Ohio State Heisman candidate says Big Ten talent is better than SEC after transferring from Alabama

Most of the country has accepted that the talent in the SEC is simply better than that of anywhere else. While it's true that Alabama and Georgia have dominated college football's list of title winners since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, there's been parity amongst mixed-conference and bowl games for decades.

It's far from a given that the south's speed and size will always win over northern foes. Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon headline the list of northern contenders over the last decade.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide All-American Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State this past offseason and was asked how the talent compares between the two schools. He said , "Above or right at the same level, but it doesn't matter about the talent level. We have to be a disciplined team."

The comparison of Ohio State's and the Big Ten's talent to what he experienced in the SEC and at Alabama is certainly interesting. Although Downs hasn't played in a regular-season game yet, he's not wrong in saying the Buckeyes are at least as talented as the Crimson Tide. We have the recruiting history and performance of both programs at our fingertips to prove it.

However, the latter part is the difference between Georgia, Alabama, and everyone else. Included in that everyone else is the Buckeyes and Oregon, who just joined the Big Ten this offseason. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has gotten this program to the edge of winning a national championship, but discipline has been an issue in key moments.

Whether it's been untimely penalties against Michigan or a missed field goal in the waning seconds against Georgia, the Buckeyes have lost in the margins when it matters most. That must change for Ohio State in 2024, much like it did for Michigan in 2023.

Of course, Downs was not saying that Northwestern or Nebraska has as much talent as Tennessee or even Missouri, but he is saying the top of the crop can play with anyone in the SEC. This will surely ruffle some feathers as Downs throws barbs at his former conference and school, but he's not wrong.