College GameDay is set in Eugene, Oregon, this weekend for one of the nation’s top matchups No. 7 Indiana versus No. 3 Oregon in a high-stakes Big Ten showdown. Despite the excitement surrounding the game, Nick Saban took the opportunity to question the conference’s overall quality compared to the SEC.
During his Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the legendary Alabama coach shared doubts about the Big Ten’s depth. Saban acknowledged that Ohio State and Oregon are legitimate national contenders but suggested there’s a noticeable drop-off after that. Indiana, he noted, could prove itself depending on how it performs against the Ducks, but beyond those few, he sees little elite competition.
Saban’s comments implied that much of the Big Ten consists of solid but unspectacular teams, lacking the week-to-week rigor found in the SEC. While he credited the top programs for their consistency, his remarks highlighted a broader skepticism about the conference’s overall strength particularly when compared to the depth and physicality of the Southeastern Conference.
“I don’t think the Big Ten is really that deep,” Saban said. “It’s not like the SEC where you got eight or nine teams that can beat you. There might be three or four teams in the Big Ten that can beat you.”
When challenged on his comments, Nick Saban didn’t back down he doubled down. Responding to co-host AJ Hawk’s pushback, Saban questioned the notion that the Big Ten is truly a deep conference, asking pointedly, “Deeper by what? By who?”
He then elaborated, listing only a few Big Ten teams he considered legitimately strong. “I mean, Penn State? Maybe Michigan,” Saban said before turning his attention to USC, which recently joined the conference. “We’ll see tomorrow about USC. They’re alright, but alright is not really what I’m talking about. You think USC is going to beat Ohio State? You think that would be a game if they played, really?”
Saban’s remarks made clear that, in his view, the Big Ten’s strength lies at the very top and drops off quickly after that. While he struggled to name more than a few programs he respects in the league, he had no trouble rattling off multiple SEC teams he believes could compete with or surpass them, further emphasizing his belief that the SEC remains the nation’s deepest and most competitive conference.
Saban continued his critique by acknowledging a few standouts but questioning the rest of the Big Ten’s credibility. “You have Oregon, Indiana legit, so far. And we’ll see how legit Indiana is probably tomorrow,” he said, suggesting the Hoosiers still had more to prove on the field.
He then took a sharper jab at another conference member, pointing to Illinois’ poor performance against Indiana. “I mean, Illinois got beat like a redheaded stepchild, you know, down at Indiana, so are they legit? I mean, c’mon,” Saban added, using his trademark bluntness to underline his skepticism.
Finally, he circled back to the one program he consistently respects: Ohio State. “Ohio State is great,” Saban concluded, implying that while a few teams may flash potential, only the Buckeyes have consistently reached the elite standard he associates with national contenders.
“A&M is pretty good, Georgia is pretty good, Ole Miss is pretty good. Alabama has got a chance. Missouri has got a chance. I mean, there’s a lot of good teams. Tennessee is pretty good.”
This latest debate adds another layer to the long-running discussion about the supremacy of the SEC versus the Big Ten in college football. Once considered a one-sided argument in favor of the SEC, the narrative has shifted in recent years as the Big Ten has begun to close the gap. After the SEC captured 13 of 17 national championships between 2006 and 2022, the Big Ten has claimed each of the last two, signaling a growing balance of power at the top of the sport.
The rivalry between the two conferences now extends beyond championships to the weekly discussions surrounding depth, competition, and overall dominance. Saban’s comments come at a time when both leagues appear to boast legitimate national contenders capable of making playoff runs. This parity has fueled debates among analysts and fans about which conference truly deserves to be called the best in college football today.
A look at the current AP Poll reflects just how closely matched the conferences are. The Big Ten features five teams ranked inside the Top 25, with three among the nation’s Top 10. Meanwhile, the SEC remains stacked with nine teams in the Top 20 eight of them within the Top 15 showing that, despite recent Big Ten success, the Southeastern Conference still holds a depth advantage across the board.
While it’s easy to debate endlessly about which conference currently reigns supreme especially knowing where the last two national championships now reside Nick Saban’s comments added fresh fuel to the discussion. The legendary coach made it clear that, despite recent Big Ten success, he still believes the SEC’s overall depth gives it the edge. In Saban’s eyes, the Southeastern Conference remains the most battle-tested league in college football, with more teams capable of competing at an elite level week in and week out.
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