© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK
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ESPN announcer Karl Ravech was on the call for a college basketball game between SEC rivals Texas and Alabama on Tuesday night. Late in the broadcast, he attempted to highlight the conference’s strength.
Unfortunately, he failed miserably while trying to place the league on a pedestal. He’s since responded on social media after seeing his gaffe go viral.
The SEC has been the most dominant conference in the sport this season. That fact is not debatable. The most recent AP Poll shows nine of the 16 teams ranked in the Top 25. That includes four of the Top 5 squads.
The league posted an incredible 185-23 mark in non-conference action. It went 14-2 record in the ACC vs. SEC challenge. There’s a lengthy list of
To put into perspective just how impressive the out-of-conference dominance was, look no further than South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 0-10 in league play and in dead last in the SEC standings. They swept through their ACC slate, highlighted by a win over Clemson.
Even the worst team in the conference proved to be too much for non-conference foes.
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Karl Ravech noted that early season output while wrapping up his call for the Alabama-Texas game. He then attempted to take things a step further in highlighting the competitive balance within the conference. His point didn’t quite hit like he’d hoped!
Karl Ravech…oh no
“Since January 4, into Tuesday, the SEC teams are 82-82…there’s no dominant group of teams” pic.twitter.com/TEn1QzPs1A
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 12, 2025
The SEC had played 82 games in conference action. With one winner and one loser in each game, an 82-82 outcome was inevitable.
It’s not the first time someone’s been duped by the SEC statistic. Coach Archie Miller was heard quoting the record earlier in the season.
Many have ripped ESPN for supposedly promoting the SEC over other conferences this basketball season. That comes after complaints of the network’s bias for the league in football this fall.
Karl Ravech didn’t help quiet those narratives in his failed attempt to prop the SEC. He responded on social media after seeing his comment go viral.
Just landed and see X is on fire. Simple explanation. Tongue in cheek 82-82 record was to illustrate any night either team can win and one will. Clearly very poor execution on my part. It is amazing that Alabama/Auburn have only lost once in such a great conference. That’s all.
Unfortunately, the reply didn’t do much to silence critics. The SEC is the best conference in college basketball. It should lead the way in at-large bids come NCAA Tournament time. It cannot, however, do the mathematically impossible of getting above .500 while competing against itself.
Karl Ravech later admitted to his gaffe.
The broadcaster posted a second reply on X admitting his mistake. He took the “L ” and is ready to move on.
4 hours after landing, and reading all of the responses, it is overwhelming. I will heed the advice of my X friends and take the ‘L.’ My bad, my mistake. Always appreciate the feedback and grateful for the audience. A bunch of huge games left. Let’s enjoy them.
-Karl Ravech on X
While Ravech continues to receive some ribbing from his following, the gaffe can now be put behind him.