Why the Big Ten Might Regret Pushing the SEC on Its College Football Schedule

Why the Big Ten Might Regret Pushing the SEC on Its College Football Schedule

If the Big Ten successfully pressures the SEC into cutting back on easy non-conference games and increasing its conference schedule, it would be a win for college football—but possibly a loss for the Big Ten itself.

The Big Ten’s argument is that the SEC spends too much of its season facing weak opponents. This sentiment was echoed recently by Illinois coach Bret Bielema, who called for the SEC to add a ninth conference game.

If the Big Ten succeeds in forcing the SEC to cut back on these “cupcake” games, it would be a positive development for the sport as a whole. The prevalence of non-conference games against weak teams remains a significant flaw in college football, and no conference relies on these easy wins more than the SEC.

The most effective way to reduce these non-competitive games is to add another conference matchup, something the Big Ten and Big 12 already do. This would ensure more meaningful games, though not all schools will willingly agree to stop scheduling so many easy wins.

So, while the Big Ten may have good intentions, trying to bully the SEC into adopting nine conference games could end up backfiring. There are two potential outcomes that could unfold:

Possibility 1: The SEC Refuses and Sticks to 8 Games

The SEC could dig in its heels and reject the Big Ten’s challenge, keeping its eight-game schedule. This would show that the Big Ten lacks the influence it thinks it has over other conferences. After all, this wouldn’t be the first time the Big Ten failed to lead—remember when the conference canceled its 2020 season, only for the SEC to play, and the Big Ten eventually had to follow suit with a shortened season? More recently, the Big Ten pushed for a playoff format with automatic bids, but when the SEC objected, the proposal quickly fell apart.

Possibility 2: The SEC Adopts the Ninth Game and Builds an Even Stronger Schedule

The SEC has historically avoided adding a ninth conference game, citing various reasons. However, if it ever does decide to make the change, it would likely find that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Contrary to the SEC’s claim that its strength of schedule isn’t valued by the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee, history suggests otherwise. The SEC’s schedule strength has been highly regarded, and if the playoff expanded to 16 teams, the SEC would likely have three 9-3 teams and six total teams in the field—something no other conference could match.

If the SEC does add a ninth conference game, it could further enhance its already formidable strength of schedule. This would make it even harder for the Big Ten to argue its case for playoff spots. The addition would also help ensure that the SEC’s top teams—already strong—are more clearly distinguished from the weaker teams in the league, which could benefit their playoff chances.

Right now, the Big Ten holds one rhetorical advantage over the SEC: its teams play one extra conference game, and most Big Ten teams face 10 Power Four opponents, while most SEC teams face nine. If the SEC adds a ninth conference game, the Big Ten loses that upper hand.

Possibility 3: The SEC’s Strength Is Too Much to Overcome

There is a slim chance that the SEC could add a ninth game, leading to a higher number of losses among its top teams, which would theoretically reduce the number of SEC teams with playoff-worthy resumes. This could open the door for the Big Ten to gain more playoff spots.

But this outcome seems unlikely. The committee already values strength of schedule, and the SEC’s schedule would be even stronger if it added another conference game.

Even with surprising upsets like Vanderbilt beating Alabama or Kentucky pulling off a road win against a top-five opponent, the SEC consistently places multiple teams in the playoff race. If teams like Alabama and Ole Miss faced an extra conference game instead of a non-conference blowout, their playoff credentials would improve even more.

The Big Ten’s call for the SEC to enhance its strength of schedule could ultimately backfire, especially as the CFP continues to place more emphasis on schedule strength. In 2020, for instance, when teams only played conference games, the SEC placed four teams in the top nine of the final CFP rankings. Playing more SEC games didn’t hurt that year—it actually helped.

If the Big Ten succeeds and the SEC adds another conference game in place of a cupcake opponent, it would certainly improve college football. But it may not benefit the Big Ten the way they hope.