COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Top heavy and offensively challenged. Aging and ripe to be toppled. That was how the Southeastern Conference looked earlier this season, and by its standards, probably still does to some.Halfway through the season, the SEC has only two teams in the top 10 but still can lay claim to the unofficial title of the deepest league in college football.No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC), the defending national champions, leads an impressive eight SEC teams in this weeks Top 25 . Three-loss Ole Miss sits No. 23 and LSU, which fired longtime leader Les Miles last month, has returned at No. 25.Its just the culture down there that makes football so important, SEC Network analyst Marcus Spears said. Boys grow up dreaming to play for their favorite (SEC) school instead of the NFL.And those dreams are coming true for much of the league this season.Leading the way are the undefeated Crimson Tide and No. 6 Texas A&M (6-0, 4-0). But even a couple of Tigers, whose seasons seemed finished except for playing out the games -- afore mentioned LSU (4-2, 2-1) and No. 21 Auburn (4-2, 2-1).The rest of the ranked SEC teams are Eastern Division leader Florida (5-1, 3-1) at No. 15, Arkansas (5-2, 1-2) at No. 17 and Tennessee (5-2, 2-2) at No. 18 and Mississippi (3-3, 1-2) at No. 23.Im not really surprised by it, LSU receiver Travin Dural said. Its not something I havent seen before.It adds up to a schedule filled with losable contests where its impossible to relax.Every game is going to be a hard game, Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. You have to go out there and earn it. Its not going to be given to you.Spears, who won a national title at LSU in 2004 under coach Nick Saban, understands that well. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the defensive end knew football was important. Even he didnt expect the fanaticism he saw in college.As a sophomore, Spears could not believe the scene he saw leaving the 2002 Sugar Bowl after the Tigers beat Illinois 47-34.There were grown men crying, he said. It wasnt like we won a national championship and they were out there like that.Its that passion, Spears said, that attracts coaches all over the country to fly South seeking top players.Spears alma mater, LSU, has rebounded with two straight wins under interim coach Ed Orgeron. The Tigers get a boost this week with the return of injured star running back Leonard Fournette for the Saturdays game against Ole Miss. That matchup kicks off a second half of games for LSU against ranked opponents with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Texas A&M looming.Its just staying focused and keeping things in front that are in front, LSU safety Jamal Adams said.Look on any SEC schedule and its a gauntlet of games.Alabama plays its third straight ranked opponent this week in Texas A&M. The Aggies are playing a third ranked SEC team in four weeks.Tennessee coach Butch Jones expected the league to be the most competitive in some time. The teams and coaches who consistently succeed in the SEC are those who accept and embrace the intense challenge from week to week.The depth of your program will start to show itself and reveal itself, just from the grind of a long season, the physicality of this conference, Jones said.Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze believes his teams staying power -- the Rebels are the only Top 25 team with three losses -- comes from its strong schedule. Theyve lost to Florida State, Alabama and Arkansas, all ranked opponents.I would think that the message is carrying some weight that strength of schedule does matter, he said.Things dont get any easier as Mississippi faces two more ranked SEC teams next: LSU and then Auburn.Weve got our work cut out for us, Freeze said.Every SEC coach will say the same thing, knowing success can slip away in an eye blink.South Carolina was among the leagues top teams from 2010 to 2013, going 42-11 and finishing No. 4 in the country three years ago. But former Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier acknowledged letting recruiting slide and now replacement Will Muschamp is tasked with building back the FBSs last-place team in scoring.Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin believes the league prepares teams for competing against anyone in the country -- an attitude the Aggies plan to pack for Saturdays game vs. Alabama and the rest of the season.Comes time where maybe you go into situations and you just play, Sumlin said. Thats where we are right now.---AP Sports Writers John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; David Brant from Oxford, Mississippi; Mark Long from Gainesville, Florida; Brett Martel from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Steve Megargee from Knoxville, Tennessee contributed to this report.---OnlineAP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Clemson Jerseys From China . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Austin Bryant College Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.cheapclemsonjerseys.com/ . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Kelly Bryant College Jersey . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. Authentic Clemson Jerseys . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Wichita States Daishon Smith went up, then went up some more before uncorking a powerful dunk that gave the Shockers momentum against Oklahoma.The 6-foot-1 Smiths jam over 6-7 Kristian Doolittle gave the Shockers a 55-50 lead with 8:28 remaining and provided the spark the Shockers needed to hold on for a 76-73 win Saturday afternoon in the All-College Classic.He just got up so high, and bam, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. He threw it down. Those are things that Im not accustomed to. I dont know the degree of difficulty that had, but it looked like a pretty impressive play by a young man whos just starting to feel how good he can be and understand the impact he can have on our team and our season.Smith finished with 13 points after going scoreless in the first half, and was named outstanding player. Zach Brown scored 17 points and Darral Willis added 12 for the Shockers (9-2), who won their fourth straight.Wichita State shot just 39.7 percent from the field, but the Shockers made up for it by holding Oklahoma to 30.8 percent shooting.Jordan Woodard matched a career high with 28 points, Christian James scored 15 and Rashard Odomes added 10 for the Sooners (6-3).A tough ballgame, Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. I thought both clubs fought like crazy for 40 minutes.Woodard made a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to cut the Shockers lead to a point, but Brown made two free throws at the other end to seal the win.Wichita States margin would have been larger, but the Sooners outscored the Shockers 27-17 from the free-throw line. Oklahoma made 14 free throws in the first half to take a 39-37 lead at the break.I thought, to be down two points, as poorly as we played in the first half -- this is very winnable, Marshall said.dddddddddddd We just need to go out and take it to them. Dont be afraid. Dont play on your heels. Play with swagger. Play with determination and toughness. I thought we were better at that in the second half.BIG PICTUREWichita State: The Shockers had already lost to Louisville and Michigan State, so beating Oklahoma, even without last years firepower, is significant.I think this will be an NCAA Tournament team, Marshall said of Oklahoma. When you see these guys on film, youre like, `Man, theres so much young talent. But its young talent.Oklahoma: The Sooners needed a good non-conference win after losing to Wisconsin on Dec. 3. They could have used this one in case they are on the bubble in March.QUOTABLEMarshall, on Smiths game-changing athletic talent: Hes got that type of ability, and he shows it more and more. Hes really starting to hit his stride, and play really well as a young player in our program.STAT LINESThe teams took turns missing heaves from the NBA 3-point line at Chesapeake Energy Arena, where the Oklahoma City Thunder play. Wichita State made 9 of 28 and Oklahoma made 6 of 21.UP NEXT:Wichita State hosts Oklahoma State on Dec. 17. The Cowboys are one of the nations highest-scoring teams and will test the Shockers.Oklahoma hosts Memphis on Dec. 17. The Sooners get another crack at claiming a non-conference win over a big-name program.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . 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