The SEC isn't used to taking a backseat to anyone. But over the last few seasons, that's exactly what's happened in the college football universe. The last three National Champions have all come from the Big Ten, while the SEC has failed to even get a team to the national title game in that span.
SEC head coaches haven't been shy about voicing their frustration with that reality, and Monday's opening of SEC Media Days was no exception.
Eli Drinkwitz expresses frustration with Indiana, Big Ten scheduling
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz didn't hold back when discussing one of the reasons behind the Big Ten's recent success. Specifically, Drinkwitz expressed frustration with the non-conference schedules of Big Ten teams. But his comments ultimately missed the mark.
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“When I distinctly remember last year being in the SEC meetings when we were discussing the eight- to nine-game scenario, and we were being told that if we didn’t vote to go to a nine-game, then the playoffs wouldn’t expand, and so we made that decision," Drinkwitz said. "But in hindsight, we did not recognize, or I didn’t recognize, that they didn’t play an A4 [autonomous four] game."
The SEC is moving to a nine-game league schedule this season, which is the same as the Big Ten. However, Drinkwitz and other SEC coaches such as LSU's Lane Kiffin don't believe that is a fair approach to scheduling. They point to the Big Ten not having to play A4 non-conference opponent in the non-conference slate.
Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz says SEC coaches already regret moving to a nine-game conference schedule. He says Lane Kiffin has long been in front saying a move from eight games would be an issue.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) July 20, 2026
Drinkwitz points to Big Ten not required to play A4 non-conference opponent.
But the recent success of the Big Ten and Indiana is not because of scheduling. It's been because Big Ten teams have been better –– and the on-field results prove that.
The Big Ten has dominated the SEC in recent head-to-head matchups
Last season, the SEC underperformed once again which led to the conference going just 5-9 in the postseason. In addition, the Big Ten went 3-1 in head-to-head matchups against the SEC, which was highlighted by Indiana's emphatic 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl. That was an extremely one-sided affair that was never in doubt. What does that have to do with the non-conference schedule? The answer –– nothing.
The Hoosiers then went on to beat Oregon and Miami (FL) to win the National Championship. They played their best against the best teams on the biggest stage. That's why they won it all, not because of non-conference games that happened four months prior.
The Big Ten has also gotten the best of the SEC in head-to-head College Football Playoff meetings in recent memory. Specifically, the Big Ten is a perfect 4-0 against SEC teams in the CFP over the last three seasons. Those wins have come by an average of 20.3 points per game. Again I ask, what do those results have to do with non-conference scheduling? You guessed it –– nothing.
The reality is that the SEC is having a bit of an identity crisis. The league dominated the sport for multiple decades, but now a new era is here. Instead of accepting and addressing that new reality, some SEC voices continue searching for reasons to explain away the success of programs like Indiana. But with Cignetti at the helm, the Hoosiers have plenty of staying power in 2026 and beyond.
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