As the college football season is just about a month away, hype is building, and the hot topic is which of the two big conferences is superior, the SEC or the Big Ten.
While coaches like Curt Cignetti of the Indiana Hoosiers have taken a side — he’s very clearly pro-Big Ten — others who’ve experienced both conferences have been a little more diplomatic.
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava joined the latter camp at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.
‘It’s Been Beautiful to See’
Iamaleava, who played a season with the Tennessee Volunteers before departing for Westwood, told reporters he came into the West Coast portion of his career with the idea that the SEC was the premier league.
“Shoot, I had to shift my mind to Big Ten last year, so I’ve been all Big Ten,” Iamaleava said, as reported by Thomas Goldkamp of On3. “No, I think it’s two great leagues. Two great, physical leagues.”
That physicality, long a hallmark of the SEC, is where the Big Ten has made gains, Iamaleava explained.
“I think SEC brings a lot of physicality. But I think over the years it’s kind of leveled out in terms of the playing field. I think everybody is able to get high-level athletes and we’re all able to kind of piece it evenly, so it’s been beautiful to see,” he said.
That more even talent distribution is reflected in three different Big Ten teams — Michigan, Ohio State and Cignetti’s Hoosiers — taking home the last three national titles.
While SEC supporters argue that their league is deeper and, therefore, their wins should carry more weight than the Big Ten, Iamaleava disputed that assessment.
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t say there’s any truth to that,” Iamaleava said. “I think there’s definitely a lot of tough SEC teams that every week it’s going to be a game, but I feel the same way in the Big Ten. Yeah, I think strength of schedule can matter at times, but I think we all pretty much have similar strengths of schedule.”
If anyone would know, it’s Iamaleava. His Volunteers made the CFP but were stomped by eventual champion Ohio State 42-17.
Since that year, he’s primarily played Big Ten opponents.