SEC vs. Big 10 Challenge in College Football 25

© Aaron E. Martinez/USA TODAY NETWORK

The Power Five is, in reality, the Power Two.

Conference realignment (code for money grab) has left the college football landscape with two major conferences: the Big Ten Conference, with 18 teams, and the Southeastern Conference, with 16 teams.

In another seismic shift of the college football landscape, EA Sports finally produced a true college football game: College Football 25.

The Dawgs took the concept of the SEC vs. Atlantic Coast Conference challenge in college hoops and applied it to College Football 25.

The goal was to devise the 18 best possible SEC vs. Big 10 matchups and simulate them in College Football 25. Two SEC teams must play twice since the SEC has two fewer teams than the B1G.

Creating Balance: SEC vs. Big 10

The following criteria were used to select the 18 matchups: The 2023 conference standings are the starting point. Both conferences were allocated nine home games. Because the SEC and B1G have new members from the Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference, respectively, conference seedings/rankings for the newcomers were estimated based on their performance in their former conferences. The SuperSim function was deployed repeatedly to simulate outcomes.

Here are the game-by-game recaps:

Arkansas (7th, SEC West) at UCLA (7th, Pac-12)

Arkansas led 24-6, and then UCLA got going in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns but missed the two-point conversion. Arkansas kicked a late field goal to win 27-19. Ja’Quinden Jackson ran for 2 touchdowns and 103 yards for the Hogs.

The SEC led the series 1-0.

Indiana (7th, B1G East) at Vandy (7th, SEC East)

Even the announcers sounded less than enthusiastic about this matchup when the game started. Indiana led 20-7 at halftime and won 26-14. Kurtis Rourke threw for two TDs. Vandy had more yards by far but turned the ball over twice. Vandy’s gonna Vandy.

Series tied 1-1.

Arkansas (7th, SEC West) at USC (6th, Pac-12)

Of all 18 games, there had to be at least one clunker, and this was it. USC was sixth in the Pac-12 in 2023, so this is where they fit. Arkansas led early. Then, the Trojans scored three touchdowns in the final 1:10 of the first half. USC won 41-13. Miller Moss threw 5 TD passes.

B1G led the series 2-1.

Michigan State (6th, B1G East) at Mississippi State (6th, SEC West)

The scoreboard was funny for this one. MSU vs. MSU. State vs. State. Mississippi State had 3 turnovers. Michigan State had the ball inside the other State's 20 with 1:20 left and got stopped on fourth-and-6. Ring the cowbells. Mississippi State won 24-17.

Series tied 2-2.

Mississippi State (6th, SEC West) at Rutgers (5th, B1G East)

In this epic clash, Mississippi State led early, and a dramatic finish ensued. The game went into overtime, tied at 35. Then it was 48-48 after two overtimes. That meant it was two-point try time. The Bulldogs failed to score but then successfully defended Rutgers' attempt. The teams then switched the order of attempts, and both failed again. In what was technically OT No. 5, Kyle Monangai scored for the Scarlet Knights to make it 50-48. State lined up and ran Kevin Coleman off tackle but he did not get in. Rutgers won a great one, 50-48.

B1G led 3-2.

Auburn (5th, SEC West) at Purdue (4th B1G West)

Both teams went up and down the field. Purdue led 14-13 at halftime. With 33 seconds left in the game, Auburn backup QB Hank Brown threw a 52-yard TD pass to Cam Coleman to make it 34-30 Tigers. Hudson Card was Player of the Game, in a losing cause, with 329 yards and 2 TDs.

Series tied at 3.

Nebraska (4th, B1G West) at Texas A&M (4th SEC West)

A&M's mascot, Reveille, looked amazing in the pre-game run out onto the field. Nebraska led 10-0 early. Could College Football 25 simulate real life, in which Nebraska chokes? You bet. The game went into overtime, tied at 34. A&M kicked a field goal to go up 37-34. Then, Nebraska fumbled on their second play. Taurean recovered for the Aggies, finishing a tough loss for the Cornhuskers.

SEC led 4-3.

