For decades the SEC was the premier conference for college football but in recent years the Big Ten Conference has challenged the SEC for the throne. The Big Ten has the past three defending champions and now they have the sport’s most recognizable commentator.
While appearing on the Dan Patrick Show earlier this month, ESPN football announcer Kirk Herbstreit voiced his belief in the Big Ten to become a powerhouse that could even supersede the SEC.
Patrick asked Herbstreit when a sense of “panic” will set in for the SEC given the Big Ten’s run of recent success. Herbstreit believes that the time for panic has already occurred after seeing Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana run off three national titles in a row.
“I think we’ve passed it personally. I don’t think you can argue with the results. It’s not just three in a row, what people are over-looking, for me anyways, is the head-to-head,” Herbstreit said. “I think the Big Ten is 6-2 against the SEC in the last two years. When it was the other way around, that’s all you heard about.”
The Big Ten’s depth is growing too. In addition to the championship winners, the Big Ten has Oregon, USC and Penn State behind them. If Bob Chesney can reignite the UCLA Bruins’ program, then they’ll be another Big Ten program with deep pockets to compete against the SEC.
“I think in this new era that we’re in, the Big Ten is proven to do a better job of keeping their players more invested in their team,” Herbstreit said. “I feel like SEC players, as soon as they’re out of the playoffs, them and their agents are like ‘I’m out of here’ and I feel like the Big Ten is doing a much better job of keeping them invested.”
The Big Ten will look to make it four-straight national titles this season, with the national title game set to be held in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 25th, 2027.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Kirk Herbstreit believes the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
