Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Dec 1, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeAndrew White (2) holds the SEC sign after winning the 2012 SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 32-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

You have to go back to 2005 to find a BCS Championship game that was not won by a team in the SEC conference.

Since that BCS win by Texas over USC 41-38, Florida won two games, LSU and Auburn have each won one, and Alabama has captured three wins in the last four championships.

I’m only 18 years old, but I can barely remember a time when the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big 12 were even relevant when it came to winning a national championship.

So why has the SEC become such a powerhouse in college football?

It starts with the very beginning of the SEC winning streak seven years ago, and possibly even a bit before. In 2006, The Florida Gators powered their way to a 41-14 destruction of the No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

From then on, the SEC was in complete control. Or was it really?

You see, from 2005 through 2010, there were never more than two SEC teams ranked in the top 10 teams nationally. We saw plenty of space in those other spots taken up by teams in conferences such as the Big Ten. The difference is that in each of those years, an SEC team was ranked either No. 1 or No. 2.

It’s a matter of a small group of schools carrying over success to represent a conference for an extended period of time. Really, it isn’t the whole SEC that deserves the ton of hype that it receives. Or it wasn’t always like that. It was two or three teams that had repeated success.

Dec 3, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the SEC logo at mid-field after the 2011 SEC championship game between the LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Report: ‘Expected launch’ for SEC Network in August 2014:

According to a report in the Sports Business Journal, ESPN and the SEC are in “the final stages” of negotiations that would deliver an “expected launch” of the SEC’s own channel in August 2014.

The SBJ writes that the largest remaining stumbling block remains the league’s local television rights, which belong to the individual schools and have been sold to multiple different companies under the current SEC TV contract.

Per the report, “the SEC must negotiate with [the rights-holders] to acquire those rights before launching a channel,” but that those “issues are close to being resolved.”

NCAA’s new helmet-to-helmet rule will force college football players to relearn how to tackle

Many programs already have been in the process, trying to break the habit of defensive backs and pass rushers of going high on unprotected receivers and quarterbacks. But now there is new urgency to avoid helmet-to-helmet contact.

The NCAA forced the issue this week by recommending a rule that will eject anyone who is flagged for targeting a defenseless player.

Want more Bengals news? Like Stripe Hype on Facebook, or grab our RSS feed.

Follow @StripeHype

Follow @UK_Fans

Dec 31, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Clemson Tigers tight end Brandon Ford (80) walks off the field with the Chick-fil-A Bowl trophy after defeating the LSU Tigers during the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Clemson won 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

Happy New Years from all of us here at Stripe Hype. Thank you to all of our loyal readers who have made us one of to websites on the Fansided Sports Network. We strive to be your top-source for Bengals news and opinions, and serving you is our #1 goal.

As we embark on a new year, we are working on several ways to up our game in hopes of never settling and always striving to improve. Thank you again for all of your support!

Here is Today’s Bowl Schedule

Want more Bengals news? Like Stripe Hype on Facebook, or grab our RSS feed.

Follow @StripeHype

Follow @UK_Fans