Joel Klatt roasts SEC: Nick Saban isn't there 'with his big old coattails for you to ride as a conference'

Joel Klatt discusses the impact of a 24-Team College Football Playoff and what that could mean for potential SEC and Big Ten Matchups.

The SEC has, for years, enjoyed a widespread belief that it is the strongest conference in college football. And for years, that belief was correct.

Starting in 2009, Nick Saban created one of the most impressive dynasties in the sport's history. The Alabama Crimson Tide won a BCS National Championship in his third year on the job. And just never stopped winning. They won again in 2011 and 2012. Then won three more College Football Playoff National Championships from 2015-2020.

But as hard as it is to believe, 2020 is now six years ago, and the times have changed. Dramatically. The Big Ten has won three consecutive National Championships, starting, coincidentally, when name, image and likeness rules were changed allowing college football players to get paid by outside collectives. Not only has the Big Ten won three in a row, but the SEC hasn't reached the championship game since 2022.

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Nick Saban speaks during ESPN's College GameDay at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 25, 2025. (Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

SEC teams were 1-8 during the 2025-2026 bowl season against teams from other conferences, and 0-3 in the playoff against other Power 4 programs. Despite those obvious realities, along with plenty of other unflattering statistics, at the conference's recent spring meetings, Commissioner Greg Sankey and other prominent figures were adamant that they remain, by far, the country's best conference.

GREG SANKEY INSISTS SEC IS 'STRONGEST LEAGUE' DESPITE BIG TEN WINNING THREE STRAIGHT NATIONAL