In college football, NIL and portal influence 'just means more'

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is experiencing a notable shift in its dominance in college football, as the Big Ten has emerged as the leading conference. The SEC's former dominance, underscored by its "It Just Means More" slogan, is being challenged due to recent performances and changes within college football dynamics. The Big Ten, led by teams like Indiana, has outperformed the SEC, which finished the bowl season with a 4-10 record compared to the Big Ten's 10-5.

Key analysts, such as ESPN's Ryan Clark and Josh Pate, attribute this shift to the changes brought by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contracts and the transfer portal, which have redistributed talent across college football. These factors have weakened the SEC's traditional depth advantage, as players now have more opportunities and incentives to join programs outside the SEC.

The SEC's hiring practices, often criticized for being insular, may also be contributing to its decline. As talent becomes more