After Ohio State won the national championship on Monday SEC Network host Paul Finebaum admitted that the Big Ten is the top conference in college football.

The SEC and Big Ten are scheduled to hold a second joint meeting of their athletic directors next month, where conference leaders are expected to deeply explore the future of the College Football Playoff format.

The SEC had a good run. The Big Ten has stepped up to the plate. That said, it’s going to take more than a two-year run to be considered the true kings of college football. But after winning the last two national championships, the conference is well on its way to running college football.

For the second consecutive year, a Big Ten team won the college football title while the Southeastern Conference did not even qualify for the championship game.

Ohio State comes in ahead of the best the SEC has to offer and Big Ten rival Penn State to lead the way in the USA TODAY Sports way-too-early Top 25 for the 2025 season. The No. 1 Buckeyes have to replace quarterback Will Howard but will be able to surround the new starter with an elite collection of skill talent headlined by star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

A Big Ten program hoisted the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy for the second consecutive season. That became the case on Monday night when Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the title game.

Desmond Howard was asked about the status of the Big Ten after Ohio State's title, and he believes the status is clear.

The Big 12 ended up well-represented in the final polls of the season, with Arizona State unsurprisingly leading the way after its CFP appearance.

Why is Notre Dame not in a conference for college football? Here's what to know as the Irish are set to compete in the CFP championship game on Monday:

The expanded College Football Playoff format delivered plenty of drama and sparked debates on possible improvements, but the final results were undeniable. Between the playoff and bowl games, the postseason gives conferences a chance to compete for supremacy and showcase their strength,

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian raises the trophy as the Texas Longhorns celebrate their 39-31 double overtime win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 1, 2025. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images