During his two seasons as Kentucky’s coach, Baylor’s Guy Morriss remembers the Southeastern Conference’s spring meetings for their distinct difference.

Most leagues’ spring gatherings are relaxed and casual affairs held in a vacation-like atmosphere. Not so for the SEC’s football coaches.

"There was a competitive tension in the room," Morriss said. "There were coaches sitting next to or across from each other who really didn’t seem to like each other."

Deciding on the best college football conference can use a variety of measuring sticks. Morriss’ example of year-round competitiveness is just one. But by many measures, the SEC heads into the 2007 season as No. 1 on the list of 11 Division I-A conferences.

The SEC has the defending national champion (Florida) plus a team (LSU) that is a heavy favorite to reach this year’s Bowl Championship Series title game. The SEC has led the nation in attendance for the last nine seasons.

During the last 15 seasons, the SEC has won five national championships (while in 2003, Auburn finished 13-0 but was denied a berth in the BCS championship game).

Four of the league’s 12 coaches - Florida’s Urban Meyer, Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier and Alabama’s Nick Saban - have won national titles.

"It’s pretty difficult for any other conference to make an argument against the SEC," ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said. "The overall depth of the SEC is what’s impressive.

"Based on almost any way you judge a conference, it comes down to favoring the SEC."

And one measurement could be expectations. With preseason practices starting in just over a week, fans at Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and LSU are convinced their team will win the national championship.

"There are six that might have a realistic chance at any time," said Bill Curry, who coached at Alabama and Kentucky. "I’ve covered," as a television analyst, "the Big Ten, and I love the other conferences, but there is simply more passion in the SEC."

The Big 12 can promote Texas and Oklahoma as national title contenders, while the Big Ten has Michigan, Ohio State and, perhaps, Wisconsin. The Big East has West Virginia. The Atlantic Coast’s power teams - Florida State and Miami - each finished 7-6 last year. The Pacific-10 has USC, the preseason No. 1, and nine chasers.

The SEC’s depth is a curse and a blessing. Going unbeaten in SEC play is a challenge, considering 12-game schedules and the league championship game.

But even a loss doesn’t rule out winning the national title. During the BCS era, Florida and LSU (in 2003) are the only two BCS champions to finish with one loss.

Florida turned the trick last season, going 13-1 and thrashing Ohio State 41-14 in the national championship game. All Gators fans expect is at least another SEC title and maybe back-to-back titles to match the school’s basketball team.

"That’s what makes it so intriguing, so much of a challenge," Florida’s Meyer said. "It’s why I went to Florida, why Coach Saban went to Alabama.

"I had heard that football is a religion in the South. It’s a fact."

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