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End of government shutdown in sight as Speaker Johnson overcomes GOP revolt

The end of the current government shutdown is in sight on its fourth day after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., managed to corral nearly all of his House GOP lawmakers to advance the legislation.

The Senate’s federal funding deal survived an important hurdle late Tuesday morning, clearing a House-wide ‘rule vote’ to allow for lawmakers to debate the measure and set up a vote on final passage by early afternoon.

It comes after a pair of House conservatives announced they would be backing off their threats to sink the legislation during the rule vote if the legislation was not paired with an unrelated election integrity bill called the SAVE America Act.

A rule vote is a House-wide test vote of sorts for most bills before they are considered for final passage. They normally fall along partisan lines even if the underlying bill has bipartisan support.

The same is true in this case, where at least several House Democrats are expected to support the funding bill during final passage — despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., strongly coming out against it.

But for Johnson, that meant navigating a razor-thin one-seat majority to get nearly all House Republicans to vote in lockstep to advance the legislation.

Democrats had initially walked away from a bipartisan House deal to finish funding the federal government through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2026 on Sept. 30, rebelling against a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over President Donald Trump’s handling of unrest in Minneapolis.

It left roughly 78% of the government’s yearly funding hanging in the balance. The DHS bill was lumped into a wider package authorizing budgets for the departments of War, Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Education.

A new deal hashed out between Senate Democrats and the White House would fully fund those remaining areas while only extending current funding levels for DHS through Feb. 13, in order to give Democrats and Republicans time to hash out a longer-term bipartisan plan.

And despite most House Republicans coming on board — some more reluctant than others over the prospect of dealing with Democrats — Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., warned they would not support the bill during the rule vote without the SAVE America Act attached.

The SAVE America Act would require voter ID at the polls and create a new proof of citizenship mandate in the voter registration process.

But that would require it to be sent back to the Senate for additional approval, where Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said it was dead on arrival.

However, Luna told reporters on Monday night that she and Burchett both changed their minds after getting assurances from the White House that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., would force a vote on the SAVE America Act.

‘As of right now, with the current agreement that we have, as well as discussions, we will both be a yes on the rule,’ Luna said. ‘There is something called a standing filibuster that would effectively allow Senator Thune to put voter ID on the floor of the Senate. We are hearing that that is going well, and he is considering that…so we are very happy about that.’

House lawmakers will now debate the underlying bill, which will see a final vote around 1 p.m. ET.

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Iranian gunboats unsuccessfully attempt to board US oil tanker as Trump builds military presence

Six Iranian gunboats unsuccessfully attempted to halt a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The security firm Vanguard Tech told its clients on Tuesday that the Iranian vessels were armed with .50-caliber guns, and they ordered the oil tanker to turn off its engines and prepare to be boarded. Instead, the tanker sped up and was ultimately escorted to safety by a U.S. Navy vessel, according to the Journal.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

The incident comes as the U.S. continues to ramp up its military presence surrounding Iran, with President Donald Trump describing an ‘armada’ arrayed in the area.

Iran’s regime has vowed that any military strike on its territory would ignite a regional conflict, even as senior Iranian officials signaled a willingness to negotiate with the U.S.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to Axios. The publication also reported that Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday.

The talks in Israel are expected to focus on Iran, following Zamir’s weekend visit to Washington, where he held a series of meetings with U.S. defense officials on the Islamic Republic.

Trump said on Saturday he believes Iran is negotiating ‘seriously’ with the U.S., stressing that he hopes an ‘acceptable’ deal can be brokered.

When asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether he had decided on a strike against Iran, Trump responded, ‘I certainly can’t tell you that.’

‘But we do have very big, powerful ships heading in that direction,’ he added. ‘I hope they negotiate something that’s acceptable.’

The president then sidestepped a question about whether Tehran would be emboldened if the U.S. opted not to launch strikes on Iran, saying, ‘Some people think that. Some people don’t.’

‘You could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons,’ Trump said. ‘They should do that, but I don’t know that they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us.’

Fox News’ Efrat Lachter and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.

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Thune rejects Trump’s call to nationalize elections, warns Dems tried the same

The Senate’s top Republican leader threw cold water on President Donald Trump’s desire to nationalize elections, arguing he was in favor of ‘decentralized, distributed power.’ 

Trump, during an appearance on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s podcast, contended that it was ‘amazing Republicans aren’t tougher’ on elections. 

