Big Ten pushes back against label of top-heavy league amid SEC rivalry

At the conference media days, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti asserted that the league’s three consecutive College Football Playoff championships—won by Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana—demonstrate strength throughout the conference, not just at the top. He rejected the notion that the Big Ten’s middle schools are weak, noting that teams must survive a rigorous regular-season schedule to reach the CFP. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey countered by emphasizing the depth of competition within his league and its record of 13 titles from 2006-2022, even though no SEC team has appeared in the last three championship games.

Data from one outlet’s SP+ rankings and recent head-to-head matchups show the Big Ten holding a 10-7 edge over the SEC in the past two seasons, including three playoff victories. Coaches from both sides, such as Illinois’ Bret Bielema and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, voiced confidence in their conference’s superiority, while former SEC coaches now in the Big Ten echoed similar sentiments. The debate underscores a broader rivalry over which conference truly dominates college football today.