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Which is the top conference in college football right now: the Big Ten or the SEC?
After producing the last three College Football Playoff national champions, from three different schools, there’s no denying that the Big Ten has been on top of the college football world recently. But there’s also a growing sentiment that the SEC is stronger in the middle and at the bottom, making it the deepest league overall.
“There was a lot of criticism from the Big Ten about that this week,” FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt said on a recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” discussing what he learned at the Big Ten’s spring meetings in Palos Verdes, California. “And really, the Big Ten isn’t wrong.”
Klatt noted that the Big Ten is 4-0 against the SEC in the College Football Playoffs over the past three years. The conference is also 5-2 against the SEC in non-CFP bowl games over the past two years.
“There’s this idea that the depth of the Big Ten is being undervalued nationally, and one way to combat that would be a scheduling agreement with the SEC,” Klatt said. “They want to fight the narrative on the field.”
Here’s a look at 10 future college football matchups between the SEC and the Big Ten. Klatt would love to see if the conferences ever reach a scheduling agreement:
South Carolina vs. Illinois
Klatt: Bielema-Beamer 2! Remember that Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2024 season, when there was some bad blood, particularly over the way the game ended? I want this again. No doubt. This may not be the best possible matchup, but the stories would certainly be deep.
Georgia vs. Oregon
Klatt: Kirby [Smart] Face Dan Lanning at Autzen Stadium? Yeah! I’m on it. Lanning’s first game as head coach of the Oregon Ducks was against Georgia, and that was in Atlanta in 2022. Georgia defeated them, 49-3. I would love to see Kirby step up and face his former assistant and defensive coordinator.
Ohio State vs. Tennessee
Klatt: We heard a lot in the playoffs a couple of years ago about Neyland North. Listen, Tennessee fans, to your credit, you guys were huge in that playoff game. No doubt. There was more orange in the stands than I’ve seen of any other color in my history calling college football games in Columbus at The Shoe. I want Ohio State to come and return the favor.
LSU vs. USC
Klatt: lane [Kiffin] Back in Los Angeles? Yes, you bet! Obviously, Lane has returned to Los Angeles, but not in an official capacity since he was let go as head coach of the USC Trojans. Bring it back. I want that every day of the week. Every year. That would be phenomenal. Please give us this programming deal because it would be great for the fans and great for college football.
Nebraska vs. Oklahoma
Klatt: How about bringing back an old rival? Nebraska-Oklahoma used to be as good as any rivalry in college football, perhaps second only to Michigan-Ohio State. Throughout the Big 8, and even the Big 12, this was a major Thanksgiving weekend matchup. Bring this one back.
USC vs. Texas
Klatt: I’m playing all the classics and USC-Texas is absolutely a classic that I want to see. Obviously, that Rose Bowl with [Matt] Leinart, [Reggie] Bush and Vince Young was perhaps the best game we’ve seen in the history of college football. You get those colors on the field at the same time. It would just ooze nostalgia. We’d be thinking about that and Keith Jackson on the call.
Indiana in Alabama
Klatt: Curt Cignetti returns to Alabama, where he started, big, low [Nick] Saban as recruiting coordinator. Plus, this would be a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl. It would be great.
UCLA vs. Tennessee
Klatt: This one is urgent. So it wouldn’t happen unless we could do it this year. But what if Nico Iamaleava returns to Tennessee? How about Nico and [UCLA head coach] Will Bob Chesney face Josh Huepel and Tennessee in Knoxville? I’m sure those fans would welcome Nico with open arms.
Ohio State vs. Florida
Klatt: I would love to see the Urbano. [Meyer] Bol. Urban won a championship with both schools. I think it would be phenomenal.
Alabama vs. Washington
Kalen DeBoer had a lot of success in Washington, putting them right on the brink of a championship and then leaving for the bigger, greener pastures of the SEC and Alabama.
