SEC football coaches are voicing concerns about the conference's increasingly challenging schedule, particularly in light of the Big Ten's recent national championship successes. Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz became the latest to suggest that the Big Ten's non-conference scheduling practices contribute to its dominance, while acknowledging that SEC coaches may already regret the move to a nine-game conference schedule.
Drinkwitz's comments, as reported by Brett McMurphy, suggest that the Big Ten's perceived advantage stems from playing fewer non-conference games against highly-ranked opponents. He indicated that coaches like Lane Kiffin have long expressed reservations about the shift to a nine-game SEC schedule, fearing it would negatively impact performance.
However, critics argue that such explanations overlook more significant shifts in college football. The era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal has introduced greater parity across the sport. Previously, the SEC, particularly under Alabama's dynasty, dominated championships from 2013-2022. In recent seasons, however, Big Ten teams have reached and won the national championship game for three consecutive years, with some preseason analytics favoring Big Ten teams like Ohio State and Oregon for the upcoming season.
Missouri's own 2025 non-conference schedule has drawn scrutiny. The team is slated to play six consecutive home games to begin the season, with their first road game not until October 18. The total travel distance for Missouri's four road games that season was 1,805 miles, a figure less than the distance traveled by USC, a Big Ten team, for a single non-conference road game against Notre Dame.
Critics contend that these complaints about scheduling are a misdirection. They point to the SEC's recent record in the College Football Playoff, where the conference holds a 2-7 record against other Power 4 conference teams over the past three seasons, and an overall 5-9 record including intra-conference matchups. In contrast, the Big Ten boasts a 13-5 record in the same period.
The prevailing explanation for the shift in power centers on the impact of NIL and the transfer portal. These factors have enabled other conferences to improve roster construction and competitiveness. The increasing parity means that games between top teams are often closely contested, and programs like Texas and Georgia are seen as capable of competing for national titles.
Historically, the SEC has been perceived to benefit from scheduling advantages, including lighter non-conference slates and fewer travel demands. The current complaints about a tougher conference schedule are seen by some as a reaction to the removal of these perceived advantages as other conferences adapt to the evolving landscape of college football.