College Football's biggest story isn't NIL. It's the SEC-Big Ten feud

The run-up to the 2026 college football season has been glorious.

And we aren't even talking NIL and the transfer portal. That is so 2024. College football has evolved with bigger issues such as:

• Donald Trump being handed yet another loss (for now) when the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Protect College Sports Act before adjourning for its August recess. We'll see if the president can do a better job at fixing college football than he did at fixing the U.S. World Cup woes or LIV Golf or …

• The playoff looking as if it would settle on 24 teams. Or is it 16? Or 20? Do I hear 32?

• The sport's superpowers — Big Ten and SEC — engaging in their version of a cold war … and the whiny SEC being slam-dunked on by the Big Ten.

How bad has it gotten: Even SEC bootlicker Paul Finebaum is admitting defeat, basically telling commissioner Greg Sankey and anyone else involved in the league to shut up and worry about what is happening on the field.

Because for the last month Sankey, Nick Saban and coaches like Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin kept tossing the Big Ten softballs.

"First of all, whoever wins the national championship doesn't define who has the best conference," Saban said. "I think the best conference gets defined by how many good teams you have from top to bottom. And I think the SEC has a lot of good teams from top to bottom."

More college football: Heisman Trophy contenders from Florida high schools: Who leads pack?

The SEC's new rally cry: "Our worst teams are better than your worst teams."

Or is it: "It just means more to be mediocre."

Saban could not have served it up any better for the Big Ten.

"We don't run a hype machine up here in the Midwest," said Curt Cignetti, coach of the national champion Indiana Hoosiers, who embarrassed Saban's old team, Alabama, 38-3, in last season's playoff.

"We believe everything is earned, not given. When we fall short, we say: 'We fell short.' We don't cry a river, whine and complain. That's why we're the best."

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti pointed to his league's 11 playoff victories the past two seasons, which are “more than double the next-closest league.”

None of that matters. Not when Mississippi State and Arkansas can stand toe-to-toe with Purdue and Maryland.

So here are the facts. The Big Ten boasts the last three national champions: Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan, while the SEC hasn't had a team in the title game since Georgia won it all in 2022.

That win had the SEC pounding its chest, and rightfully so, with its fourth straight title and sixth in eight years.

But those were the years, in the SEC's eyes, it didn't matter if South Carolina was better than Rutgers. Because that's when rings mattered.

Now the Big Ten is looking to strengthen that hold as the best conference, and is in a good spot.

Here is The Palm Beach Post's Top 25 and playoff predictions.

Top 25

1. Oregon

Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Ohio State

What is Saban going to say when Oregon becomes the fourth different Big Ten team to win a national championship in the last four years? "But Mississippi State beat Minnesota!" QB Dante Moore could have been a first-round pick but opted for the $5 million to remain in Eugene. The Ducks were fourth in the final poll the last two years and this is Dan Lanning's best team.

2. Notre Dame

Game to circle: Nov. 7 vs. Miami

Given the controversy over last year's final playoff rankings (by the way, the committee got it right), it may seem the only game that matters for the Irish is the first week of November. And it might be. Notre Dame will be 8-0 entering that revenge game and a win could mean an unbeaten season. This is an experienced team led by a rising QB in CJ Carr, a Heisman favorite, and a very forgiving schedule.

3. Miami

Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Notre Dame

Money is talking in Coral Gables and there is enough of it for the Hurricanes to poach an in-conference QB in Duke's Darian Mensah in a very shady 11th-hour deal and to overcome Mario Cristobal's coaching flaws. The Hurricanes are benefitting from playing in the ACC, which could not even get its champion in the playoff last year. And UM does have a legit Heisman candidate in Malachi Toney, the most explosive offensive player in the country.

4. Indiana

Game to circle: Oct. 17 vs. Ohio State

Don't think the Hoosiers will be overlooked any longer. The best story in all of sports last season was Indiana going from the program with the most losses in NCAA history to winning the title. Cignetti is the best coach in the country right now. He has turned Bloomington into a destination. And don't worry about Josh Hoover taking over at QB. Hoover was a three-year starter at TCU and Cignetti did a pretty good job with his last transfer QB.

