This has not exactly been a great College Football Playoff for the SEC, but you will not get Cam Newton to admit that.
Newton appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” Friday and was asked if the days of the SEC dominating college football are over. The former Auburn quarterback said no, because the league still gets the best television ratings.
“If you want to go and get put on, you still go to the SEC,” Newton argued. “However great Coach (Curt) Cignetti is, you still know, I’m not about to go watch Indiana football. I prefer to go watch LSU, Ole Miss, the great Auburn, Alabama, UGA, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State, way before I watch a Penn State. Way before I watch a Michigan State, an Iowa State — man, come on now.”
Cam Newton says that TV ratings show that SEC is still college football's top conference: "However great Coach Cignetti is, you still know, I'm not about to go watch Indiana football. I prefer to go watch LSU, Ole Miss, the great Auburn, Alabama, UGA, Tennessee, Arkansas,… pic.twitter.com/Fin02wyu83
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2026
To many, Newton’s argument rang hollow. Few people would argue that TV ratings determine the biggest conference in the country, after all.
Cam Newton in national TV flat out lying because he can’t admit SEC football isn’t what it used to be
— Steffen Davis (@SteffDavis_) January 2, 2026
BREAKING: Cam Newton doesn’t actually like watching college football https://t.co/BjSuq1fKqS
— Savanah Tujague (@savanah2j) January 2, 2026
Ryan Clark making great sense on First Take about the SEC and it’s so sad to see Cam Newton in denial about it all. Nobody outside of Alabama cares to watch Auburn football @Realrclark25
— Zach Fleer (@ZachFleer270) January 2, 2026
Somebody tell Cam Newton the Big Ten has a bigger TV deal than the SEC. #FirstTake
— The Dre Era (@TheDreEra) January 2, 2026
Newton being an SEC homer is perhaps expected, but it is a tough time to make the argument. Indiana beat Alabama 38-3 on Thursday, and Ole Miss is the only SEC team still standing in college football’s last four. They got there by beating Tulane before knocking off Georgia in an all-SEC quarterfinal.
A lot of hardcore SEC fans still stick to this argument, particularly in relation to the Big Ten. That did not work out well for one SEC quarterback this week, but it is not stopping Newton from doubling down.