‘The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over, we should take over the voting in at least many — 15 places,’’ Trump said. ‘The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked.’

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., rejected the notion. He said that while he was supportive of only citizens voting and showing identification at polling places to do so, he was not in ‘favor of federalizing elections.’

‘That’s a constitutional issue. You gotta be a citizen to vote in our elections,’ Thune said. 

Trump’s ability to morph and shape the election landscape runs into constitutional barriers, notably that elections are run by state and local officials in all 50 states. The federal government has a limited role in that process. 

Thune also noted that echoes of the idea were once pushed by congressional Democrats years ago — something that Senate Republicans resoundingly crushed.

‘But there are other things that the Dems had in their proposal to federalize elections which are really bad outcomes for the country,’ he said. ‘I’m a big believer in decentralized, distributed power. And I think, you know, it’s harder to hack 50 election systems than it is to hack one.’ 

Congressional Republicans strongly pushed back against pushes by their counterparts to pass election reform legislation, notably the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act, which they argued at the time would effectively nationalize elections and give Democrats control of the election system across the country. 

Trump’s suggestion came after the FBI raided an election hub in Fulton County, Ga., where federal law enforcement officials were authorized to seize election records, voting rolls and other data tied to the 2020 election.

It also comes as congressional Republicans wrestle with the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which previously passed the House but has not gotten a vote in the Senate. 

That legislation would require states to obtain proof of citizenship in-person when people register to vote and remove noncitizens from voter rolls. A modified version of the bill gaining steam among conservatives would require photo ID when voting.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed Trump’s comments and the SAVE Act and affirmed that the bill would never pass through the Senate. 

‘Now as for the SAVE Act itself: it has nothing to do with protecting our elections and everything to do with federalizing voter suppression,’ Schumer said. ‘The SAVE Act is nothing more than Jim Crow 2.0.’

Thune rejected the idea, citing constitutional concerns about federalizing elections

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UK govt-backed review says Britain’s national parks feel ‘white’ and unwelcoming

Authorities overseeing some of Britain’s most famous countryside landscapes are launching targeted outreach programs aimed at ethnic minority communities, after a government-commissioned review warned rural areas are widely perceived as a ‘white’ and unwelcoming space.

‘The countryside is seen by both black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and white people as very much a ‘white’ environment,’ the report stated, ‘We are all paying for national landscapes through our taxes, and yet sometimes on our visits it has felt as if National Parks are an exclusive, mainly white, mainly middle‑class club, with rules only members understand and much too little done to encourage first time visitors.’

Critics say the initiative reflects misplaced government priorities. Michael McManus, director of research at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital: ‘At a time of low growth, high taxes and stretched public services, it’s astonishing that ministers are spending time and money worrying about the ‘whiteness’ of the countryside. Government exists to grow the economy and fix real problems, not to indulge in culture war distractions that deliver nothing for working people.’

The initiatives stem from the 2019 Landscapes Review, commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and led by author Julian Glover. The review concluded that England’s protected landscapes often feel disconnected from large parts of the population.

The review also criticized the leadership of protected landscapes, arguing that governance bodies do not reflect the country they serve. ‘Of the almost 1,000 people on National Park and AONB boards today, the great majority are male… and a tiny fraction are of black, Asian or minority ethnicities,’ the report said, calling that imbalance ‘wrong for organizations which are funded by the nation to serve everyone.’

Following the review, organizations representing National Landscapes, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, have published updated management plans outlining steps to attract more diverse visitors. According to individual plans published between 2024 and 2025, and as reported by U.K. outlets including LBC and GB News, the measures apply to landscapes including the Cotswolds, the Chilterns, the Malvern Hills and others.

Under those plans, the Chilterns National Landscape will launch targeted outreach programs in Luton and High Wycombe, areas with large Muslim populations. One barrier cited in follow-up research was concern among some visitors about unleashed dogs in rural areas.

The Cotswolds National Landscape referenced the DEFRA findings directly, saying it is seeking to broaden its appeal to reach ‘the widest demographic.’

In its own management strategy, the Malvern Hills National Landscape said many minority communities lack a generational connection to the countryside because parents and grandparents ‘did not always feel welcome in it.’ The plan added that while many white English visitors value solitude, ethnic minority visitors may be more inclined toward group or family-based activities.

Other landscapes raised similar concerns. Nidderdale National Landscape in North Yorkshire warned that ethnic minority visitors may worry about how they will be received in unfamiliar rural settings. Dedham Vale, Surrey Hills, and Suffolk and Essex Coast Heaths said they aim to identify and address barriers limiting access for under-represented groups, including people without English as a first language.

Together, the plans signal a broader shift in how Britain’s publicly funded countryside is managed, as landscape authorities face growing pressure to demonstrate cultural relevance to a changing society, even as critics warn the focus risks sidelining economic priorities and traditional conservation goals.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in England for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

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Bracketology: Houston, Florida rise in latest NCAA projection

Defending national champion Florida and runner-up Houston are climbing in USA TODAY Sports’ latest men’s basketball bracketology update.

After a sluggish start that included nonconference losses to Arizona, TCU, Duke and Connecticut, the Gators have moved to a No. 3 seed and within a half-game of first place in the SEC.

Florida has lost just twice in nearly two months and now has a combined 10 Quad 1 and 2 wins. On Sunday, the Gators shot 51.3% from the field and had a plus-16 turnover margin in a 100-77 win against Alabama.

Meanwhile, Houston steps up to the No. 2 line after rebounding from a road loss to Texas Tech with wins against TCU and Cincinnati.

After playing just four true away games to date, the Cougars are set to face a daunting Big 12 road slate down the stretch, including dates at Brigham Young, Iowa State and Kansas.

Notable fallers in the bracket include No. 3 seed Nebraska, which has recently lost high-profile conference games against Michigan and Illinois, and No. 6 seed Arkansas, which drops a line after losing at home to Kentucky.

March Madness bracketology update for NCAA tournament

March Madness Last four in

UCLA, New Mexico, Ohio State, Santa Clara.

March Madness First four out

Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, Seton Hall, Missouri.

NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (7) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3).

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Alabama reeks of failed desperation while losing with Charles Bediako

Alabama keeps losing after adding a low-scoring NBA G League player. That’s not karma. That’s just proof of failed desperation.
Alabama has one win and two losses after judge granted ruling in favor of Charles Bediako as he sues NCAA.
Nate Oats says he wants enforceable rules, while accepting player who sued the NCAA to sidestep its rules.

Florida coach Todd Golden could barely control his amusement as he read the stats aloud after his team’s 100-77 rout of Alabama.

“We beat them on the glass. We scored 72 points in the paint,” Golden said. “Our bigs were really, really good.”

You say Alabama winning just once and losing twice after adding a G League player is a show of karma’s muscle. I say it’s proof Alabama needed to go bigger. Coach Nate Oats rocked the boat for a guy who scored six points, before fouling out against the Gators.

Charles Bediako to Alabama stunk of desperation

Oats’ grab of Bediako reeked of desperation. Turns out, a 23-year-old center who was averaging four points in the G League won’t cure all that ailed Alabama. He’s no threat to snatch away the Wooden Award.

Go big or go home, I say.

Is there no 31-year-old Serbian dominating in Europe who could be lured onto a college campus with a mega-millions NIL deal?

If you’re willing to challenge NCAA rules, why stop at Bediako? For a more transformative roster move, try Oscar Tshiebwe. A former Kentucky star who left UK with a year of eligibility remaining, the 26-year-old Tshiebwe leads the G League in rebounding.

NCAA rules prohibit Tshiebwe from playing again in college. NCAA rules also stood in the way of Bediako. So, Bediako got a lawyer.

“Wait a minute, are people allowed to go back to school?” Tshiebwe wrote on social media last month.

As with many eligibility questions in college sports, the courts will answer that.

Never mind Gen Ed coursework, having a lawyer on speed dial is the first thing college athletes must learn nowadays. Second thing you learn: Hope you draw a judge who supports the home team.

Bediako hadn’t played college hoops in nearly three years before an Alabama judge who’s listed as a Crimson Tide athletics donor awarded him the green light to suit up.

Bediako is scheduled for another hearing this week in front of a different judge, as his lawsuit against the NCAA proceeds.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the initial Bediako court ruling, former NBA player Amari Bailey hired a lawyer as he explores returning to college basketball.

NCAA rules prohibit eligibility for former college players with NBA experience, but you know the thing about NCAA rules? They’re ripe for a legal challenge.

Nate Oats follows four-step plan, while NCAA suffers

Four of Oats’ previous five teams advanced to at least the Sweet 16. This team, though, encountered persistent frontcourt deficiencies and struggled on defense. It lost two of its first three SEC games.

