The SEC has not won a national football championship in three years while the Big Ten has claimed three straight titles, despite the SEC's vast revenue and fan support; experts attribute SEC postseason struggles to attrition, scheduling demands, and the toll of constant competition, suggesting teams must reinvent between the regular season and the playoff. As the conference expands to 16 teams and shifts to a nine-game slate, historic rivalries fade and talk of a breakaway grows amid intense financial and competitive pressure.
