NCAA, College League, USA Football 2025: College Football PlayoffSemifinal Cotton Bowl Ohio State vs Texas JAN 10 January 10, 2025: ESPN analyst Nick Saban watches from the sidelines during the second quarter in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Austin McAfee/CSM Credit Image: Austin Mcafee/Cal Media Arlington Tx United States EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20250110_zma_c04_324.jpg AustinxMcafeex csmphotothree344868

Jul 25, 2026, 11:00 AM CUT

Nick Saban trolled by SEC coach after he rejects Big Ten supremacy

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has never been shy about having a little fun at the SEC's expense. When ESPN analyst Nick Saban went on ESPN's Get Up and dismissed the Big Ten's claim as a top conference in college football, Bielema saw his opening.

On Thursday, Saban stated that the SEC had a greater number of good teams compared to the Big Ten. And on Friday, Bielema posted an image on X showing Illinois' bowl wins over SEC teams in the past two years with a simple caption.

"I agree with you, coach, and appreciate you bringing this up," Bielema said on X.

Three straight national titles for the Big Ten. Michigan in 2024. Ohio State in 2025. Indiana in 2026. The SEC has not even been in the title game since Georgia beat TCU back in January 2023.

September 16, 2023, Tampa, Florida, USA: Alabama head coach Nick Saban celebrates with players after quarterback Ty Simpson 15 scores a touchdown against the USF Bulls during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Tampa USA - ZUMAs70_ 0304328114st Copyright: xJeffereexWoox

Saban appeared at SEC Media Days on Thursday's episode of Get Up and made a case that drew immediate attention across college football.

"Whoever wins the national championship doesn't define who has the best conference," Saban said on Get Up on ESPN. "I think the best conference gets defined by how many good teams you have from top to bottom. And I think the SEC has a lot of good teams from top to bottom."

He went further and pointed to the SEC's playoff depth last season as proof the conference still holds its own.

"We had five teams in the playoffs as an SEC conference, which says that there's pretty good depth in this league," Saban said on Get Up on ESPN. "A couple other teams, Vanderbilt and Texas, could have got in. There's a lot of good teams in the SEC."

Bielema's response was a direct counter to that argument.

Illinois beat two SEC programs in bowl games over the past two years, and the Big Ten went 11-4 in bowl games last season with a 3-1 record against SEC opponents. Michigan's 41-27 loss to Texas in the Citrus Bowl was the only blemish.

The numbers back Bielema's point. The Big Ten holds a combined 8-2 record against the SEC in bowl games over the last two seasons and a 3-0 record inside the College Football Playoff.

The SEC won 13 of 17 national championships from 2006 to 2022 before the shift

For a long time, this argument did not even need to be had. From 2006 to 2022, the SEC won 13 of 17 national championships, including seven straight from 2006 to 2012. Saban was the architect of most of it, with six titles at Alabama and one at LSU.

But the balance of power started shifting with NIL money and the rise of recruiting battles the SEC no longer controlled exclusively.

Even ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, the biggest voice in SEC media, has publicly acknowledged the Big Ten is now on top, per Awful Announcing.

The SEC still has the depth argument. But the trophy case over the last three years belongs entirely to the other side.

What do you think about Bielema's response to Saban? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit