The South faced another defeat in college football reminiscent of the Civil War.

Shifting Dynamics in College Football

The landscape of college football is changing, and, interestingly, the South no longer holds the top position. Indiana University’s win in the national championship on Monday night marks their third consecutive title. More importantly, it solidifies the Big Ten’s status as the dominant force in college football, taking the crown from the SEC.

With Michigan, Ohio State, and now Indiana as champions, Midwestern teams are making a significant impact. Notre Dame has been to the playoffs three times, and it’s puzzling that they aren’t included this year. Even Cincinnati has made it once. On the flip side, playoff spots in the South have mostly gone to Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia, with other Southern teams lagging far behind.

There are some who argue that Texas and Oklahoma shouldn’t be considered part of the South. Honestly, that feels like a bit of a stretch. Just because Washington and Oregon are now in the Big Ten doesn’t mean they fit the “Midwest” label, does it?

We’re witnessing a shift in how college football operates. The SEC, along with the rest of the South, is being pushed aside as more teams enter the mix. A lot of the old ways—those shady hiring practices that used to circulate quietly—are fading. With the introduction of NIL, there’s now transparency in how teams can recruit talent. And, it seems the South is struggling to keep up; they’re clinging to outdated tactics and often spend more time complaining about NIL than strategizing against their competitors.

Midwestern dominance is now apparent across all levels of the sport.

The sample size might be limited, but the SEC is indeed growing stronger as more teams join with the playoff expansion in 2024-25. The Big Ten’s playoff record for the past two years stands at 9-3, while the SEC’s is just 2-7. That doesn’t bode well for the newcomers, right? Moreover, the narrative around the NFL Draft is shifting. The SEC isn’t the guaranteed path it once was; recruitment has become more skill-based, overshadowing the traditional coaching rivalries that previously made it easier for players to get drafted. This has led to a number of misses.

College football seems to be gravitating toward the Midwest for the foreseeable future. With top recruits heading there and the transfer portal funneling talent to the Big Ten, the SEC seems to be on unfamiliar ground. The allure of the Southeastern Conference, as it used to be, appears to be fading. Thus, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of grievances coming from Alabama and other teams regarding NIL structures. The old advantages have disappeared, leveling the playing field while the South is left scrambling.