THIS must be fallout from the Auburn Syndrome.

That’s where this Southeastern Conference whining that a one-loss SEC team is more deserving of playing for the national title than an undefeated Big East team must stem from. Two years ago, the Tigers went undefeated and didn’t play for the national championship.

When the BCS system was created, never in their wildest Mint Julep-drinking days did the powers in the SEC office believe one of their schools could run the table and get shut out of the title game. In fact, no SEC team has won a national title since the current BCS system was instituted.

There is no undefeated SEC team this year, so the folks south of the Mason-Dixon line have to find a new rallying cry, and they have found one in the Big East’s success.

Undefeated Louisville hosted undefeated West Virginia last night in the biggest Thursday night game in the history of Thursday night games. The way the SEC sees it, one-loss Florida, or one-loss Tennessee, or one-loss Auburn would be a better matchup for Ohio State or Michigan in the BCS title game.

The winner of last night’s game between the Mountaineers and Cardinals deserves to play for the national title, assuming it wins out. Any other argument is just sour moonshine.

If a team runs the table, it gets to stay for dessert.

One of the sweet stories during the first half of the season was the resurgence of the Big East, which two years ago was being fitted for a coffin.

West Virginia won at Mississippi State. Louisville crushed Miami – before the ‘Canes suffered a mass meltdown. The Cardinals kept winning despite losing their star quarterback and running back. The Mountaineers, despite losing half of their starting defense, had allowed just 12.7 points per game before last night, and no team had come within 17.

Suddenly, as we enter the first week in November, a new cry erupts from the Smokey Mountains to the Auburn plains to the Florida Everglades. The Big East is not worthy. The SEC is where football is religion.

Let’s confess, SEC guys. The other part of this scenario that sits in your stomach like day-old barbecue is this: The Big East is the first conference since the SEC in 1971 to have three undefeated teams this late in the season.

Yes, we’ve forgotten Rutgers, which is 8-0. In 1979, the day before the Scarlet Knights played at Tennessee, a Knoxville columnist posed the question, “What’s a Rutgers?” Rutgers upset the Vols the next day.

Today’s question is, “What’s an ‘Eer?” It’s a West Virginia Mountaineer. The ‘Eers upset Georgia, an SEC team, in last season’s Sugar Bowl. And, the Big East is 2-0 against the SEC this season. Louisville swatted Kentucky, 59-28.

The SEC just can’t seem to beat the Big East. Even in a game of rhetoric.