What is the deal with perceived notion that ESPN is biased in favor of the SEC?

[volsboy]

All I hear is how the a team from the SEC loses and only drops 4 spots. A team from any other conference will lose and drop 8 spots. Do you see this bias or is it all BS? Does it really effect the polls?

[Memphisvolunteer]

I think everyone outside the SEC thinks ESPN has this agenda with the SEC but the AP poll has basically the same ranking as ESPN so I don't understand it.

[BanditVol]

Funny how it used to be the other way around.

But come on...ESPN obviously has an agenda!  They have completely bought in to the SEC and now it goes to their bottom line.

Just like the "conspiracy theorists" were likely correct about the blatant promotion of Charles Woodson.  After the 1997 season, I read that ABC sports (of course, ABC owns ESPN) that stated they needed the Rose Bowl that year to go into the black as they had been losing money.  The article didn't mention the Heisman, but it was obvious to me that they wanted the Heisman trophy winner in the Rose Bowl so they promoted the crap out of Woodson.

And when ESPN didn't have the SEC contract, the perception that they slighted us was also correct.  Why promote games that are on CBS?

It's simple really...follow the money.

So yes, they are biased towards the SEC in that they now promote the heck out of it.