Most times in the recent past, that talent has prevailed. Oregon killed Tennessee, and Tennessee was very competitive against many SEC teams this year. I know that's not exact, and some dickhead will be like "OMG goat dumbars thinks Tennssee and Auburn are EQUAL !?!? what a dubmass hohehahe!!!!!!" but fact of the matter Oregon did to them what the SEC elite did to them. Cue Alabama. LSU should have gotten beat by them.
Still the difference maker is Newton - just too much of a freak of nature.