Urban Meyer, a coach with national championships in both the SEC and Big Ten conferences, has declared the Big Ten the best conference in college football, asserting that the balance of power has shifted from the SEC.
For nearly two decades, the SEC was recognized for its dominance, securing 13 national championships in 17 years. However, Meyer noted a change over the past three seasons, pointing to victories by Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana in national championship games. He highlighted that the Big Ten holds a 4-0 record against the SEC in College Football Playoff games and a 4-1 record in non-CFP bowl games, underscoring his assertion of the Big Ten's current superiority.
Beyond playoff success, Meyer also cited the NFL Draft as a key indicator. "The SEC has dominated the NFL Draft for so many years," Meyer said. "You know what happened last year? The Big Ten had more first-round picks than the SEC. The Big Ten Conference is the strongest conference in college football."
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Big Ten saw four teams reach the College Football Playoff, with Indiana and Ohio State earning top seeds. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, marking the first time a Big Ten player had been taken first overall since 2008. Four of the top 10 selections in the 2025 draft were from the Big Ten, including Mendoza, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, and Ohio State linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles.
Meyer's coaching career includes a highly successful tenure at Ohio State from 2012-2018, where the Buckeyes compiled an 83-9 record and won at least 10 games each season, culminating in a national championship in 2014. Previously, he coached at Florida in the SEC from 2005-2010, achieving a 65-15 record, two SEC titles, and two national championships in 2006 and 2008.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Big Ten features prominently in the AP Top 25 rankings, with three teams in the top 10 and eight teams ranked overall. These include Ohio State (No. 1), Oregon (No. 2), Indiana (No. 6), USC (No. T-14), Michigan (No. 16), Washington (No. 17), Penn State (No. 18), and Iowa (No. 22).