We’ve hit mid-November, aka the “Every Game Counts” stretch. The SEC and Big Ten are playing in a different weight class right now. Kirk Herbstreit caught strays for ‘SEC bias.’ Days later, Urban Meyer jumped into the conversation with his own spicy breakdown. Looks like Meyer’s flying the SEC flag too. 

On November 18, on The Triple Option podcast, former Ohio State head coach Meyer was asked to comment on hyping the Big Ten as the strongest conference in college football. The Big Ten giant, Ryan Day’s program, has been accused of enjoying the privilege of load management. Fewer tough games, less strain week-to-week, and an easier path compared to SEC teams. Meyer thus commented, “You think coach [Kalen] DeBor, let’s get him on the podcast and ask about load management. He’s going to say, ‘What the f- – – are you talking about? I’m trying to win a game.’”

Going by the latest CFP rankings, Ohio State stands at No.1. Its biggest win has been against the Texas Longhorns. Folks love chirping about the SEC’s lighter November slate or that missing conference game. But every computer metric still screams the same thing: nobody plays a tougher schedule. Add one more Power-4 opponent, and it won’t even be close. Meyer took Alabama into consideration, as Kalen DeBoer’s program this season has 11 games scheduled against Power 4 opponents. Judging by the AP poll, Ohio State has cruised to 10-0 without breaking much of a sweat. The road doesn’t really get rocky for them until that November 29 showdown in Ann Arbor.

Even with all those high rankings, the SEC feels like it’s slipping back into the driver’s seat, Mark Ingram II claimed. And Meyer agreed immediately, “It is. They’re back. Obviously, they got to go win the national title, but as far as the strength and depth of the conference, it would be hard to say even the last two years with Ohio State and the Wolverines winning the national championship that top to bottom. Certainly, the top was won by the Big 10…The SEC’s back is the top conference in college football.”

Meyer argues that only the very top of the Big Ten has been elite. He watches a lot of film and games, and to him, the SEC now looks like the best conference again. That’s how the SEC gained yet another supporter after Herbstreit. 

Kirk Herbstreit fired back at SEC bias critics

The College GameDay host’s hoopla with the SEC bias was fired up with the Georgia vs Texas post-game discussion. “Three losses, they’re done? I don’t know just quite yet when it comes to the CFP,” said Herbstreit. Later, Miami Hurricanes’ Sports Writer Timothy Johnson called his work, “nasty f- – – – – – work.”

After 30 years at ESPN, the analyst is officially over the crowd that insists the SEC’s power is an ESPN-built myth. Herbstreit did not mince his words. “Everybody recognizes the SEC is a step ahead of everybody else. Why is this so hard for people to put your arms around? Wake up. It’s a reality,” he landed a blunt jab. Not just programs. Herbstreit also puts the SEC quarterback ahead in the Heisman race. 

After all, the SEC quarterbacks are tested and proven more harshly than the Big Ten contenders, as per Herbstreit. The Georgia Bulldogs quarterback, Gunner Stockton, has earned the analyst’s vote of confidence. “This kid, he’s played so well in these big games, five total touchdowns tonight and five incompletions against Texas, top 10 team,” said the analyst. 

Against Texas, the SEC quarterback racked up 229 yards, with an 82.8% completion rate and four touchdowns. This left Kirk Herbstreit, the Buckeyes alum, to forget about Ohio State’s two Heisman contenders- Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Now, it’s time to find out if the SEC’s momentum has championship DNA this season.