South Carolina (4th, SEC East) at Minnesota (4th, B1G West)

This was a snoozer. Minnesota threw 6 interceptions. It went from a close game in the first half to a 52-13 Carolina rout. Jaren Brown had 4 TD catches for the Gamecocks, who outgained Minnesota 493-263. "Row the boat."

SEC led 5-3.

Illinois (4th, B1G West) at Kentucky (4th, SEC East)

With under 30 seconds left, Kentucky was inside the Illinois 10, fourth-and-6, down 28-24. The Illini sacked Wildcats QB Brock Vandagriff and came away with the win. Luke Altmeyer had 298 yards through the air for the winners.

SEC led 5-4.

Florida (4th, SEC East) at Maryland (4th, B1G East)

Graham Mertz threw four touchdown passes as the Gators rolled 38-20. Florida fans hope real life emulates this simulation.

SEC led 6-4. Did the Nebraska loss cloud every other Big 10 team?

Wisconsin (3rd, B1G West) at Tennessee (3rd, SEC East)

This was another close game. Wisconsin led 14-10 at halftime. Mike Mathews caught a 23-yard TD pass from Nico Iamaleave with 1:33 left to give the Vols a 30-24 win. Dylan Sampson ran for 126 yards on the ground. The Vols are tough at Rocky Top.

SEC led 7-4.

Oklahoma (2nd, Big 12) at Penn State (3rd, B1G East)

Nick Singleton ran for 119 yards and 2 scores. Penn State led 24-10 at halftime. The Sooners scored a late TD to make it look close. Penn State won 31-24.

SEC led 7-5.

Oregon (2nd, Pac-12) at LSU (2nd, SEC West)

Hallowed Tiger Stadium. Wouldn't it be cool if they put the Tiger back in the cage on the sidelines, or at least build him an enclave so he could watch the games? In the olden days, before PETA was a thing, the legend was LSU would score a TD for every growl pre-game).

Ducks running back Jordan James ran for 166 yards. Oregon had four turnovers and LSU had none. Nevertheless, Oregon nailed a 52-yard FG with two minutes left to win it 33-30. They need the real tiger in Baton Rouge, La.

SEC led 7-6.

Ole Miss (2nd, SEC West) vs. Northwestern (2nd, B1G West)

Northwestern kicked a 51-yard FG with 24 seconds left to tie it at 30. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart rallied the Rebels with four straight completed passes, and Caden Davis hit a 48-yard FG for Ole Miss as time expired. The Rebels won 33-30. Hotty Toddy.

SEC led 8-6.

Ohio State (2nd, B1G East) at Mizzou (2nd, SEC East)

It’s a Cotton Bowl rematch. The "JV versions" of the teams played in that uninspired game. However, the sequel was spicy. Ohio State led 21-20 at the half. The game was tied entering the third quarter. Buckeyes freshman star Jeremiah Smith caught a long TD pass early in the fourth, and Ohio State won 42-35.

SEC led 8-7.

Texas (1st, Big 12) vs. Washington (1st, Pac-12)

In a College Football Playoff rematch, there was a different result. CJ Baxter, who just got hurt in the real world, ran for three touchdowns. Quinn Ewers completed 19 of 23 passes, including a TD. Texas cruised 34-15. Score one for the Big 12, wait SEC.

SEC led 9-7.

Iowa (1st, B1G West) at Alabama (1st, SEC West)

On paper, this one looked lopsided, but remember Iowa won the Big 10 West last year. All looked on as the Hawkeyes set offensive football back decades. Anyway, Bama didn’t do anything flashy. Jalen Miroe passed for 121 yards and a TD. Iowa did score an offensive touchdown late. (The game must be broken.) Bama prevailed 24-13.

SEC leds 10-7, clinching the series.

Georgia (1st, SEC East) at Michigan (1st B1G East)

This was the only game with a glitch. Good thing EA Sports just did a patch. Georgia won the first time 45-38 in OT. But something glitched out and the screen froze. Don’t look Michigan fans.

For the second game, it was scoreless after the first quarter, but Georgia put up 34 points (34!) in the second quarter and won 51-31. Carson Beck threw for 393 yards and 4 touchdowns. Orji had 2 picks for Michigan. Turnovers are devastating.

Final tally: SEC wins the series 11-7.