SEC football media days begin as Big Ten’s recent dominance looms

By Jessica Bennett — 21 July 2026 — 4 min read

As the World Cup concluded, the focus shifted to college football with the commencement of the SEC‘s football media days. Brent Venables of Oklahoma was among the first coaches to address the media in Tampa, marking the unofficial start of the college football season.

The SEC, which often promotes itself with the slogan “It Just Means More,” has recently seen its dominance in college football challenged. While the league reported significant achievements, including winning 13 national championships across various sports in the past school year, a notable absence from this tally has been the football national title for the last three consecutive seasons. This marks the longest drought for the conference in football since the period between 1999 and 2002.

Big Ten’s growing influence

In contrast, the Big Ten conference has experienced a period of significant success, securing the last three national football titles with three different teams. In head-to-head matchups against other conference rivals over the past three seasons, the Big Ten holds a 4-0 record. This success is supported by a substantial media-rights deal and an expanded geographical footprint that now stretches from coast to coast.

Financially, the Big Ten has also surpassed the SEC. While the SEC reported earnings exceeding $1 billion last year, the Big Ten generated $1.74 billion. The Big Ten has also leveraged its alumni network, including figures like Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, and Phil Knight, to contribute financially to their respective schools.

The departure of Kevin Warren from the Big Ten to the Chicago Bears followed his negotiation of a critical television deal and his leadership in the westward expansion of the conference. This expansion, combined with the on-field performance of teams like Oregon, which achieved a CFP quarterfinal berth and a semifinal spot in its two years, has contributed to a strong foundation for the Big Ten.

Challenges for the SEC

Despite the Big Ten’s rise, the SEC remains a powerful entity in college football. Commissioner Greg Sankey highlighted the league’s stance on congressional involvement in college football and the need for transparency in the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) landscape. He also confirmed that discussions about the league potentially separating from the NCAA model have occurred.

However, the SEC’s recent struggles in football coincide with the retirement of long-time coach Nick Saban and a decline in some of the league’s traditional powerhouses. For instance, Auburn has recorded five losing seasons and an average of 6.9 wins per year since its 2013 national title. Florida, a program that won two national titles under Urban Meyer, has seen four head coaches since, with none finishing higher than sixth nationally.

The upcoming season will feature six new head coaches within the SEC: Alex Golesh at Auburn, Jon Sumrall at Florida, Will Stein at Kentucky, Ryan Silverfield at Arkansas, Pete Golding at Ole Miss, and Lane Kiffin at LSU. Last year, 10 SEC teams were ranked in the preseason top 25, but two (LSU and Florida) later fired their coaches, one (South Carolina) won only one league game, and another (Tennessee) fell out of the rankings.

Looking ahead to the 2026 college football season, the SEC is still considered a premier conference, known for its combination of elite national championship contenders and overall depth. Teams such as Georgia, Texas, LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and South Carolina are expected to compete for major bowl games or spots in the expanded College Football Playoff. The Big Ten, while having elite teams like Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon, is noted for a drop-off in depth compared to the SEC.

The Big 12 is characterized as unpredictable with teams like Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech showing potential, but it lacks a clear national title favorite. The ACC faces more uncertainty, with Miami appearing to be its primary national contender, while other programs like Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, Louisville, and NC State have significant questions entering the season. The SEC continues to draw an average of 80,000 fans per game, which is noted as the highest average attendance for any sport globally.

Source: cnn.com