We have made the NCAA when going 8-8 or 9-7 in the division. Our schedule strength killed us this year.
You are correct that our SOS killed us this year. My point is the non- conference schedule was not great but it was OK. We played Purdue, OK St, Seton Hall and Providence. Our SOS did not go up after conference play started because of the weak SEC West:
Auburn 256
LSU 227
Ark 130
Miss St 120
Miss 86
It is to our advantage to play in a conference that gets national respect.