For years, the SEC has worn college football’s crown with pride - and plenty of evidence to back it up. But if you’ve been watching closely over the last few seasons, that crown’s been slipping. And Joel Klatt, never one to shy away from calling it like he sees it, put the spotlight squarely on that shift during a recent episode of The Joel Klatt Show.
Klatt, a former Colorado quarterback and a regular voice on Big Ten and Big 12 broadcasts, didn’t mince words. He pointed to the cold, hard results: since Georgia’s last national title in 2022, the SEC has gone 2-7 in College Football Playoff games against other Power Four opponents.
Against the Big Ten? A flat-out 0-4.
That’s not a fluke - that’s a trend. And it’s one that’s starting to redefine where the true power lies in college football.
The Big Ten’s Three-Year Run of Dominance
Let’s break it down. In 2023-24, Michigan powered through the playoff to win it all.
The following year, Ohio State took the first-ever 12-team CFP and ran the table. And this season?
Indiana - yes, Indiana - capped off a dream run with a dominant national title win, including a 38-3 Rose Bowl blowout over Alabama.
That’s three straight titles for the Big Ten. Three different programs.
Three seasons of playoff dominance. And Klatt’s message was simple: this isn’t about hype or history - it’s about what’s happening on the field right now.
“The strength of college football in our country does not reside in the SEC,” Klatt said. “Those are the facts based on the data.
Championships, drafts, postseason record. There’s nothing else we can go on.”
He’s not wrong. The Big Ten hasn’t just been winning - it’s been winning convincingly, and against the very teams that once defined SEC dominance.
The SEC’s Struggles in the Spotlight
Alabama, long the face of the SEC’s superiority, has suddenly become the symbol of its decline. Two straight playoff losses - both to eventual champions - might seem forgivable on paper.
But the manner of those defeats tells a different story. An overtime loss to Michigan in 2024 stung.
But this year’s 38-3 dismantling by Indiana in the Rose Bowl? That was a gut punch.
And it’s not just the Tide. Texas fell to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Tennessee also bowed out early to the Buckeyes. These aren’t just close calls - they’re decisive losses in the biggest games.
Klatt didn’t hold back: “I’m arguing against this narrative that the SEC is a gauntlet. That it has to be rewarded and given the benefit of the doubt.
That narrative needs to die. It needs to die a quick death.”
Alabama’s Decline, and the Broader SEC Fallout
Let’s be honest - this shift hurts more because it’s Alabama. For over a decade, the Tide set the standard.
But since their last national title in the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season, they haven’t been the same. And with Nick Saban now out of the picture, the program is navigating uncharted waters.
Kalen DeBoer’s arrival hasn’t reversed the trend. Instead, it’s highlighted how far the Tide - and by extension, the SEC - have fallen behind. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart’s Georgia teams haven’t been able to keep pace either, especially with Big Ten programs flexing more financial muscle and on-field dominance.
And while Texas and Tennessee have shown flashes, they haven’t been able to carry the banner. The SEC’s depth, once its calling card, suddenly looks like a liability when the top of the Big Ten is this strong.
The New Reality in College Football
So where does that leave us? In a new era, plain and simple.
One where the Big Ten is no longer chasing the SEC - it’s leading the way. The playoff results speak for themselves.
The titles are stacking up. And the perception of conference strength is shifting in real time.
Klatt summed it up best: “The Big Ten has dominated when it’s mattered. They’re 4-0 in the playoff over the last three seasons.”
That’s not just a stat - that’s a statement. And for the SEC, it’s a wake-up call. Because right now, the road to college football’s throne runs through the Big Ten - and the scoreboard isn’t lying.