Big Ten challenges SEC dominance as college football reshapes itself

Colin Cowherd on Expectations for Ohio State, Texas & USC plus the Big Ten vs SEC Power Shift

NIL, quarterback continuity, realignment, and playoff reform are changing how teams build power and how contenders reach the postseason.

3 key takeaways

1Experienced quarterbacks and greater roster continuity could make the sport more competitive nationally.
2The Big Ten’s physical edge and favorable schedules challenge the SEC’s long-standing talent advantage.
3Texas–Ohio State, USC’s playoff path, and Michigan–Oklahoma could define the season’s early narrative.

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Cowherd argues that the Big Ten’s recent results and physical style indicate it has become stronger than the SEC, challenging the sport’s established hierarchy.

The brief

Colin Cowherd and Joel Klatt argue that NIL, experienced quarterbacks, and broader national representation have made college football healthier and more compelling.

Their central debate is whether the Big Ten has overtaken the SEC physically, as roster movement and quarterback continuity narrow the conference’s former talent advantage.

Texas faces Ohio State at home before navigating the SEC and playoff race, while Penn State benefits from avoiding both Oregon and Ohio State.

USC’s roster and difficult Big Ten schedule raise a sharper question: would narrowly missing the playoff be enough to preserve Lincoln Riley’s job?

The early season’s defining tests may come in week two, when Ohio State meets Texas and Michigan visits Oklahoma in games built to expose contenders.

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