5. Ohio State

Game to circle: Sept. 12 at Texas

The Buckeyes have a lot of talent returning offensively with QB Julian Sayin, WR Jeremiah Smith and RB Bo Jackson. But they had seven defensive players drafted. Ohio State is the preseason favorite, but the way the 2025 season ended, with losses to Indiana in the Big Ten title game and Miami in the playoff, stick in my head. And the schedule is very challenging.

6. Texas

Game to circle: Sept. 12 vs. Ohio State

Talk about a gauntlet of a schedule. The Longhorns play seven teams ranked in the preseason polls, including the rematch with Ohio State, a game Texas lost a year ago by a touchdown on the road. Texas was the popular preseason No. 1 last year and did not make the playoff thanks to an inexplicable loss at Florida. QB Arch Manning will reach expectations and become the No. 1 overall pick. I see an SEC title and a couple of wins in the playoff.

7. Georgia

Game to circle: Oct. 10 at Alabama

The Bulldogs have been the most consistent program over the last decade, finishing in the top 10 of the final polls in each of the last nine years, including two titles. Georgia avoids Texas — which could make for a very juicy SEC title game — but does play Alabama, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. Still, knowing the consistency Kirby Smart has built, another stingy defense and QB Gunner Stockton rising after a strong year, the Bulldogs could get hot at the right time.

8. Texas Tech

Game to circle: Sept. 18 vs. Houston

Texas Tech is a good bet (sorry) to win the Big 12 with a schedule that could not have been drawn up better by coach Joey McGuire. The Red Raiders do not play BYU or Utah and has Houston at home on a Friday night in the Big 12 opener. With a strong NIL presence, if Texas Tech can move on from losing QB Brendan Sorsby because of his gambling issues, it could be a disrupter in the postseason.

9. USC

Game to circle: Sept. 26 vs. Oregon

We all know how the Lincoln Riley-era has gone at USC … 15 losses in the last three years and seven setbacks in his two years in the Big Ten. But I'm going to put them in the top 10 despite playing Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State. In the end, I believe USC will be sweating out a spot in the playoff.

10. LSU

Game to circle: Sept. 19 at Ole Miss

The Tigers game at Ole Miss is not just circled, underlined and highlighted by the Tigers and Rebels, but by every football fan in the country. This is Lane Kiffin's return to play the team, school, city he abandoned before last year's playoff. This game will top the charts when it comes to rude receptions, hangings in effigy and could even call for the National Guard to step in.

11. Oklahoma

Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Texas

Oklahoma made the big jump last year from 6-7, 2-6 in the SEC, to 10-3, 6-2. After being ousted from the playoff in the first round, the next step is to make a run. As expected, coach Brent Venables has the defense humming. Now it's up to QB John Mateer to stay healthy and the offense to improve.

12. BYU

Game to circle: Nov. 7 at Utah

The Cougars felt slighted by the playoff committee a year ago, being left out with a two losses, both to No. 4 Texas Tech. Kalani Sitake is among the most underrated coaches in the country and this might his best team in 11 years in Provo. BYU has a strong offensive trio in QB Bear Bachmeier, RB LJ Martin and WR Jojo Phillips.

13. Texas A&M

Game to circle: Nov. 27 vs. Texas

Coach Mike Elko has the Aggies rising in the SEC. Texas A&M was undefeated entering its regular-season finale against Texas last year, before losing two straight to end the season, including at home to Miami in the playoff. The schedule is not easy with games at LSU, Missouri, Alabama and Oklahoma; before hosting Texas the day after Thanksgiving.

14. Penn State

Game to circle: Oct. 17 at Michigan

We saw what Matt Campbell did at Iowa State, not exactly a college football hot bed. Now think what he can do at a college football blueblood like Penn State. Campbell brought 24 of his players to Happy Valley and they face a schedule that does not include Oregon, Indiana or Ohio State.

