Big Ten has 'bypassed the SEC' in stadiums and fan passion, Urban Meyer says

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and sports commentator Colin Cowherd have declared that Big Ten venues and fan atmospheres have not only caught up to the Southeastern Conference but have now surpassed them. The comments come as the Big Ten celebrates three straight national championships and enters the 2026 season with Ohio State and Oregon as top contenders.

For most of the past decade, the SEC was the undisputed king of college football, powered by Nick Saban's Alabama dynasty and Kirby Smart's Georgia teams. But for three consecutive years, no SEC team has reached the national championship game, let alone won one. Meanwhile, Michigan won titles in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, and Indiana capped a stunning 16-0 season with a championship in 2025-2026.

Meyer, who led Ohio State to a national title in 2014, told Cowherd on his podcast that the gap between the conferences has closed dramatically since he was hired in 2012.

When did the Big Ten catch up?

Cowherd asked Meyer when he first noticed Big Ten rosters and talent matching the SEC. Meyer said it happened late in his Ohio State tenure. But he went further, arguing the improvement extends beyond athleticism and depth.

“But I'm gonna add this, Colin, also the Big Ten stadiums are very SEC like,” Meyer said. “They were not. When I was hired in 2012, it wasn't even close, man. The teams weren't close. The venues weren't close. The passion of the fans wasn't close, it's caught up. And like you said, last year it bypassed the SEC.”

Iowa's Kinnick Stadium among toughest places to play

While SEC venues like LSU's Death Valley, Florida's Swamp, Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, and Texas A&M's Kyle Field remain legendary, the Big Ten has built its own intimidating atmospheres. Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, and Nebraska lead the way. But Iowa's Kinnick Stadium frequently flies under the radar as one of the toughest places to play in the country, along with Washington and Illinois.

Indiana's home games in Bloomington are expected to reach a new level after the Hoosiers' championship run. USC, in its heyday a notoriously difficult venue, will host Oregon and Ohio State this season, offering several marquee home games.

What this means for Iowa fans

For Iowa Hawkeyes fans, the debate is more than just national bragging rights. It reflects the growing strength of the Big Ten as a whole, which directly impacts Iowa's recruiting, schedule difficulty, and national perception. As the conference continues to add powerhouse programs like Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA, the overall quality of competition rises. That means every home game at Kinnick Stadium becomes a bigger test and a bigger opportunity.

At the end of the day, both conferences feature great fanbases, historic venues, and elite programs. But Meyer's comments suggest the balance of power has shifted. And for Big Ten fans across Iowa, that's a welcome change.

Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.