Big Ten's Dramatic Identity Change Driven by Investment and Competitive Spirit, Says Urban Meyer

Former Ohio State coach cites increased resources and intensity as keys to the conference's recent dominance

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:22am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a college football or basketball championship game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of color representing the competitive intensity of the matchup.The Big Ten's recent run of national titles in football and basketball has disrupted the traditional power dynamics in college sports.Columbus Today

In a recent interview, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer identified two key reasons behind the Big Ten's dramatic rise to the top of college sports: increased investment in programs across the conference and a heightened competitive spirit. Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to a national title in 2014, noted that the Big Ten's facilities and talent level have improved significantly since his time in Columbus, resulting in a string of recent championships in football, basketball, and women's basketball.

Why it matters

The Big Ten's recent success, including three straight College Football Playoff titles and the conference's first NCAA men's basketball championship since 2000, has shifted the balance of power in college sports. Meyer's insights shed light on the strategic decisions and cultural shifts that have fueled the Big Ten's dominance, providing context on how the conference has been able to challenge the SEC's long-standing supremacy.

The details

According to Meyer, the key factors behind the Big Ten's dramatic turnaround are increased investment in its programs and a heightened sense of competitive spirit across the conference. He noted that during his time at Ohio State in the early 2010s, the facilities and talent level in the Big Ten were not as strong as they are today, with 'draft pick after draft pick after draft pick' now coming out of the conference. Meyer also credited his own Ohio State program with helping to drive this shift in competitive culture, as the Buckeyes chased Nick Saban's dominant Alabama teams.

  • In 2014, Urban Meyer led Ohio State to a national championship.
  • From 2015 to 2020, the SEC won six of the eight national titles, with the Big Ten only making one appearance in the championship game (a 52-24 loss to Alabama in 2020).
  • Over the last three seasons, the Big Ten has won three straight national championships, with three different teams claiming the titles.

The players

Urban Meyer

A former head coach who led Ohio State to a national championship in 2014 and is now an analyst for FOX Sports.

Nick Saban

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, who has led the program to multiple national championships.

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What they’re saying

“You've got to give a lot of credit to the investment in the programs in the Big Ten. In 2012, that was not the case. It was not. The stadiums were not that difficult, the opponents-- there were some great players, but not a lot of them.”

— Urban Meyer, Former Ohio State Head Coach

“The Big Ten is war ready now when they get to that final game and they've won the last three of them. It's a phenomenon.”

— Urban Meyer, Former Ohio State Head Coach

What’s next

As the Big Ten continues to assert its dominance, the question remains how the SEC will respond. With coaching changes across many of the top SEC programs, the conference will need to make strategic investments and foster a heightened competitive spirit to regain its position atop college sports.

The takeaway

The Big Ten's recent run of success, including three straight national championships in football, the conference's first men's basketball title since 2000, and a women's basketball championship, has been fueled by increased investment in its programs and a renewed competitive culture, as evidenced by Urban Meyer's insights. This shift in the balance of power in college sports raises questions about how the SEC will attempt to counter the Big Ten's dominance.