Kirby Smart Has Theory On Why Big Ten Has Surged Past The SEC

Has the Big Ten dethroned the SEC as the best conference in college football? Kirby Smart addressed that hot topic while on "The Next Round."

Smart, who led Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, believes the Big Ten has become more competitive than the SEC. He pointed out how dominant Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State have been over the past few years.

"I don't know, I can't figure out what it is. I just think they have a more competitive conference," Smart said, via On3. "At the top of their conference, there's more good teams. It used to be Ohio State was good. Well, Michigan was really good with (Jim) Harbaugh, had a great team. Indiana's good. Like, now they've got Oregon. They've got a draw. They have the ability to attract good players."

Smart then mentioned how NIL has changed the landscape of college football. SEC teams can no longer load up on talent the way they used to.

That being said, Smart won't use NIL as an excuse for the SEC going three straight seasons without a national title.

"Now NIL has a factor too, for sure, but so does Miami. So does Florida. I mean, people have money. More people have money," Smart explained. "So I think the talent is spread out thin, whereas before in the SEC, it was a magnet to talent. The disparity was so great that it was like you couldn't mess it up. You'd win regardless. And now it's like, OK. It's more even. And it's just been three in a row, they did it."

Last but not least, Smart made the argument that SEC teams beat each other up late in the year.

"A lot of SEC coaches say this in my meetings, they say, ‘They don't have the grind we do. There's no way. They play three of their nine games are hard. Their bottom four games are not our bottom four games. I'm going to play at Starkville and Vanderbilt in my bottom four and I'm holding onto my butt to be able to play at noon on Saturday in Starkville, who beat Arizona State, who goes and plays these other teams.' So there is a theory that we're beating each other up and it's like the intensity and it wears you down."

The SEC could break the streak next season.

Georgia should be a national title contender next season as long as Gunner Stockton continues to develop at quarterback. After all, we know Smart is going to field a ferocious defense.

Texas should also be in the top-10 for the majority of the year since Arch Manning is back for another year. The nephew of Peyton and Eli showcased his potential during the second half of the 2025 season.

Fans should also expect Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M to be in the conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 5:42 PM.