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Paul Finebaum: The Big Ten 'owns college football' after Ohio State, Michigan national titles

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samraabout 17 hours

SamraSource

Big Ten
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Paul Finebaum proclaimed the Big Ten owns college football at the moment, as the dust settles on Ohio State’s national title victory. 

As hard as it is for the SEC analyst to admit, the Buckeyes win, coupled with their victories over Tennessee and Texas during the College Football Playoff, left him no choice. When you factor in Michigan’s dominance during the previous campaign, it’s the Big Ten that deserves to be mentioned as the best conference in college football, at least for the time being. 

“The answer Greenie, is yes. The Big Ten, at the moment, owns college football,” Finebaum stated, regarding the Big Ten’s dominance over the past couple of seasons, via Get Up.” There’s no way you can say it doesn’t. When you go back-to-back, that’s generational. In Ohio State’s case, they beat two SEC schools along the way.

“There’s a there’s an old saying that was emanated in 1828, when Andrew Jackson was elected President. A Senator from New York said, ‘To the victor, belongs the spoils,’ and that’s exactly where the Big Ten is this morning. It’s an uncomfortable feeling for the SEC, which has owned the sport. But it’s a reality this morning.”

Whether it’s NIL, the transfer portal or coaching, the Big Ten has seemingly overtaken the SEC over the past two seasons. That doesn’t mean it can’t change on a dime, as the SEC cannibalized each other a bit in 2024, but they’re going to need one or two teams to step up and challenge programs like Ohio State and Michigan in 2025.

Perhaps Kalen DeBoer will be able to put it all together during Year 2 at Alabama, or Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs’ revenge tour will take some Big Ten victims. Elsewhere, the upstart South Carolina Gamecocks could take another step with LaNorris Sellers, and teams like Ole Miss and the aforementioned Volunteers, with Lane Kiffin and Josh Heupel calling the shots, can’t be counted out.

Of course, Arch Manning is also ready to be anointed as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback in 2025, as well. He flashed in 2024, but extended action could elevate Texas to sustained success, as they move on from Quinn Ewers.

Regardless, college football is a year-to-year proposition now more than ever, due to the borderline free agency the transfer portal has created. Paul Finebaum wouldn’t be disappointed if it led to the SEC returning to the forefront of college football next season, but for now, the Big Ten’s reign of dominance is the standard.