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Nick Saban Accused Of Spreading 'Unfair' Big Ten Propaganda

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 7:24 PM ET

Although ESPN's "College GameDay" will be covering No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 3 Oregon this weekend, Nick Saban isn't interested in praising the Big Ten.

During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" this Friday afternoon, Saban questioned if the Big Ten is truly a deep conference. Maybe his opinion will change if Indiana holds its own against Oregon in Eugene. For now though, he prefers the SEC's depth by a comfortable margin.

“I don’t think the Big Ten is really that deep,” Saban said, via On3. “It’s not like the SEC where you got eight or nine teams that can beat you. There might be three or four teams in the Big Ten that can beat you.”

Outside of Ohio State and Oregon, the legendary college football coach isn't willing to label another Big Ten team as a true contender.

"I mean, Penn State? I mean, tell me the good teams. Maybe Michigan. Well, we’ll see tomorrow (about USC). They’re alright, but alright is not really what I’m talking about. I mean, you think USC is going to beat Ohio State? You think that would be a game if they played, really?"

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 1: Nick Saban of ESPN College GameDay speaks on set before the Rose Bowl between Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)Ric Tapia/Getty Images

College football world fires back.

Judging by the reactions on social media, Saban missed the mark with his comments about the Big Ten.

"Former SEC coach on TV network that owns the SEC media rights thinks the SEC is the best conference. Shocking," former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz said.

"Sigh," Mark Ennis of 93.9 The Ville said. "I remember when College Gameday was a party that celebrated all the weird and fun everywhere in college football. We really gotta pick sides on everything now don't we?"

Bama lost to Michigan twice last year. Yet I keep seeing people say how good they are while saying Michigan isn’t good. SEC hasn’t won a meaningful game since 2022. All they can do is talk. https://t.co/a9r8Z0p5Ns
— Jorie Aulston (@JorieAulston) October 10, 2025

"They say this because SEC teams can't win on the road in their conference, so in their brain they think it's because they are deep. SEC is 5-16 winning on the road and two of those were OT wins," JBook of Bucknuts.com wrote.

"Just a little friendly reminder that Nick Saban ran away from coaching the very second everyone could buy players because he knew Big Ten schools and alumni are richer," one fan declared.

"Nick Saban is slowly turning into Paul Finebaum. All he does is play conference homer. Love him but true," another fan said.

The SEC has more depth than the Big Ten at this time, but we can't ignore the fact that Michigan and Ohio State won the past two national titles.

If the SEC is truly better than the Big Ten, it's time for one of its conference members to win it all again.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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