USA TODAY Sports columnist Matt Hayes argues that the Big Ten and SEC have fundamentally altered college football through conference realignment and revenue-driven decisions, yet continue to complain about the resulting landscape.
Hayes contends that the two power conferences pursued expansion and media deals that disrupted traditional rivalries and competitive balance, creating a system that favors their members at the expense of the broader sport.
Despite engineering these changes, conference leaders frequently voice grievances about playoff access, scheduling, and governance, a stance Hayes describes as hypocritical.
The column highlights the tension between the conferences' pursuit of financial gain and their public complaints about the very structure they helped create.
