Big Ten Football: Can East division compete with SEC West in 2021?

SEC West or Big Ten East?

Here are the biggest games coming up for each team from each division that will help better determine which division may be considered the best division in all of college football.

Big Ten East

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Iowa (Oct. 1), at Ohio State (Oct. 9)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Auburn (Sept. 18), at Iowa (Oct. 9)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 18), at Penn State (Oct. 2)

Biggest upcoming games: at Miami (Sept. 18), at Indiana (Oct. 16)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Oregon (Sept. 11), vs. Maryland (Oct. 9)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Washington (Sept. 11), at Wisconsin (Oct. 2)

SEC West

Biggest upcoming games: at Florida (Sept. 18), at Texas A&M (Oct. 9)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Texas (Sept. 11), vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 25)

Biggest upcoming games: at Penn State (Sept. 18), vs. Georgia (Oct. 9)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. NC State (Sept. 11), at Texas A&M (Oct. 2)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Auburn (Oct. 2), vs. Florida (Oct. 16)

Biggest upcoming games: at Alabama (Oct. 2), at Auburn (Oct. 30)

Biggest upcoming games: vs. Colorado (Sept. 11), vs. Alabama (Oct. 9)

Who will be the best division from top to bottom in the country? It’s too close to call now but after Week 1, the Big Ten East has the slight edge.

However, the SEC West has some games against Power Five foes in the next two weeks with Texas A&M hosting Colorado, Mississippi State bringing in NC State, Arkansas hosting Texas, and the big game is Auburn going to Happy Valley to play Penn State. By October, the SEC West could make a very strong case that they are the best division in all of college football.

The Big Ten East must avoid any upsets and must be able to win games they are favored in like Michigan hosting Washington and Ohio State bringing in Oregon to Columbus. Teams like Michigan State can make a statement winning at Miami and Indiana can dash any hopes of Cincinnati getting into the College Football Playoff by defeating them at home.

Also, the Big Ten East must continue to win the majority of their games against teams from the Big Ten West if they want to be considered the best division in the country.

Time will tell but by the second week of October, one division will distance itself from the other. The SEC West has more overall opportunities to prove themselves as teams from the SEC East seem to be better overall than teams in the Big Ten West. Check back by the third week of October to find out what division in college football is considered the best.