Power Ranking Overview: CBS Sports Calls SEC the Deepest, Big Ten Closing the Gap

Every August, the preseason power rankings pour in from media outlets, analysts, and sportsbooks. This year, CBS Sports dropped one of the most talked-about assessments yet: the SEC is still the deepest conference in college football, but the Big Ten is steadily closing the gap.

The headline isn’t shocking. The SEC has long been synonymous with dominance, with its track record of national titles and NFL draft stock. But the acknowledgment of Big Ten progress sets the stage for what could be a defining decade of SEC vs. Big Ten supremacy battles.

SEC: Depth From Top to Bottom

CBS Sports’ panel praised the SEC for something more than just having Alabama, Georgia, and now Texas in the national title hunt: top-to-bottom competitiveness.

When 10 SEC teams land in the AP preseason Top 25 (a record we covered earlier), it’s a sign that even the so-called “middle tier” of the league is stacked with talent. Schools like Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina aren’t just filler on the schedule anymore — they’re programs capable of spoiling seasons and cracking New Year’s Six bowls.

The SEC’s strength lies in its sheer density of talent. On any given Saturday, even a bottom-half team like Mississippi State can spring an upset on a ranked opponent. That unpredictability, CBS noted, makes the SEC the most “battle-tested” league in America.

BIG TEN: A GROWING CHALLENGER

But here’s where the conversation shifts: the Big Ten isn’t far behind. With Penn State and Ohio State both ranked in the preseason Top 3, and Michigan still retooling with five-star talent, the Big Ten has established itself as the SEC’s only true rival in terms of national depth.

CBS highlighted Penn State in particular, whose elite defense and NFL-ready offensive line have made them legitimate national title contenders. Ohio State, meanwhile, continues to churn out receivers and quarterbacks destined for first-round NFL careers.

The addition of West Coast powerhouses like Oregon and Washington also makes the Big Ten’s future intriguing. For the first time in years, the SEC may not automatically hold the crown of being the “only conference that matters.”

THE MONEY FACTOR: TV DEALS AND RECRUITING

Behind the rankings lies another reality: money. The SEC’s ESPN mega-deal has ensured prime-time exposure and a recruiting spotlight unmatched by other leagues. But the Big Ten’s billion-dollar FOX/NBC/CBS broadcast package rivals it — and may even surpass it in sheer national reach.

This matters because exposure fuels recruiting. Recruits want their families to watch games coast to coast. The Big Ten’s expansion west has opened pipelines in California, Oregon, and Washington — areas where the SEC traditionally hasn’t had the same pull.

Still, the SEC continues to dominate recruiting rankings. In the 2024 class, SEC schools claimed six of the Top 10 classes nationally, compared to the Big Ten’s three. Until that balance shifts, the SEC’s stranglehold on top-tier rosters remains safe.

SEC IRON, BIG TEN STEEL

Some analysts see the growing parity as a good thing for college football. “The SEC is still the gold standard, but the Big Ten is right there,” one CBS insider wrote. “If Alabama, Georgia, and Texas are the heavyweights, Penn State and Ohio State are their equals. The gap isn’t as wide as it once was.”

Others remain skeptical, pointing to the postseason. Since the College Football Playoff began in 2014, the SEC has claimed seven national championships, while the Big Ten has just one (Ohio State, 2014). Until Penn State or Michigan can win the big one, SEC fans will argue that depth on paper doesn’t equal rings.

The Future: SEC vs. Big Ten Arms Race

With playoff expansion now reality, the stage is set for more SEC vs. Big Ten clashes in the postseason. Instead of one or two matchups per year, fans could see three or four bowl/playoff games annually pitting the leagues against each other.

The recruiting wars will only intensify, especially with NIL collectives flexing financial muscle in both leagues. The question isn’t whether the SEC will stay elite — it’s whether the Big Ten can finally match its postseason success.

The SEC Is Still King, But the Throne Is Crowded

CBS Sports’ rankings made it clear: the SEC is still the deepest league, bar none. But the Big Ten has carved out a legitimate seat at the table, and for the first time in years, the SEC can feel a rival breathing down its neck.

2025 may be remembered as the year when college football officially entered an SEC vs. Big Ten era, where everything else is just background noise.

🔥 Why This Story Will Stick: The SEC-Big Ten rivalry is the sport’s biggest narrative — it fuels playoff debates, recruiting battles, and TV wars. Fans on both sides will argue endlessly about which league is truly on top.

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