Nick Saban claims NIL, financial support has given Big Ten Conference 'a bit of an edge' over SEC

Nick Saban recognizes there’s a bit of a rivalry between the SEC and the Big Ten in college football. With some of the best teams in the country littered throughout both conferences, it’s hard for there not to be healthy competition between the two conferences.

“We always talk about that. I never think about it, I just look at the teams, but there is a rivalry between the Big Ten and the SEC,” Saban stated, via Friday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show. “It can’t be denied.”

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At the moment, the Big Ten has won the last couple of national titles, and NIL has evened the playing field in Saban’s mind. He explained why the Big Ten seems to have the edge at the moment over the conference the former LSU and Alabama coach loves.

“I think that the SEC was the SEC because of the culture in the South. There wasn’t professional football in the South for a long time, and everybody related to the colleges. Well, now that doesn’t matter,” Saban added. “I mean, kids grew up wanting to go to LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Got the money now. They don’t mind going to Ohio State. They don’t mind going to other places.

“So, that geographic advantage that the Southeast Conference may be changing a little bit now, with the different culture, with NIL and the money involved in decision-making. I think that’s created a bit of an edge for the Big Ten.” 

Saban makes some salient points, as someone who’s close to the argument. Pat McAfee just can’t believe how much money there is in the Big Ten, as he echoed Saban’s sentiment in response.

“I will say this, the Big Ten has a lot of money,” McAfee added. “Everyone’s going to say what they’ll say about that whole thing. I don’t think we all understood how much money all the North has, the Big Ten has. Like, did we understand that Penn State had money? I don’t think I knew that, even as someone who grew up in Pittsburgh with a lot of friends who were Penn Staters and members of that cult. It’s like, I didn’t know they had so much money. … They needed $700 million to upgrade their stadium and it was like four calls for the athletic director.

“… We assumed that the South was going to be able to keep up. It just feels like the Big Ten has more alumni with more money, and that’s a big part of the game right now.”

Alas, money talks, but the game is settled on the field. The Big Ten has the advantage at the moment, but we’ll see if they can keep it in the ever-changing world of college football moving forward.