ESPN’s College Gameday chooses SEC title game over undefeated Big Ten Championship

The upcoming showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana at Saturdays Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is making history. It will mark the first time in over ten years that the top two teams in the AP Poll meet in a conference title game outside the SEC. Previously, this occurred in 2008 and 2009 during the SEC Championship, featuring Alabama versus Florida matchups.

Both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers enter the game with perfect 12-0 records, each boasting one of the leading Heisman Trophy contenders. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza highlight the star-studded rosters. Analysts predict this could be one of the most competitive Big Ten title games in recent memory.

Despite the historic matchup, ESPNs popular pregame show, College Gameday, has decided to broadcast from Atlanta for the SEC Championship instead. That game will feature No. 10 Alabama (10-2) against No. 4 Georgia (11-1), a repeat of their September 27 meeting in Athens, Georgia, which ended 24-21 in favor of Alabama. This marks the fifth time since 2010 that these teams meet for the SEC title and the third consecutive College Gameday appearance at the SEC Championship in Atlanta.

The last time College Gameday chose a non-SEC title game was the 2022 Big 12 Championship between TCU and Kansas State. Additionally, the program has not covered the Big Ten Championship since 2016. ESPN recently secured a 10-year media rights deal with the SEC starting in 2024-25, making the network the exclusive broadcaster for SEC football while also holding rights to the College Football Playoff.

Author: Sophia Brooks