Data and Tables from Big Jeff’s Football Insights Podcast on The Big Ten Huddle (from Sept. 19, 2025)
During my Thursday night Big Jeff’s Football Insights Podcast on @TheBigTenHuddle (see Link Below), I reviewed and compared the non-conference games, year-to-date results and strength of schedule stats for all Big Ten and SEC teams. Then I rolled up the stats into a one page “Scorecard” comparing both conferences that you can find in Table 1 below. And Tables 2 and 3 show some of this data by team.
I provide a few summary comments below but for the full and best detailed analysis you should listen to the podcast.
These 5 Big Ten Games Could CHANGE EVERYTHING We Know About the Big Ten | Big Jeff’s Insights
Big Jeff’s Week 4 Big Ten Football Picks of the Week
2025 College Football Power Index – ESPN
Table 1
Comments on Table 1 Big Ten vs SEC Scorecard Data:
The data in Table 1 summarizes all the non-conference games through “Week 3” of the season, which includes probably 90% of all non-conference games. The data speaks for itself, but the bottom line is the SEC has outplayed the Big Ten in non-conference games so far based on almost every dimension.
Of course the most important stat is the Big Ten is only 1-2 vs the SEC with the only win from Week 1 when Ohio State beat Texas 14-7. The second most important stat is vs current AP Top 25 ranked teams, the Big Ten has gone 1-4, while the SEC is 4-2. The Big Ten has two more chances to change those stats when Purdue plays at #24 Notre Dame this weekend and then later this year USC also plays at Notre Dame.
The third big data point is records vs Power 4 opponents (and I lump in Notre Dame in this group), where the SEC has performed better as well with a 10-3 record vs the Power 4, while the Big Ten is only 5-6. Finally, the overall non-conference record for the Big Ten is 41-8, while the SEC is 35-3.
Table 2
Comments on Table 2:
- This table is sorted in order of PFF strength of schedule so UCLA is listed first with the 11th hardest schedule so far in the nation.
- The shaded cells highlight the 5 Big Ten Top 25 matchups with of course the lone Ohio State victory
- Games in RED font are future non-conference games (results TBD).
- Half of the conference or 9 teams have an SOS of 90th or worse in the nation.
- This really is unacceptable and unfortunately my Indiana team ranks last in Big Ten SOS at 129thPenn State should be embarrassed with their 123 SOS – there is no excuse for such weak scheduling from a blueblood program, and I worry about how ready are they going to be against Oregon.
- Column 6 show the best non-conference win per team. Note 9 of 18 teams best win is against a team with an SP+ ranking (listed in parenthesis) of 100 or worse or have an FCS win as their best result.
- In fact, only 2 teams have wins against SP+ Top 60 teams : Ohio St over #14 Texas and Nebraska over #44 Cincinnati
- The sad reality is The Big Ten really only has one truly IMPRESSIVE WIN – Ohio State over Texas and even that game is not looking that great given Texas’s struggles
Table 3
I am not going to make many comments on Table 3 other than clearly the SEC on average has had more impressive wins per team given their strong record in the Top 25 matchups and against Power 4 teams.
Note: Games in RED font are future non-conference games (results TBD).