That helps explain why Oats looked to the G League for answers, shortly after he got on a soapbox about college teams adding international players with overseas pro experience.

In Bediako, Oats added a new page to the desperate coaches playbook: Bring back a college player who declared for the NBA draft nearly three years ago.

In doing so, Oats adhered to the four-step plan running wild and free within Division I coaching.

Step 1: Tsk, tsk the state of college sports.
Step 2: Find a way to further circumvent the rules. Usually, this step involves a lawyer.
Step 3: Say something like, “Hey, don’t blame me. Blame the system.”
Step 4: Bemoan the lack of enforceable rules and pretend you wish there were stronger guardrails.

On cue, Oats deployed Step 4 after the Florida game, when asked whether he’s concerned about the slippery slope of pro players playing for college teams.

“They need to come up with a set of rules that everybody agrees on and we follow,” said Oats, who added the NCAA needs rules that can withstand legal challenges.

Fact-check: The NCAA has rules to which its membership agrees. Then, members continually look to sidestep or legally challenge NCAA rules, when convenient.

As Oats points out, numerous college rosters feature international players with pro experience in foreign leagues. The NCAA permits this. Bediako is also not the first college player with G League experience.

Baylor, earlier this season, added Nigerian-born James Nnaji, a former NBA draft pick who played professionally in Europe. He’s averaging a whopping 1.2 points for Baylor.

Bediako, according to Oats, is a dual citizen in America and Canada.

Oats’ logic: If expats who played professionally in international leagues can suit up in college, then why can’t an American who played in the G League return to Alabama?

“Some people would argue that Charles has a better case to be eligible than some other guys playing in college basketball,” Oats said.

Not sure that argument holds up, upon scrutiny. Bediako left Alabama for the pros knowing NCAA rules dictate he’d surrender his remaining college basketball eligibility.

When, three years into his pro career, he decided he wanted to rejoin Alabama’s team, he sued the NCAA.

Bediako might win in court, but the Gators served him humble pie.

Six points. Five fouls. From a pro player. Alabama lost again and dropped from the polls.

That’s not karma. That’s proof that, even after desperately adding a ‘G League dropout,’ the team Oats built remains insufficient and incomplete.

Blake Toppmeyer is a sports columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

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Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, Bowen Yang: Ritz goes big for Super Bowl

LOS ANGELES – Grammy Award winner Bad Bunny appeared in Ritz’s debut Super Bowl ad in 2025. But on the Universal Studios soundstage where the 2026 commercial is filming, there’s no sign of the Super Bowl halftime show performer.

‘I’m still not convinced he’s not gonna be here,’ actor and No. 1 Bad Bunny fan Jon Hamm jokes. ‘I’m waiting to see if there’s a surprise.’

‘Wait, he’s not here?’ actress Scarlett Johansson asks. She then looks at Hamm, turns to her other costar in the commercial, actor Bowen Yang, and throws her hands up in dismay and begins to leave the set.

Spoiler alert: Bad Bunny is not in this year’s spot. And Johansson only made it a step or two before returning. Mondelez International, Ritz’s parent company, invited USA TODAY to get a behind-the-scenes look at the brand’s Super Bowl commercial entitled ‘Ritz Island’ and speak exclusively with the ad’s three stars.

Ad Meter: Rate best and worst commercials this year!

The trio of celebrities are far from strangers: They were all in Studio 8H when Hamm, 54, hosted ‘SNL’ in April 2025. The ‘Mad Men’ star appeared in a sketch with Johansson, who is married to ‘Weekend Update’ coanchor Colin Jost. Their bit was a spoof on ‘The White Lotus’ called ‘The White POTUS.’ And Yang reveals that he was originally supposed to join the actors in the sketch but got cut.

‘It just didn’t play,’ Yang, 35, laments. He was set to portray Vice President JD Vance, an impression that the actor jokes ‘America clamored for weekly.’

‘I remember Colin came into my dressing room, he was like, ‘Hey, we might have to cut you,” Yang recalls, referencing Jost. ‘I was like, ‘Please. No problem.”

‘Why?’ Johansson, 41, asks. ‘It’s our favorite. You were born to play (Vance).’

All three laugh. And Yang immediately predicts this will be the headline of the interview.

