big ten
big ten
On Tuesday, the Big Ten Conference again proved that not only is it better than the SEC on the field, but they are ethically superior off of it too.
One of the best debates over the last two decades, especially in college football, is which is the better conference: the Big Ten or the SEC. And outside of some championships from Ohio State, Clemson, and Florida State, it was hard to argue that the best teams in the sport didn’t play in the Southeastern Conference.
However, over the last three years, the tide has turned in a major way. For three straight seasons, a Big Ten program (Ohio State, Michigan, and Indiana) has reigned supreme at the end of the college football playoffs. Now the Big Ten has all the best conference bragging rights (unless you are one of the weirdest making the depth claim for the SEC).
Yet, while the Big Ten can say they are the top conference right now on the field, they made a case on Tuesday that they are also the best off of it.
Big Ten blocks NFL players from returning to their conference
big ten
Oct 8, 2025; Rosemont, Illinois, USA; The Big Ten Conference logo is seen during Big Ten Basketball Media Days at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
College basketball has been dealing with it since last year, as professionals from Europe and the NBA’s G League have been allowed to join programs and bank big bucks in NIL money. Well, the football side of college athletics is now dealing with the same problem.
Several legal rulings in several state lawsuits have given certain athletes who played for NFL teams during training camp or signed rookie deals another year of eligibility in the college ranks. And some ethically questionable schools have jumped at the opportunity to add them. One of the most notable is LSU, which has already signed one of those athletes and is close to adding another.
It is a new low point in the NIL era of college football, and the SEC is leading the way. Well, the Big Ten has no interest in taking part in the practice. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported, “The Big Ten is set to pass a rule today that doesn’t allow players to return from the NFL and play for a Big Ten school. Anyone who has declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster, or signed a contract with a pro league cannot be on a Big Ten roster.”
While the Big Ten isn’t perfect and has skeletons in its closet, when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of college football fans, the conference continues to dominate the SEC on and off the field.