The Big Ten and SEC have battled for supremacy since the BCS era ended. Most years, one conference clearly dominates the other. But the college football playoff has shifted this conversation.
Ohio State claimed the first college football playoff title after beating Alabama. The Buckeyes also won last year’s inaugural 12-team playoff, defeating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame. Michigan beat Alabama and Washington in 2024, with Washington having defeated Texas.
That’s where the Big Ten’s playoff success ends.
Every other national champion since 2014 came from the SEC. Alabama beat Clemson twice, then Georgia, then Ohio State. Clemson defeated Alabama once. LSU topped Clemson. Georgia beat Alabama and TCU.
The sample sizes don’t match up. While the Big Ten serves as the SEC’s primary challenger, the conferences aren’t close in overall depth. This year’s story hasn’t been written yet.
SEC supporters say the Big Ten needs to get in line. Big Ten fans believe their time is now. The current AP top 25 shows three Big Ten teams in the top 10: Ohio State at No. 1, Indiana at No. 2, and Oregon at No. 7.
The SEC places five teams in the top 10, but all rank fourth or lower.
Herbstreit: No debate between conferences in 2025
Kirk Herbstreit addressed this topic during a livestream with fellow analyst Joey Galloway, according to Sports Illustrated. A viewer asked which conference was better “top to bottom” right now.
Herbstreit thought the question was obvious.
“I thought that was a trick question. There’s no debate in that at all. We’d like for there to be a debate. There’s not.”
Galloway agreed. Herbstreit continued: “We would love for there to be a debate. In past seasons, there was a bit of a debate. But this season…” He trailed off before explaining the SEC’s clear edge from top to bottom.
“I think what happens is top to bottom. Like the middle and the bottom of the SEC — different. It’s different.”
The phrasing matters here. Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon look impressive at the top. But after Oregon, you must drop ten spots to find USC at No. 17. Michigan sits at No. 18.
That’s the entire Big Ten top 25 representation.
The SEC spreads throughout the rankings: Alabama (No. 4), Georgia (No. 5), Ole Miss (No. 6), Texas (No. 10), Oklahoma (No. 11), Vanderbilt (No. 13), Tennessee (No. 21).
Top-heavy versus complete depth
The comparison breaks down to strength at the top versus overall conference depth. The argument gets more complicated when considering teams outside the top 25.
Many SEC regulars are struggling this season. Missouri, LSU, Florida, Mississippi State, Auburn and Arkansas sit unranked. Meanwhile, unranked Big Ten schools rarely factor into national championship discussions anyway.
“They’re looking at Ohio State, Indiana Oregon. You got three top 10 teams at the top,”
Galloway noted. Herbstreit added that Michigan and USC remain viable contenders.
“But then your bottom your bottom falls out.”
This debate won’t end soon. Conference loyalty runs deep among fans. Big Ten supporters argue the SEC’s dominance is finished. SEC fans say the Big Ten should return to the kids’ table.
These discussions, when kept civil, represent competition’s beauty between fanbases.
The college football playoff will eventually settle this argument. Top SEC and Big Ten teams will face each other, letting game results provide the answers.
