Will the Big Ten Conference become the new face of college football?

Ann Arbor, Michigan - After sending two schools into the College Football Playoff for the first time in history, is the Big Ten taking the dominance of college football away from the SEC?

The Michigan Wolverines won back-to-back Big Ten championship and secured their second-straight College Football Playoff appearance.
The Michigan Wolverines won back-to-back Big Ten championship and secured their second-straight College Football Playoff appearance.  © Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

For years, the SEC has single-handedly dominated college football.

Of the past decade, the conference owns the most national championship titles (7) and currently holds the record for the most schools to play in the modern-day playoffs.

The Big Ten has remained relevant on the gridiron thanks to Ohio State, who holds the most Playoff wins in the conference, including the national title won in 2014.

In recent years, however, other Midwest teams have stepped it up with statement victories and strong season finishes.

Take for instance Michigan. After defeating heated-rival Ohio State last season for the first time in 10 years, the Wolverines went on to win the conference championships and garner their first ever playoff appearance.

Michigan followed that historic season with yet another, going undefeated and earning back-to-back wins over Ohio State and Purdue, securing their second-straight Big Ten championship and CFP semifinal appearance.

If the Maize and Blue latest seasons isn't enough to convince you that the Big Ten will become a threat to the SEC's dominance, perhaps the USC and UCLA conference realignment to the Big Ten will end all doubts that the conference is in prime position to become the next leaders on the field.

USC and UCLA will make the Big Ten even more competitive

Caleb Williams of USC won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, puttin USC football on the list of strong college football programs.
Caleb Williams of USC won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, puttin USC football on the list of strong college football programs.  © CreditRON JENKINS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

When USC and UCLA join the Big Ten in 2024, the two west coast schools will for sure become a huge threat to the longtime Midwest teams.

The bigger picture is that USC and UCLA will help strengthen the Big Ten conference, being storied programs that come bearing huge gifts.

This past year, USC finished the season with an impressive 11 win record that ties with Penn State and ranks better than every current Big Ten member, excluding Playoff teams Ohio State and Michigan.

The Trojans narrowly missed a selection in this year's Playoff semifinal but snagged the coveted Heisman Trophy with quarterback Caleb Williams.

UCLA also had a strong season, led by quarterback and NFL prospect Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

The Bruins will enter next season with one of the biggest recruits in the nation, Dante Moore, who is set to become a house-hold name once he steps foot on the field.

Moore capped off his senior high school season with a state title in early December. He is set to join the Bruins team in January and is expected to make an immediate impact with the team.

With this kind of talent on display, the Big Ten can only get bigger and better.

Cover photo: Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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