EXPOSED: ESPN Caught RIGGING SEC Résumé, BURYING BYU, Iowa State, Houston Basketball, March Madness

The perception that ESPN is tilting the scales for SEC basketball over the Big 12 centers on a "feedback loop" of preseason rankings and proprietary metrics. As of early 2026, critics—including prominent Big 12 voices like Drake Toll—point to three primary ways ESPN’s influence inflates SEC resumes:1. Preseason Metric "Anchoring"ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) and similar predictive models (like FPI for football) rely heavily on recruiting rankings and historical "brand" success. Because the SEC consistently recruits at a high level, the conference starts the season with a high baseline. When 10 or 12 SEC teams begin the year in the Top 40, every conference game is mathematically treated as a "quality matchup." This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: SEC teams can lose to one another and barely drop in the rankings because the "strength of schedule" (SOS) is artificially buoyed by those initial high ratings.2. Curated Scheduling EventsESPN controls the inventory for the SEC-ACC Challenge and various holiday tournaments. By pairing middle-tier SEC teams with high-profile ACC opponents on national television, ESPN ensures these teams have early-season SOS boosts that Big 12 teams—who often have to "buy" games against lower-tier opponents—struggle to match. In 2026, teams like Alabama and Auburn have leveraged these ESPN-backed windows to claim the #1 and #3 SOS spots nationally, even when their win-loss records are comparable to Big 12 leaders.  3. Narrative DominanceThe "Super Conference" narrative, often amplified by ESPN’s broadcast teams, frames the SEC’s parity as "unrivaled depth," whereas similar parity in the Big 12 is often dismissed as being "top-heavy." This media positioning influences the Selection Committee's perception, making a 9-9 record in the SEC look more impressive than a 12-6 record in a "weaker" conference. Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.WayfairGet last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.