The Big Ten is responsible for the past three College Football Playoff national champions in Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan.
The SEC, of course, is used to dominating the top of the sport, winning the majority of college football's national championships from the mid-2000s until the early 2020s. But times have changed.
Of course, excuses are being made.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart believes that the Big Ten is simply better up top these days, while the SEC has more depth at the bottom.
“I can’t figure out what it is,” Smart told Pat McAfee of the Big Ten’s dominance. “I just think they have a more competitive conference, like the top of their conference. There’s more good teams. It used to be that Ohio State was good. You know, Michigan was really good, but [Jim] Harbaugh had a great team. Indiana’s good. Like, now they got Oregon. They got a draw. They have an ability to attract good players.”
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Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin also believes that it's harder to compete week in and week out in the SEC.
"There’s a lot (that goes) into that. I think it’s set up in a good way for the top-heavy teams there right now. And it’s going to get better,” Kiffin told 'Pardon My Take.'
“We’re going to nine games, and our bottom is harder than theirs. And our bottom stadiums are harder (to play in) than theirs. So we’re going to beat each other up more, and they’re going to sit up there and have 2-3 hard games a year.
“So, their top teams and our top teams, when they go to the Playoffs, they’re in better shape. And that stuff matters.”
“That (Big Ten) schedule where half your games you don’t have to get up for, … many of your good players are out by the fourth quarter, so your play count at the end of the year is less,” Kiffin concluded. “One of the really good teams there rested their good players in conference games at the end of the year.”
The excuses continued on Monday
On Monday, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz accused the Big Ten of playing an easier schedule.
Ultimately, it's an embarrassing argument from the SEC's head coaches.
The Big Ten has won the past three national championships because the Big Ten has had the best team in the country three years in a row.
Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana have been as good or better than the SEC's best. It's as simple as that.
The SEC coaches need to stop whining and start winning when it matters.
