College Football's Elite Divide: Is the Big Ten and SEC Now Playing a Different Game?
It feels like college football is always buzzing with passionate discussions, doesn't it? From the heated debates about who deserves a spot in the College Football Playoff and whether Group of 5 teams should get a guaranteed ticket, to the age-old question of which conference reigns supreme and which team navigated the toughest path. We're even pondering if those preseason polls should even be a thing! And, of course, there's the lingering mystery of Texas A&M's male cheerleaders and their uniquely expressive hand gestures.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Lately, the conversation has shifted towards a more fundamental restructuring of the sport. Some influential voices, like Kirk Herbstreit, have even floated the idea of the Power 4 conferences breaking away from the Group of 5 entirely.
And USC's head coach, Lincoln Riley, has just thrown a major spotlight on a specific aspect of this evolving landscape: he believes two conferences have undeniably pulled ahead of the rest, and it's all about the schedules they play.
In a candid chat with JD Pickell, Riley articulated his view that the Big Ten and SEC have established themselves as distinct entities in college football. "I think it’s pretty clear that the Big Ten and the SEC have separated themselves," he stated. "I think everybody in college football understands that. That’s just the reality of where the situation is, in terms of the schedules. I know everybody wants to sit there and debate those two conferences, but the reality is, both conferences are fantastic. Both conferences, you play elite-level teams very, very often."
It’s quite refreshing to hear a coach acknowledge the strength of both of these power conferences, especially after years where the narrative was often dominated by one. Riley's point isn't just about the quality of teams, but about the massive discrepancy in schedule difficulty that he feels has reached an all-time high.
"The strengths of schedules are very different, and I think that’s honestly made rankings and Playoff rankings that much more difficult," he explained. "The discrepancy in schedules right now has never been higher in football than where it is now. You’re asking humans to do a very difficult job, given how we currently rank teams. I think guys know now that if you come to USC and play in the Big Ten, you’re gonna play one of the best schedules in the country. You’re gonna play marquee teams on the road and certainly here in LA at The Coliseum. Your strength of schedule is not going to be questioned."
And this is the part most people miss...
It's tough to dispute Riley's assertion. While other conferences like the ACC and Big 12 certainly boast strong teams (remember when the Miami Hurricanes were so close to upsetting the Indiana Hoosiers, potentially disrupting the SEC-Big Ten dominance?), the consistency and depth within the Big Ten and SEC appear to be on another level, at least for now. This disparity, however, could lead to missed playoff opportunities for teams in other conferences, especially as the SEC moves towards a nine-game conference schedule, which inherently means more potential losses. Riley's own USC team, for instance, might have been in the playoff conversation in 2025 if they had played a less demanding schedule.
Consider the upcoming season's gauntlet for USC: Oregon in week four, Washington in week five, Penn State on the road in week six, followed by Wisconsin away, then Ohio State at home, and finally, the defending champion Indiana on the road. According to ESPN's SP+, they're slated to face teams that finished the 2025 season ranked #1, #2, #4, #13, and #15 nationally. Brutal, right? And three losses will almost certainly keep them out of the playoff.
Now, contrast that with a team like Texas Tech, whose schedule includes matchups against Abilene Christian, Oregon State, Houston, Sam Houston, Colorado, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Arizona, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and TCU. When you see these two schedules side-by-side, it's hard to deny that a significant discrepancy in strength of schedule exists.
What do you think? Is Lincoln Riley right that the Big Ten and SEC have created a distinct tier in college football due to their schedules? Or is this just the natural evolution of the sport, and other conferences will adapt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
