大十联盟（Big Ten）与东南联盟（SEC）围绕美国大学橄榄球联盟实力展开辩论。Big Ten委员托尼·彼得蒂为联盟的竞争力进行辩护，声称该联盟连续赢得三个全美大学橄榄球季后赛冠军，分别是2023年密歇根大学、2024年俄亥俄州立大学和2025年印第安纳大学，这证明了其从上到下的深度优势[1]。彼得蒂表示："除非球队在常规赛中经历过严酷的考验，否则无法将顶级球队送入大学橄榄球季后赛，而我们在这方面非常成功。"[1]
为支持其主张，Big Ten援引了多项数据。过去两年大十与SEC的交手战绩为10-7，其中季后赛阶段3-0胜出，其他碗赛5-2领先[1]。在2025赛季SP+排名中，Big Ten占据前四名中的三个席位，而SEC无任何球队进入前五[1]。相比之下，SEC虽然从2006年至2022年间通过五所不同学校合计赢得13个全国冠军，但在过去三年内未能有球队进入冠军赛[1]。此外，过去两年的22场季后赛中，14场涉及Big Ten球队，其中仅两场为联盟内部对阵[1]。
Big Ten还指出，七支该联盟球队的排名已低于最低的SEC球队肯塔基大学（第67名）[1]。
The Big Ten has pushed back against the perception that it lacks depth compared to rival conferences, pointing to recent championship success and competitive data as evidence of strength throughout its roster. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti argued that the conference's dominance at the highest level reflects underlying competitive rigor, stating: "You cannot send your top teams out into the CFP unless they've played — and have them be successful, which we have been very successful — if they're not going through a gauntlet in the regular season."[1]
The conference has captured three consecutive College Football Playoff national championships, with Michigan winning in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, and Indiana in 2025.[1] Over the past two years, the Big Ten has compiled a 10-7 record against the Southeastern Conference overall, with a 3-0 advantage in playoff matchups and a 5-2 edge in other bowl games.[1] In the 2025 SP+ rankings, three of the top four teams represent the Big Ten, while the SEC has no team in the top five.[1]
Seven Big Ten programs rank below Kentucky, the lowest-ranked SEC team at number 67 in the current standings.[1] In the past two years' 22 playoff games, the Big Ten has featured in 14, including two intra-conference matchups.[1]
The SEC, by contrast, argues that its depth compensates for recent championship shortcomings. While five different schools from the conference won 13 national titles between 2006 and 2022, the SEC has failed to place a team in the championship game over the past three years.[1]