It is in the SEC though. Since 2004, there hasn't been a team win the SEC, that has finished worse than 3rd in the conference in total rushing yards. In fact, only twice has the #1 rushing team in the conference not made it to the SECCG since then, and 5 out of the 8 games played since then, the team who finished higher in total rushing yards, won the game. Only 3 teams of the 16 that made it to the SECCG, have been ranked lower than 4th in the conference in rushing, and in 3 out of those 8 games, the 1st and 2nd ranked teams that season in rushing played each other.
So, yes, rushing matters, and there isn't anyway around that.