That the second and third (your words) teams in the Big ten do not compare to those of the SEC. Illinois has won 5 National Championships. If they are a second tier team?? Great analysis, but still too much SEC Bias.
How many Second tier (whatever that means) SEC teams have 5 national Championships?? Vanderbilt? Miss. St?? Ole Miss?? Yes, the SEC is on a roll, and hats off to 'em for it. But it's a lot easier to recruit teenage kids when girls on campus are wearing short shorts, rather than Winter Coats.
Think about it. Salute to the SEC for what they have accomplished, but don't get too big of heads about it. Arrogance leads to failure.