ESPN SEC Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

To set the record straight on a question I've been peppered with the last few days, there will be no discipline taken on the umpire in the LSU-South Carolina game who collided with South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia.

Video from the play appears to show the official, Wilbur Hackett Jr., throwing a forearm into Garcia as he was making a cut back inside. However, SEC officials said Hackett was caught off balance when Garcia made his cut and was trying to get out of the way.

Hackett was a three-year starter at linebacker at Kentucky from 1968-70. Rogers Redding, the SEC's coordinator of officials, said the play looked worse on video than it really was and that Hackett was merely trying to protect himself. Now, onto some other questions as we empty the mailbag:

Travis from Lakeland, Fla., writes: Could it be that the Big 12 just does not have very good defenses? Or did the best offensive players in the country all land in the same conference? Doubtful. Could any of those teams score that many points in the SEC? Again doubtful. I hear the talking heads say the Big 12 is the best now. Sounds a lot like the talk from two years ago on how TOSU (The Ohio State University) was just too good for those boys from the south.

Chris Low: First of all, I think the Big 12 is really good, as good as I've seen that conference in a long time. As to whether some of those teams would be putting up Xbox-like numbers against SEC defenses, I have my doubts. That's not to say that Texas or Oklahoma wouldn't be having successful seasons this year in the SEC. I just think there's a level of defense played in the SEC with the speed, athleticism and power that is unmatched anywhere else in the country. And, yes, the last time I checked, SEC defenses were too much for an Ohio State team supposedly brimming with offensive playmakers in the past two BCS National Championship Games. The ideal thing would be for a Big 12 team and SEC team to meet this season for the national title, and maybe then we'd get some answers.

Cameron in Baton Rouge, La., writes: In your Bama path to the BCS, you forgot to mention in the instance of Bama losing to LSU that LSU would ALSO have to lose another game in order for Bama to get into the SEC Championship Game. LSU would hold the tie-breaker. And we all know that if you don't make the SEC CG you won't be playing for the national title.

Chris Low: Excellent point, and I've updated my Alabama path to the BCS to note that the Crimson Tide would need LSU to lose another game to either Ole Miss or Arkansas for the Tide to win the tiebreaker and advance to the SEC Championship Game. I still believe, though, that Alabama's best chance with one loss would be to lose to a highly ranked LSU team rather than losing to an unranked team. Of course, should LSU lose to Georgia this coming weekend, Alabama would have some wiggle room then as far as getting to the SEC Championship Game. The Tide could lose to LSU and wouldn't need help from anybody else as long as they didn't lose a second game. The reality is that Alabama probably needs to stay unbeaten if it wants a shot at the BCS national championship.

Jim from Gainesville, Fla., writes: Diehard LSU fan stuck in alligator country! Do you really think a one-loss SEC team could pass an undefeated Penn State team that beat Ohio State? Think about all those Big Ten voters.

Chris Low: Trust me, I have thought about them. Ultimately, I think it would depend on which one-loss SEC team it is. For instance, if Florida or Georgia were to win out, including beating a No. 2-ranked Alabama team in the SEC Championship Game, then I think it's possible. Particularly with Georgia's killer schedule, I don't see how you couldn't have the Bulldogs No. 1 or No. 2 if they finish 12-1 and win the SEC title. But Joe Paterno would carry a lot of clout. And the more I process it, the more I'm starting to think that an unbeaten Penn State team may indeed edge out a one-loss SEC team. That's not good news for the SEC, either, because I think everybody's going to have at least one loss.

Fraser from Athens, Ala., writes: What's your thoughts on Auburn and Tuberville's relationship after this season plays itself out? After all, Penn State didn't fire Pappa Joe when he had a few bad seasons back to back. Or should Auburn go on and search for a new coach?

Chris Low: Tuberville insists that he doesn't want out. Much of what happens will depend on whether the Tigers can recover and make something out of this season. It's just hard for me to imagine that Auburn could bring in somebody appreciably better than Tuberville. A better question: Would anybody want to come after looking at what Tuberville has done there and seeing that he was pushed out? With Nick Saban running the show up the road now at the state university, the Auburn job is as difficult as it has ever been.