Ohio State's Caleb Downs says the quiet part out loud in SEC vs. Big Ten debate ahead of championship game vs. Indiana

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has given his take on the SEC vs. Big Ten debate ahead of the championship games of both conferences. Downs, who started his career at Alabama in the SEC, discussed what differentiates competition there from the Big Ten in an interview with David Pollack.

The 20-year-old played only a season at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State ahead of his sophomore season. Named the SEC Freshman of the Season in 2023, Downs observed that the quality of opponents there is consistently higher than in the Big Ten.

He said:

“I would definitely say in the SEC, you’re playing every week, and you’re playing big comps every week. That was something when I was at Alabama. It was every week. We’re playing Tennessee this week, LSU next week, then we go to Auburn. You’re playing dudes every week. And that’s something you need to prepare your body for, prepare your mind for.”

He went on to provide perspective on the Big Ten, saying:

“I would say, Big Ten, you’re gonna have four or five games, maybe, where you’re gonna have to play high-level competition and really be able to be at your highest point. So that’s a difference. But then again, I said that when I first got to Ohio State, and then a lot of the teams that were in the Big Ten when it came to bowl games ended up beating the SEC teams.”

Lane Kiffin reacts to Caleb Downs' comment

Caleb Downs’ perspective has triggered different reactions from different quarters, with Lane Kiffin tagging the CFP to the player’s comment. It is difficult to fault Downs’ submission, as he’s played at the highest levels in both leagues.

Caleb Downs was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2024 as the Buckeyes dominated college football to win the national championship. He has repeated the feat this season, also winning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award.

While Ohio State has been praised for its incredible offense this season, its solid defense has helped the team maintain a perfect record. His contribution to that has been vital, as it will be once again when the team faces an equally unbeaten Indiana on Saturday.

Downs’ tally for tackles going into Saturday’s game includes 34 solo tackles and 18 assisted tackles. The Big Ten championship game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Saturday night.