SEC head coaches FAYETTEVILLE, AR – NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks talks with Head Coach Les Miles of the LSU Tigers before a game at Razorback Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 17-0.(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

College basketball is full of conference challenges. Whether it’s the ACC vs. Big 10 Challenge or the SEC vs. Big 12 Challenge, college basketball always has great early season conference challenge games.

Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema has noticed and wants to bring that same concept to college football.

Bielema was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2006 to 2012 before taking over at Arkansas in 2013, where he’s been since. With his history in both conference, he’s the biggest proponent behind a SEC vs. Big 10 Football Challenge.

The Tampa Bay Times reported on Bielema’s interest in the football challenge.

“It just makes too much sense,” Bielema said.

According to the paper, Bielema said his plan would be similar to the SEC vs. Big 12 basketball challenge, except with the Big Ten and in football. The commissioners of the two conferences would come up with a list of teams ranked one through four. Then the two groups of four would face off during weeks two and three of the season.

In college basketball, this makes more sense only because the teams play more games, the non-conference schedules aren’t set years in advance, and all teams can participate. None of that is the same in college football.

However, this plan wouldn’t be put in place and instead it would be something that would start years from now. That way the two conference could negotiate TV deals, which would likely be massive, and schedules could be rearranged if need be.

Now that Bielema has brought the idea up, let’s take a look at four potential matchups between the two conferences.

Current and former SEC coaches
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes shakes hands with head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide prior to the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Urban Meyer; Nick Saban

1. University of Alabama vs. The Ohio State University:

It’s easy to understand why this would be the headlining matchup of a potential SEC vs. Big 10 football challenge. Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer? Sign me up.

Alabama leads the series three to one over Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have the most recent victory. Ohio State defeated Alabama 42-35 to win the 2015 Sugar Bowl to advance to the first ever College Football Championship game. The Buckeyes eventually won the 2015 Championship while the Crimson Tide won the second edition this year.

2. The University of Georgia vs. The University of Michigan:

These two teams should be involved in the potential SEC vs. Big 10 football challenge, but one could make an argument Georgia should lose it’s spot to one of the Mississippi schools, Texas A&M, or the University of Florida. Regardless, both teams are very deserving of being here.

The Bulldogs have the third most SEC Titles with 12, one behind second place Tennessee. The Wolverines meanwhile have never won a Big 10 Championship, but then again the Big 10 title game has only been around since 2011.

The two teams are 1-1 against each other in their history. Michigan won the meeting on October 5th, 1957 while Georgia won the contest on October 2nd, 1965.

3. Louisiana State University vs. Michigan State University:

Both schools should 100% be involved in the challenge and could be switched up with the previous matchup, although this is the more enticing of the potential combinations.

LSU has the fourth most SEC titles with 11, one behind Georgia, and two behind Tennessee (Alabama leads with 25). Michigan State meanwhile has won two Big 10 titles, tied with Wisconsin for the most.

The Tigers are 1-0 against the Spartans in the history of the two programs. LSU won the only battle back on December 29th, 1995 by a score of 45-26 in the Independence Bowl.

4. The University of Tennessee vs. Pennsylvania State University:

If we’re going off recent success, neither of these teams should be in it and instead should be replaced. In the SEC by a Mississippi school, Florida, or Texas A&M is probably more deserving while in the Big 10 Wisconsin, Iowa, or Northwestern should probably be in over Penn State.

However, if we’re going off history, these two schools should absolutely be in it and face off against one another. Tennessee has the second most SEC titles with 13, but their last championship was in 1998. Penn State hasn’t made it to the Big 10 title game, but has won seven national titles.

The Nittany Lions are 3-2 against the Volunteers. Penn State won the last game between the schools on January 1st, 2007 by a score of 20-10 in the Outback Bowl.

[Tampa Bay Times]

About David Lauterbach

David is a writer for The Comeback. He enjoyed two Men's Basketball Final Four trips for Syracuse before graduating in 2016. If The Office or Game of Thrones is on TV, David will be watching.