It has been an unrelenting belief that the SEC is the best of the best. However, recent natty wins by Michigan and Ohio State have put that claim to the test. On their way to glory, the B1G teams demolished their SEC opponents. Michigan fan and Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, in his usual brash style, has been claiming that the SEC dominance is over. Former Auburn QB Cam Newton disagrees, and Portnoy isn’t holding back.

Cam Newton, in his 4th and 1 podcast, tried to challenge Dave Portnoy’s take on the Big 10 being greater than the SEC. “We have by far the best teams in the country and are sick of this perception that was ten years ago in the SEC. It’s dead,” Dave Portnoy said. However, Newton didn’t take time to counter his argument with just a simple sarcastic reply, “Who are you playing?” A fitting reference to the fact that top B1G teams do not play the competition that SEC teams play every year.

Portnoy didn’t directly address Newton, but he let B1G’s record do that talking. “This is pretty much it. Michigan beat Bama twice in one year and literally put Nick Saban in a retirement home. 😂😂,” wrote Portnoy on X.

Somewhat factual if we ignore the mountain of issues Saban has pointed out since then. But the fact remains. Alabama lost to Michigan in the playoffs, and a few weeks later, Nick Saban announced his retirement. It came on the back of the Tide going without a natty for three years. Maybe the Michigan game was the last straw. But the former Bama coach has mentioned other reasons. Right from the program wanting assurance of Saban’s long-term commitment. To his “disappointment” with Alabama’s response after the Michigan defeat in 2023. However, what stood out was the NIL era and a ‘pay-for-play’-like environment.

“I’m saying to myself, ‘Maybe this doesn’t work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different, and that it’s all about how much money I can make as a college player? ” said Nick Saban. As for the Big 10’s dominance, there are many neutral takers, too, for Portnoy’s theory.

Dave Portnoy finds support from another prominent analyst

The Big 10’s earlier dominance was called into question owing to some relatively weaker teams. However, starting from the 2024 season, the Big 10 added multiple Pac-12 teams. The additions have largely worked with Lincoln Riley’s USC and Jedd Fisch’s Washington. Moreover, who can forget Oregon going undefeated in just its first season in the Big 10 and continuing to wreak havoc?

“Something’s changing, and what’s changing is money. Big Ten schools are bigger. They have more graduates. It’s easier to raise money for NIL. You add in (Oregon alum) Phil Knight and the Nike money. You add in USC and the LA economy money. The Big Ten cities — LA, New York with Rutgers, Chicago [with] Northwestern, Minneapolis, D.C., Seattle — Big Ten money is Hollywood, tech, and financial center,” said Colin Cowherd recently, favoring the Big 10 in the debate.

The highest-paid head coach in the country is still Kirby Smart. But the list further down is dominated by the Big 10 coaches. Right from Ryan Day to Lincoln Riley to Dan Lanning. The Big 10 isn’t shying away from spending those big bucks. That also shows in the recruitment classes, too. For instance, Ryan Day’s Ohio State has a fifth-ranked 2025 class, Oregon’s is fourth, and Michigan’s is 6th. USC, on the other hand, is dominating the 2026 class, ranked 1st nationally with 32 commitments already. It’s then easy to decide now which conference is currently dominating!!