15. SMU

Game to circle: Sept. 19 at Louisville

Joining the mediocre ACC has been a big boost for SMU, which has the best record in the conference over the last two years (14-2) and played in the conference title game in its first year. The Mustangs would have been there last year, too, if not for being upset by Cal in its final regular-season game. SMU will battle it out with Louisville and Clemson to see who plays Miami in Charlotte this year.

16. Alabama

Game to circle: Oct. 10 vs. Georgia

Kalen DeBoer has taken Alabama from a dynasty to one that begs to be in the playoff with three losses. Alabama has as many losses in DeBoer's first two years (8) as it had in Saban's last five. The Tide lost last season's SEC title game to Georgia and its CFP quarterfinal to Indiana by a combined 56 points.

17. Ole Miss

Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. LSU

Enjoy your time, Rebels fans, because after QB Trinidad Chambliss is gone, and with Kiffin now at LSU, Ole Miss will be right back to winning five or six games a year. But take heart, every decade or so the Rebels might throw in a nine-win season.

18. Michigan

Game to circle: Oct. 24 vs. Indiana

Kyle Whittingham will have Michigan back in the hunt in due time. He is a tough, no-nonsense coach who builds teams from the inside out. And the Wolverines have a solid roster in Whittingham's first year. What will hold them back is a schedule that includes Indiana at home, at Oregon and Ohio State, along with a non-conference game against Oklahoma.

19. Utah

Game to circle: Nov. 7 vs. BYU

Whittingham build a sustainable program during his 21 years in Salt Lake City. Now it's up to his former defensive coordinator, and successor, Morgan Scalley, to continue that tradition. The competition with BYU and Houston to see who plays Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game will be interesting.

20. Washington

Game to circle: Oct. 3 at USC

The best thing Washington has going is its dynamic QB Demond Williams and a strong young core of players. But coach Jedd Fisch's rebuild after the Huskies played in the 2023 title game continues.

21. Houston

Game to circle: Sept. 18 at Texas Tech

The Cougars had their breakthrough year in the Big 12 last season, winning 10 games. They return 19 starters and if everything goes right for third-year coach Willie Fritz, starting with an upset win at Texas Tech in Week 3, they could crash the playoff.

22. Iowa

Game to circle: Oct. 3 vs. Ohio State

Kirk Ferentz has built a program at Iowa that has been unappreciated, one that just wins (at least eight in 11 of the last 12 years) and always is elite and disciplined on defense. The Hawkeyes again will rely on defense and the running game.

23. Tennessee

Game to circle: Sept 26 vs. Texas

Tennessee likes to tease us into thinking it could be a contender. But last year there was no doubt the Vols weren't close after going 0-4 against ranked opponents. So here we are again with Josh Heupel's team hopeful. But first, it must find a quarterback.

24. Boise State

Game to circle: Oct. 10 at Fresno State

The once-proud Pac-12 will see Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State battling it out to see who represents the conference in the playoff. I am chalking up Boise's opener at Oregon as a big-time L and looking to the game at Fresno as the most important given the conference implications.

25. Louisville

Game to circle: Sept. 19 vs. SMU

Jeff Brohm has built a solid program with at last nine wins in each of his three years at his alma mater, including two road wins at Miami and one at Clemson. Its ACC opener against SMU will go a long way in determining who plays in the ACC title game.

Playoff predictions

Top four teams with byes

1 Oregon

2 Notre Dame

3 Miami

4 Indiana

First round

5 Ohio State over 12 James Madison

6 Texas over 11 Boise State

10 LSU over 7 Georgia

9 USC over 8 Texas Tech

Quarterfinal

Oregon over USC

Notre Dame over LSU

Texas over Miami

Ohio State over Indiana

Semifinal

Oregon over Ohio State

Notre Dame over Texas

Final

Oregon over Notre Dame

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: College Football's biggest story isn't NIL. It's the SEC-Big Ten feud