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Which is currently the leading conference in college football: 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 recently sat atop the college football world. But there is also a growing sentiment that the SEC is stronger in the middle and bottom, making it the deepest league overall.
“There was a lot of pushback from the Big Ten about it this week,” FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt said on a recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” discussing what he learned at the Big Ten spring meetings in Palos Verdes, California. “And really, the Big Ten is not wrong.”
Klatt pointed out that the Big Ten was 4-0 against the SEC in the College Football Playoff over the last three years. The conference is also 5-2 against the SEC in non-CFP bowl games over the past two years.
“There is a notion that the depth of the Big Ten is underestimated nationally, and one way to combat that would be to reach a scheduling agreement with the SEC,” Klatt said. “They want to combat the discourse on the ground.”
Here’s a look at 10 future SEC-Big Ten college football matchups Klatt would like to see if the conferences have already agreed to a scheduling agreement:
South Carolina vs. Illinois
Klatt: Bielema-Beamer 2! Remember the Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2024 season, where there was disagreement, including how the game ended? I still want this. There is no doubt. It might not be the best possible matchup, but the storylines would certainly run deep.
Georgia vs. Oregon
Klatt: Kirby [Smart] face Dan Lanning at Autzen Stadium? Yes! I’m in on it. Lanning’s first game as head coach of the Oregon Ducks was against Georgia, and that one came in Atlanta in 2022. Georgia beat them 49-3. I would love to see Kirby come up and take on his former assistant and defensive coordinator.
Ohio State vs. Tennessee
Klatt: We heard a lot about Neyland North in the playoffs a few years ago. Listen, Tennessee fans, it’s to your credit that you were great in this playoff game. There is no doubt. There was more orange in the stands than I have seen any other color in my history at college football games in Columbus at The Shoe. I want to see Ohio State go and return the favor.
LSU vs. USC
Klatt: way [Kiffin] Back to Los Angeles? Yeah, you bet! Lane is obviously back in Los Angeles, but not in an official capacity since he was left on the tarmac as head coach of the USC Trojans. Bring him back. I want this every day of the week. Every year. That would be phenomenal. Please give us that scheduling deal because it would be great for fans and great for college football.
Nebraska vs. Oklahoma
Klatt: How about bringing back an old rival? Nebraska-Oklahoma was once as good as any rivalry in college football, perhaps second only to Michigan-Ohio State. Throughout the 8 days of the Big, and even the Big 12, this was a highlight game of the Thanksgiving weekend. Bring this one back.
USC vs. Texas
Klatt: I’m just hitting all the classics, and USC-Texas is absolutely a classic I want to see. Obviously, this Rose Bowl with [Matt] Léinart, [Reggie] Bush and Vince Young may have been the greatest matchup we’ve seen in college football history. You get these colors on the field at the same time. It would just be dripping with nostalgia. We would think about it and Keith Jackson on the call.
Indiana in Alabama
Klatt: Curt Cignetti returns to Alabama, where he got his start strong under [Nick] Saban as recruiting coordinator. Plus, it would be a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl. That would be great.
UCLA vs. Tennessee
Klatt: This one is time sensitive. So that wouldn’t happen unless we could do it this year. But how about Nico Iamaleava returning to Tennessee? And Nico and [UCLA head coach] Will Bob Chesney face Josh Huepel and Tennessee in Knoxville? I’m sure these fans would welcome Nico with open arms.
Ohio State vs. Florida
Klatt: I would love to see the Urban [Meyer] Bowl. Urban won a championship with both of those schools. I think it would be phenomenal.
Alabama vs. Washington
Kalen DeBoer had a lot of success in Washington, putting them on the brink of a championship and then moving on to the bigger, greener pastures of the SEC and Alabama.
