Big Ten joins SEC as college football boogeymen with focus on winning at all costs

The undeniable is here, staring us all directly in the face. Feel it, sense it, believe it.

The Big Ten is just as much a boogeyman as the SEC. Two villains, one heartbeat.

Long the little brother of the SEC, the Big Ten used to pal around for years with the other downtrodden of college football. It was the SEC’s world, and living in it meant complaining about it.

But look who’s all grown up now.

In less than three years, the Big Ten has executed the masterful deception of an “alliance” with the ACC and Pac-12 against the SEC, the takedown of the Pac-12, and the signing of the largest media rights deal in the history of college sports.

And it has won the last two football national championships.

The Big Ten makes more money than the SEC. The Big Ten now plays better football than the SEC.

Who exactly is the boogeyman here?

The SEC, which prior to Michigan and Ohio State winning back-to-back national titles, had won four in a row and 11 of the first 20 in the 2000s?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 20: Quinshon Judkins #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after a scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The SEC, which annually produces more players on NFL rosters – the Super Bowl champion Eagles had 20 players on their active roster from SEC teams – and dominates the NFL draft every spring?

The SEC, which opened its arms for heavyweights Texas and Oklahoma when they decided to leave the Big 12, thus ushering in the era of super conferences?

Or is it the Big Ten, which in response to Texas and Oklahoma leaving for the SEC, tried to bring Southern California and Notre Dame into the fold  — before Notre Dame declined…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-joins-sec-college-110926467.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-12 11:09:00

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