Greg Sankey Calls SEC Strongest League as Big Ten Wins 3 Straight National Titles
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 29
Greg Sankey Calls SEC Strongest League as Big Ten Wins 3 Straight National Titles
8 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 29
Greg Sankey told SEC spring meetings that College Football Playoff metrics showed the SEC was "the strongest league," even as the conference has missed the title game for three straight seasons.
Three consecutive Big Ten champions — Michigan in 2024, Ohio State in 2025 and unbeaten Indiana in 2026 — undercut that claim, with Sankey saying the ball had simply "bounced a couple times the wrong way."
The SEC's recent results were worse than narrow misses: Alabama lost 38-3 to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, Texas A&M scored 3 points in a home loss to Miami, and the league went 1-8 in bowls.
Lane Kiffin said CFP executive director Rich Clark faced angry SEC coaches who believed more teams deserved playoff spots, highlighting the league's push to defend its standing despite the on-field slide.
Is the SEC's 'strongest league' claim a brand defense against the Big Ten's on-field dominance?
As NIL creates instant contenders, is a conference's historical brand now an outdated playoff metric?