One of the annual rights of spring is listening to SEC fans going on their traditional rants of how tough their conference is and how it is their divine right to have multiple College Football Playoffs spots reserved for them at season’s end. But now, that claim no longer holds water. For the first time in years, the SEC cannot rightfully hold that title, having to relinquish that accolade to the Big 10.
SEC Claims Now Have Holes
The SEC’s claims to being the toughest conference were always predicated on two main factors, championships and depth as was pointed out by 247Sports. For years, it was a fairly strong argument, as Alabama and Georgia captured multiple titles. In addition, with teams like LSU also bringing home a championship, and others having powerful programs, it fulfilled the depth requirement as well. But recent shifts in conference alignments, SEC power shortages, as well as the changing face of college athletics, have moved the crown of the toughest conference north.
Re-alignment Brought More To The Big 10
The Big 10 landed a major coup, grabbing USC from the dying PAC 12, and the fact that Oregon and Washington followed suit only enhanced the windfall. This re-alignment brought three blue-chip schools into the conference, including one that made it to the national title game last season. With Oregon ranked in the top five of most polls and USC on a tear in recruiting, the Big 10 added three juggernauts.
Of course, the SEC will be adding Texas and Oklahoma to their roster. While both are traditional blue-blood programs, the fact they come via the Big 12, which has not been deep, and that there are two of them as opposed to the four programs entering the Big 10, lessens that impact. And with the Big 10 possibly looking to acquire more teams as was reported by Adam Gibbs of Grid Iron Heroics indicates that the needle is pointing north.
The Depth Is Not There
The SEC’s famed depth has taken a hit in the last couple of years. While Alabama, Georgia, and LSU will still be very strong, other powers like Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M, and South Carolina have languished in mediocrity over the past several seasons. This coupled with the fact that six, or nearly half of last year’s SEC teams finished the 2023-24 season with losing records, puts their so-called depth arguments to rest. The final results could be seen on the field as well, as end-of-the-year bowl performances saw the SEC finish with a 12-13 record against the rest of the country.
The Big 10 Fulfills Both Requirements
With Michigan winning the national championship in 2024, and now being joined in the conference by their opponents in that title game, the Washington Huskies, it has become obvious that the stranglehold the SEC had on the national title has loosened. In addition, when you have teams like top-five ranked Ohio State and Oregon also in the conference, it is safe to say that they not only have as many true contenders for the championship, but more.
But where the Big 10 truly stands out is in its depth. Along with Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington, you also have Penn State, USC, Wisconsin, Iowa, and even a resurgent Nebraska. Though SEC fans will point out Ole Miss as a tough opponent, the fact that nearly half the teams in their conference had losing records makes their claims to having quality through and through, dubious at best.
They Continue To Play Weak Non-Conference Schedule
One of the most common, and quite frankly annoying defenses that SEC fans regularly use for playing a weak non-conference schedule was that because they had so many tough in-conference games, it negated the need to schedule difficult non-conference opponents. And while it was not a good argument to begin with, the fact that their conference schedule is not as earth-shaking as it once was, makes it an even weaker excuse.
Yes, there are exceptions, such as LSU playing USC in their opener this year, but for the most part, the SEC still hasn’t made the necessary adjustments to give their “toughest conference” claim more credibility. Even in the face of continued criticism, the SEC refuses to budge from their eight-game conference schedule, a move that was called lazy by Chris Gordy on his Locked On SEC podcast. This is coupled with the fact that many of its high-profile teams refuse to stop playing body bag games in their second to last game of the season. So while Big 10 teams are playing tough conference opponents, Alabama will still line up against Mercer, Georgia will play UMass, and Ole Miss will have its second bye week within a 21-day period the weekend before their season finales.
Shifting College Landscape Leans North & West
NIL and the transfer portal have had a massive impact on the college game. It is true that many of the traditional blue-bloods of the SEC have solid NIL programs. However, the lure of the Los Angeles market brought to the Big 10 by incoming members USC and UCLA, as well as the Nike money behind Oregon, makes landing the best talent a much easier sell. In addition, the transfer portal will pay significant dividends to these programs, as well as the already established Big 10 members.
Time Will Tell
The SEC does have a chance to reclaim the title. But going into this year, none of their boasting about the brutal South is enough to overcome the obvious pitfalls in their argument. It is time to deal with the reality, and that is if the SEC wants to win back the honor of being known as the nation’s toughest conference, they will actually be required to earn it.