Big Ten owns college football with second consecutive CFP win

Michigan and Ohio State are fierce rivals on the field, but together, they've put the Big Ten on top of the college football mountain.

With Ohio State's 34-23 win over Notre Dame in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship game, the Big Ten has back-to-back outright college football national champions for the first time since the 1940s, when Ohio State and Minnesota won in consecutive years (1941-42).

The last two seasons have marked a new era for the sport. From 2006-12, the SEC won seven consecutive national championships. The conference added six more in the past decade to establish itself as the premier college football conference.

Not anymore.

The Big Ten has owned the SEC in the past two postseasons.

Last season, Michigan defeated Alabama, responsible for six championships during the SEC's run of dominance, in the Rose Bowl on its way to the program's 10th national title.

This year, Ohio State defeated Tennessee in the CFP first round, 42-17, and SEC runner-up Texas in the semifinals at the Cotton Bowl, 28-14.

Both programs could vie for a championship next season as the Big Ten attempts to extend its streak of national titles to three.

Michigan should have better quarterback play in 2025. The Wolverines added five-star high school recruit Bryce Underwood and Fresno State transfer quarterback Mikey Keene.

This season, Keene was 277-of-393 (70.5 percent) for 2,892 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Meanwhile, Michigan quarterbacks combined to go 190-of-308 (61.7 percent) for 1,678 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The Buckeyes must replace a lot of departing talent, but head coach Ryan Day has always been able to reload his rosters. Plus, with freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith returning, Ohio State has the best player in the country.

Oregon, which entered the CFP as the country's No. 1 team, will be a significant factor next season, as will Penn State. The Nittany Lions are expected to return several upperclassmen to this season's CFP semifinalist, which should make them a trendy national championship pick entering 2025.

For years, the Big Ten was a distant second to the SEC in college football's pecking order. That's changed. With back-to-back national titles, it's unquestionably the top college football conference. Considering the talent returning in 2025, the Big Ten's reign might just be getting started.