Ritz explains why it’s back in the Super Bowl with big star power

Mondelez brought its Oreo brand into the big game for the first time in 2024 with an ad starring Kris Jenner. In 2025, it was Ritz’s turn with ‘Ritz Salty Club,’ a commercial that featured Aubrey Plaza and Michael Shannon, who played up their famously ‘salty’ personas. Bad Bunny made a cameo at the end of the spot.

Now for 2026, Ritz returns with arguably Bad Bunny’s most recognizable fan in America. Hamm, who shares a birthday with the music artist, is so well known as a supporter of the Puerto Rican star that he received the nickname ‘Juan Jamón (Spanish for ham).’

‘The strategy is about reminding people that Ritz is for everyone,’ says Steven Saenen, head of savory snacking for Mondelez. ‘The ‘Salty Club’ with the salty trio that we had (in 2025) was perfect to establish the saltiness platform. Now we want to really double down and dial up the energy and impact and come with something that’s a little bit more fun and celebratory.’

On ‘Ritz Island,’ Hamm and Yang look from afar and wonder why they weren’t invited to yet another Ritz party. The two agree that they should go, but Yang will only leave their perch if his feet don’t touch the sand.

Enter Johansson, who rides in on a ski jet. Yang quickly ditches Hamm and heads in.

‘We were looking for talent that was first, culturally super-relevant,’ Saenen says of the casting. ‘Second, just creative powerhouses, at the top of their game. And then three, amazing chemistry between them.’

The chemistry is evident during the interview. When a viral video of Hamm dancing at Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican residency is brought up, the actor won’t confirm or deny that he was ‘lit’ (Bad Bunny’s words, not ours). Yang immediately chimes in with an ‘exclusive.’

‘Jon was trying to rally some people to go (to the concert), and you did reach out to confirm,’ Yang alleges.

‘Wait, where was my… I don’t remember that,’ Johansson interjects.

‘Colin said you didn’t want to go,’ Hamm replies. ‘Colin was like, ‘Nah, she doesn’t want to go.”

Johansson gets up to leave… again.

Hamm, Yang and ScarJo all dish on how they eat their Ritz

Saenen notes that Ritz saw an increase in market share in both February and the first quarter of 2025 with its inaugural Super Bowl campaign.

‘We recruited 1 million new households in the first half of the year,’ the marketing executive continues. ‘And we’re starting to shift brand perception, which is a really important part of why we’re doing this in the first place. We’re casting the brand in a much more modern light.’

All three of the commercial’s stars enjoy the snack. Hamm eats Ritz crackers with and without toppings. Johansson likes to add ‘a little square of cheddar.’ And Yang notes that whenever he’s on a group vacation, he usually orders Ritz for the house.

‘This is the easiest day of work I’ve had in a long time,’ Yang adds, eliciting laughter from his costars. ‘Because it’s with them.’

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US Olympic flag bearers named for Milano Cortina opening ceremony

Olympic speedskating champion Erin Jackson and bobsledder Frank Del Duca have been selected as the flag bearers for Team USA’s delegation at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

Jackson, who won gold in the women’s 500 meters in Beijing in 2022, will be back to defend her title and compete in the 1,000 meters as well. This will mark her third Olympic appearance.

‘Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor,’ Jackson said in a news release. ‘It’s a moment that reflects far more than one individual – it represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport.’

Del Duca − a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Lake Placid, New York − made his Olympic Winter Games debut in Beijing, and has been in the sport for over a decade. He is part of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

‘Being flag bearer for Team USA is an incredible honor,’ Del Duca said. ‘It was also quite the surprise. I’m grateful for the support from my teammates, coaches and staff, Team USA, U.S. Army WCAP, family and friends, and everyone who has helped me on this journey.’

Jackson and Del Duca were chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA athletes, and their selection was announced Tuesday, Feb. 3, by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Jackson becomes the eighth speedskater in history to earn the honor of Team USA flag bearer, while Del Duca becomes the sixth bobsledder to carry the flag.

The opening ceremony will be held Friday, Feb. 6 at Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan.

It will be broadcast live Friday on NBC and Peacock beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Primetime coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock. 

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Why is Pulisic not playing for AC Milan vs. Bologna today?

AC Milan won’t have leading scorer Christian Pulisic when it travels to face Bologna on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

The American star did not make the trip due to bursitis, an inflammation of fluid-filled sacs near joints. The issue is reportedly near Pulisic’s hip.

Pulisic’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious. In his pregame press conference on Monday, Feb. 2, AC Milan coach Max Allegri said he was still hopeful the 27-year-old could travel.

