And the SEC has been the man for six consecutive years. Unbeaten Notre Dame will be in the BCS title game, and deservedly so. But after each win, including road victories against Oklahoma and Southern California, skeptics have asked, "But what if Notre Dame played an SEC team?" Well, let's find out. What better test for a tough Notre Dame team than to play against the best team from the nation's toughest conference?
3. Gauntlet
It's a grueling schedule in the SEC, a league that is only growing stronger. The usual powers — Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU — are still that. Throw in the continued growth of South Carolina and the emergence of Texas A&M, and the task of winning the SEC becomes even greater. Finishing the season with a 12-1 record after facing that kind of schedule is no small feat. It's why the SEC has the nation's best reputation. And why the league champ deserves a BCS title shot.
4. Fans
While they might struggle with who to pull for, there's little doubt fans would be entertained by the idea of watching Notre Dame attempt to end the SEC's title run. Television executives would be giddy. That's because fans would go into anticipation overload. The month-plus buildup of discussing Notre Dame vs. the SEC champion would only grow the interest in college football.
5. Who else
Look at the other options. Kansas State and Oregon are one-loss teams, but neither will play in a conference championship game. The same critics who argued against Alabama's BCS title game appearance last season would have a difficult time arguing in favor of Kansas State or Oregon, despite their strong regular seasons. The champions of the remaining BCS conferences will each have at least two losses. So who else is there? How about the team hoisting the trophy Saturday night in Atlanta?
Ward also writes for MrSEC.com, an affiliate of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2012/11/30/5-reasons-why-sec-belongs-in-bcs-title-game/1737275/