The Big Ten and the SEC are looking more and more like the AFC and NFC by the year. They seem to be the only entities with any power to influence anything in college football off the field, and on the field, they have most of the nationally relevant football programs.
One good thing that these two conferences could bring us in the near future is a scheduling alliance. It seems to be a bargaining chip in an attempt to get a 24-team playoff, which no one wants, but we do want the best teams to play each other.
For the sake of this exercise, we're going to look at it as if every team in the SEC will play the top 16 teams in the Big Ten based on the previous year's standings (1st place plays 1st place, 2nd place plays 2nd place, etc.) The games will all be played on home campuses. Let's say odd numbers in the standings are hosted by the Big Ten, and evens are hosted by the SEC, alternating every year. Which conference would win more games?
Conference Champions: Georgia vs Indiana
The last national champion from the SEC against the last national champion from the Big Ten. Two of the three best coaches in the sport. This one would certainly get the eyeballs of the nation. Georgia has seemed to be a step behind their standard for the last couple of years, while Indiana has been the standard for turning around a program in the last two years. Hoosiers win.
Runner-ups: Ohio State vs Alabama
The two premier programs in college football over the last 20 years in an early-season showdown like this would be incredible for college football. Good news: these two teams will play each other in the non-conference in each of the next two seasons. Ohio State is as high-powered as it has ever been, while Alabama has clearly taken a step back without Nick Saban. Buckeyes win.
Third place: Ole Miss vs Oregon
Two new blood programs at the top of these conferences meet up in Eugene. If nothing else, they'd give us a cool uniform matchup. I need to see a lot more from Pete Golding to be convinced that Ole Miss will stay at this level, whereas Oregon appears to be the next program to break through. Ducks win.
Fourth place: USC vs Texas A&M
USC navigated a tough Big Ten schedule to finish 9-3 last season and will have a similar challenge in 2026. Texas A&M was the schedule team last year, as they went 11-1 without much of a challenge. USC's offense will give them a chance against anyone this season. Is picking Lincoln Riley to win against a physical SEC team a dumb thing to do? Maybe, but this game isn't real, so I can't be proven wrong. Trojans win.
Fifth place: Oklahoma vs Michigan
If you're excited for this hypothetical game, good news! It is literally happening this Saturday in the Big House. How many extra seconds will Michigan need to brave this Oklahoma defense? Sooners win.
Sixth place: Iowa vs Texas
Texas has one of the most talented rosters in the country. Iowa has a history of bringing teams like that down to their level when they play in Iowa City. In this hypothetical, the game is in Austin. Longhorns win.
Seventh place: Vanderbilt vs Minnesota
Vanderbilt is clearly more committed to football than they have been in the past. They went out and got five-star quarterback Jared Curtis in this most recent recruiting class. However, after losing Diego Pavia, this is expected to be a rebuild year in Nashville. Minnesota has been nothing but consistent under P.J. Fleck. Golden Gophers win.
Eighth place: Washington vs Missouri
Missouri has had a hard time in recent years winning against ranked teams. I think that would overcome Washington's struggles with traveling for road games. Tigers win.
Ninth place: Tennessee vs Illinois
An orange overload in Champaign. Illinois has been incredibly underrated nationally, whereas Tennessee has been consistently over-ranked by the AP Poll, despite really only having one big win over Alabama in 2024. Fighting Illini win.
Tenth place: Nebraska vs LSU
Nebraska has been a program looking to find consistency ever since joining the Big Ten. LSU is an incredibly talented team; it's all about Lane Kiffin being able to put it together, as he did at Ole Miss. Tigers win.
Eleventh place: Kentucky vs Northwestern
Two similar programs here, and not just because they're both called the Wildcats. Two programs in tough conferences that have made significant moves to show that they are committed to football. Northwestern's coaching staff is more established. Northwestern Wildcats win.
Twelfth place: UCLA vs Florida
Two head coaches of playoff teams from a year ago are bringing in a flush of talent to their new schools. I'll go with the more dedicated football school at home. Gators win.
Thirteenth place: Mississippi State vs Penn State
There is a talent difference in this game. Penn State, as a program, should always be ahead of a program like Mississippi State. Nittany Lions win.
Fourteenth place: Wisconsin vs South Carolina
South Carolina has a real NFL prospect at quarterback in LaNorris Sellers. Wisconsin is spending more money in an effort to get back to its winning ways, but I need to see it first. Gamecocks win.
Fifteenth place: Auburn vs Rutgers
Rutgers has been able to drag itself out of the basement of the Big Ten under Greg Schiano, but those days appear to have returned after their season-opening loss to UMass. Tigers win.
Sixteenth place: Michigan State vs Arkansas
Michigan State won a conference game last year, whereas Arkansas did not. Both teams are bringing in new coaches, and both will have a big rebuild in front of them. Michigan State's new head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, has been out of the game for a couple of years. Arkansas's new head coach, Ryan Silverfield, had a good amount of success at Memphis. Razorbacks win.
Maryland and Purdue did not make it into the challenge. Better luck next year. The final tally: an 8-8 tie. Big Ten takes the top. SEC takes the bottom. Even in the middle. Let's make this a reality someday.
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