The Big Ten sits atop college football, having produced three consecutive national champions. For the first time since 2015, the SEC did not lead in first-round NFL Draft picks, with the Big Ten taking that spot.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart discussed the shift at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am. He noted the Big Ten's increased competitiveness: 'They have a more competitive conference... Ohio State is good, Michigan was great, and now they have Oregon.'
Smart added: 'More people have money. Talent is spread thin now. Before, the SEC was a magnet for talent. Now it's more even, and the Big Ten has won three in a row.'
Michigan's 2023 title, Ohio State's 2024 victory, and Indiana's improbable 2025 championship highlight this trend. Smart acknowledged the SEC's draft success but questioned whether Big Ten coaches are simply doing more with less.
He also mentioned the theory that the SEC's tougher schedule wears teams down: 'Our bottom-four games are harder than theirs. The intensity wears you down.'