The Big Ten is on the verge of winning its third straight national title. Josh Pate recognizes it and has weighed in on where it sits against the SEC.
Josh Pate declares whether Big Ten has overtaken SEC in college football moving forward originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If it were up to college football podcaster and analyst Josh Pate, the Big Ten-SEC debate as to which conference holds the cards isn't even close.
Pate said on a recent edition of "Josh Pate's College Football Show" that the Big Ten deserves the same respect, if not more, than the SEC in this current era of college football.
“The SEC is lagging behind the Big Ten, at the top," Pate said. "I would even venture to suggest the middle-tier now is at least comparable if not slightly lagging behind. That’s probably where my perception has changed of late, moreso than at the top. So I’m not beating that drum.”
Pate made an interesting follow-up point: it doesn't even matter that the Indiana Hoosiers are currently the class of the league. It's the psychological framework about what makes those players more polished than those from the SEC. And it's greater than just mental and physical toughness, Pate said.
“Maybe the average Big Ten player is wired a little bit differently, maybe they focus a little more on the football aspect, the mean-and-potatoes aspect of football, instead of the more highlight-ish, branding aspect of football,” Pate said.
That "wired" approach is the most unique part. It can't be taught. It can't be studied.
It's simply there.
“If you think that’s ridiculous, it’s because it is,” Pate said. “But that’s been standard practice in the SEC for awhile. And I don’t find it to be the case in the Big Ten.”
Whether the narrative returns in favor of the SEC is unclear, but right now, the Big Ten can keep chasing excellence.
Category: General Sports
