The latest shot in the Big Ten-SEC back-and-forth didn’t land the way SEC Network host Peter Burns probably hoped.
Tuesday’s release of the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll gave the SEC nine teams in the Top 25, with the Big Ten close behind at eight. Burns jumped on the numbers and tried to use them as evidence that the SEC’s schedule strength was superior, posting that the nine SEC teams are all set to play at least five other Top 25 teams this season, while no Big Ten team would do the same.
“9 SEC schools play at least 5 of the Top 25 teams in the coaches poll
Not a single Big 10 team plays 5.
Efficient work https://t.co/HCvPDn2pGh
- Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) August 4, 2026”
That claim didn’t survive long. The community note attached to Burns’ post pointed out that seven Big Ten teams in the Top 25 will face at least five other Top 25 opponents this season. Michigan and Ohio State are each scheduled to play six such teams.
So the point Burns was trying to make wasn’t just off - it was badly off.
Indiana is one of the Big Ten teams with a loaded slate. The Hoosiers will play four ranked teams in the preseason poll: No.
1 Ohio State, No. 14 USC, No.
16 Michigan, and No. 19 Washington.
Indiana gets Ohio State and USC at home, while the trips to Michigan and Washington will come on the road.
The broader Big Ten-SEC debate has only grown louder, but the on-field results keep tilting the conversation toward the Big Ten. The conference has won the last three national titles, with three different programs doing it, and all three runs came through SEC heavyweights along the way.
Over the last three seasons, Big Ten and SEC teams have met four times in the College Football Playoff, and the Big Ten won all four games. The Big Ten is 13-5 as a league in the CFP during that stretch, and it went 3-1 against SEC teams in last year’s postseason. The SEC, meanwhile, finished 5-0 in postseason play as a league.
And for Indiana fans, one result still stands out: the 2026 Rose Bowl, when the Hoosiers beat Alabama 38-3.
With Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State already among the preseason favorites to win the national championship, the Big Ten has plenty of momentum heading into the season - and now it has another SEC talking point to laugh off.
In Other News...
Lions Face A LaPorta Decision That Could Shape Their Super Bowl Push
Sam LaPorta has become one of the more interesting long-term puzzle pieces in Detroit, not because of what he has done wrong, but because of what he means to a roster trying to stay on a championship track. The tight end is entering the conversation as a possible trade candidate ahead of the 2026 season, with contract and salary cap realities forcing the Lions to at least consider every big decision through a business lens.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, though, moving a player like LaPorta would be the kind of step that says a lot about how the season has gone. Detroit would much rather keep a proven weapon in place and preserve its offensive core, and only a disappointing year would really make that kind of front-office debate feel unavoidable. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Camp Suddenly Has One Injury Question Fans Can't Ignore
The Lions first padded work of camp brought a sharper edge to practice, but it also came with a few familiar absences as the team pushed into more contact and scrimmage periods. Several key players were out for injury-related reasons or acclimation, including D.J. Reed, Teddy Bridgewater and Jimmy Rolder, while Detroit also moved on from undrafted defensive back DeShawn Rucker with an injury designation.
The bigger watch item, though, is Jahmyr Gibbs. After signing his three-year contract extension, the running back was still not fully taking part and spent time working off to the side with trainers, which naturally puts extra attention on every update the Lions provide. In a camp built around physical reps and roster sorting, his status has become one of the first health questions fans will keep tracking. [Read more 🡒]
Roger McCreary's Lions Camp Slide Is Turning Into A Real Problem
Roger McCreary came into Lions training camp with a real chance to push for the starting nickel cornerback job, but the early returns have not matched the opportunity. Detroit has been hoping for someone to seize that role, and McCreary has struggled to look like the answer in coverage, with a few recent drills underlining how far he still has to go to settle things down.
The concern now is less about one rough practice than the bigger picture if the slide continues. McCreary still has time to turn it around, but in a camp where every rep matters, his margin for error is shrinking, and the Lions will have decisions to make if the inconsistency carries into the roster cutdown process. [Read more 🡒]