College football analyst bashes SEC in defense of Big Ten as Indiana clinches title berth

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College football analyst bashes SEC in defense of Big Ten as Indiana clinches title berth originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Indiana Hoosiers clinched their first-ever national title berth with a 56-22 win against the Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl Friday night, as they will face the Miami Hurricanes Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens.

The dominant win, more than likely, further solidifies the argument that maybe the Big Ten has done enough to surpass the SEC as the best college football conference in the sport.

ESPN commentator Jordan Rodgers broke down specifically where he's seeing the shift across the sport.

“The SEC has had a talent monopoly for a long time, but what I think you’re seeing change is not just the distribution of the top-level talent,” Rodgers said. on "Get Up." “Of course, five-star quarterbacks and top receivers are going to other programs in the SEC. But, the SEC always had the best rosters from really 20-40. Not really just the starting 22, but the depth was always five and four stars that were under recruited that were being developed. That’s where you saw maybe the biggest discrepancy last night, that was Ole Miss didn’t have any depth. Their starting four across the defensive front are really good. But, they had nobody behind them.”

Rodgers added that he is open to the idea that a level playing field is possible.

“They didn’t really have anybody behind them all year, and I think that’s what you’re starting to see with the SEC and NIL," Rodgers said. "Those guys aren’t sitting on the bench as four stars and five stars and developing anymore. They’re going to other schools. So, I agree. I’m a guy who’s mostly on SEC Network when I talk college football. The Big Ten is the better conference right now. They are. They’ve proven it in the bowl season and they’ve proven it in the Playoffs."

At least for now, Rodgers said the "monopoly" squeeze on the SEC is basically extinct.

MORE: Indiana defensive stats vs. Oregon: Hoosiers pass rush manhandles Ducks for second time this season

“The SEC had a great run. 16 of 17 times they competed for a National Championship, but now, they’ll have been out of it for the last three," Rodgers said. "The Big Ten is taking that crown, and it’s not just the Playoffs. It’s the bowl games and the distribution of talent. The SEC no longer has that monopoly on the rosters and talent like we’ve seen for so long.”

We'll see how much longer this new era lasts. For now, though, the Big Ten has a chance to win yet another national title for the third straight year.

If it does, it will be Indiana's turn. And that's just as exciting as ever.