On the Pat McAfee Show on Friday Nick Saban said that NIL has ruined the advantage the SEC once held in a 25-year run of dominating college football.
Saban told the popular sports talk show host, "I mean, kids grew up wanting to go to LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Got the money now. They don’t mind going to Ohio State. They don’t mind going to other places."
"So, that geographic advantage that the Southeast Conference may be changing a little bit now, with the different culture, with NIL and the money involved in decision-making. I think that’s created a bit of an edge for the Big Ten."
Since 2000 the conference where "It Just Means More" has won 16 national titles, but the Big Ten has won the last two.
Alabama: 6 championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020)
LSU: 3 championships (2003, 2007, 2019)
Auburn: 2 championships (2004, 2010)
Florida: 2 championships (2006, 2008)
Georgia: 2 championships (2021, 2022)
Michigan won in 2023. Ohio State won the first 12-team playoff in 2024.
Underscoring the SEC's weakening grip on the symbolic title of strongest conference is the success Oregon has had recruiting the Deep South and SEC country. Several of the stars and key players on the Ducks' roster were snatched away from SEC programs.
Oregon players with ties to SEC country
RB Makhi Hughes, No. 1 running back in the transfer portal, from Tulane University and Birmingham, Alabama
WR Malik Benson, transfer from Alabama and Florida
CB Na'eem Offord, 5-star Birmingham, Alabama
WR Dakorien Moore, 5-star Duncanville, Texas
WR Jeremiah McClellan 4-star St. Louis, Missouri
RB Noah Whittington, Peach County, Georgia
RB Jay Harris St. Louis, Missouri
QB Austin Novosad, 4-star Dripping Springs, Texas
OT Alex Harkey, 4-star transfer from Texas State and Austin, Texas
OT Gernorris Wilson Lakeland, Florida
OG Matthew Bedford Memphis, Tennessee
OT Ziyare Addison 4-star Tampa, Florida
TE Jamari Johnson transfer from the University of Louisville
DE/LB Ashton Porter 4-star Cypress, Texas
DT Tionne Gray 4-star St. Louis Missouri
DT Bear Alexander, 4-star transfer from Georgia and USC, Terrell, Texas
DT Xadavien Sims, 4-star Durant, Oklahoma
DT Terrance Green, 4-star Cypress, Texas
DE Tobi Haastrup 4-star Houston, Texas
LB Gavin Nix, 4-star Bradenton, Florida
DB Jadon Canady, transfer from Ole Miss, Jacksonville, Florida
DB Aaron Flowers, 4-star from Forney, Texas
DB Dorian Brew, 4-star from Conroe, Texas
A full squad of 23 players come from the SEC footprint, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida and Missouri, and this doesn't count premium prospects like Matayo Uiagalelei or Dante Moore who were recruited nationally.
Dan Lanning and his staff have taken aim at SEC strongholds, emerging with some crucial victories, perhaps none bigger than taking Auburn legacy Bo Nix out of Auburn.