“If he’s better today, we’ll take him,’ Allegri said.

But the 27-year-old has not recovered in time, continuing a difficult run that has been filled with minor injuries.

Pulisic suffered a hamstring tear in October with the U.S. men’s national team. After recovering, he returned with a bang by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over arch-rival Inter on Nov. 23.

But Pulisic missed Milan’s next game against Lazio due to a hamstring issue. In January, Allegri said that the American’s hamstring was still ‘bothering him from time to time.’

Though Pulisic has mostly been available for Milan, Allegri appears to be managing his minutes carefully. The Pennsylvania native has only managed to start three of the Rossoneri‘s last six league matches.

Pulisic is still Milan’s leading scorer with 10 goals in all competitions, but he hasn’t scored or assisted a goal yet in 2026.

The match at Bologna is massive for Milan’s title hopes. Allegri’s men enter the match in second place, trailing Inter by eight points with a game in hand. Failure to win would hand a huge advantage to Milan’s city rival.

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Big Ten took championship belt from SEC. Is TV ratings war next?

There’s no escaping it now. The Big Ten just dusted off the last excuse the SEC had over all of college football. 

No one plays the schedule we play!

What if I were to tell you Ohio State in 2026 will play seven of the top nine Big Ten teams from the 2025 final standings? A schedule so daunting, it would be like Georgia playing Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and LSU in 2026.

Of course, that’s not happening. Now is it, Mr. And Mrs. SEC?

Georgia in 2026 does play Alabama, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and … that’s where the heavy lifting ends. 

Meanwhile, Ohio State plays Indiana, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. And for slips and giggles, the Buckeyes play at Texas, too.

And before SEC wonks begin to pop off about Iowa, that’s the same Iowa team that pounded full-strength Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The same Vandy that the good folks in the Birmingham, Ala., SEC home offices pushed for the College Football Playoff. 

Before Joe SEC starts screaming about Illinois, it’s the same Illinois that beat full-strength Tennessee in the bowl season. The same Illinois that a year earlier beat South Carolina in the postseason, the same South Carolina the SEC office was pushing for the CFP. 

The last time USC played an SEC team, it dusted off both LSU and Texas A&M in 2024.  

Michigan officially sent Nick Saban packing a couple of years ago, and Indiana sent everyone home — including that suddenly stale program in Tuscaloosa. By 35 points.

And now there’s nowhere to hide for the big, bad SEC. The championships have dried up, and so have the excuses.

The once unassailable metric of conference schedule difficulty is no more. The only reason it was an unapproachable given for the SEC was postseason dominance.

They won national titles, they won big bowl games. 

Not anymore. 

Michigan beat Alabama on the way to the 2023 national title, Ohio State beat the ever-loving Iamaleava out of Tennessee in the 2024 CFP, and beat SEC newbie Texas on the way to the Big Ten’s second straight national title. 

Then came Indiana. I mean, Indiana, people.   

When Indiana does what it did to Alabama on the way to the Big Ten’s third straight national title, when the SEC’s collective drawers are pulled down during the Grandaddy Rose Bowl and the conference is summarily spanked for all to see, it’s time to reassess that whole we’re the SEC and you’re not schtick. 

When Georgia can’t get out of the quarterfinals for the second straight CFP, when Texas A&M reverts to Texas 8&5 in the first round of the CFP after a gift conference schedule paved the way to a home game at the party, when LSU can’t get out of its own way without spending a(nother) hundred million to start over, it might be time to take a long, hard look at SEC slippage. 

Then late last week, still fresh from the Crimson and Cream glow emanating from Bloomington, Ind., the Big Ten leaped off the top ring rope: the release of the 2026 schedule. 

Nearly every can’t-miss game of the 2026 college football season will be a Big Ten production.

Ohio State plays at Indiana and USC, and gets Michigan and Oregon at home. 

Indiana plays Ohio State and USC at home, and at Michigan and Washington. 

Oregon plays at Ohio State and USC, and gets Michigan and Washington at home. 

That’s 12 legit marquee games, and there’s more meat on the Big Ten scheduling bone. More opportunity to deliver the final blow to the SEC: television ratings. 

While SEC games still outpaced most Big Ten games in television ratings for 2025, there’s plenty of uncertainty in the SEC with the new nine-game league schedule. What worked forever, in some cases, is no more. 

Georgia doesn’t play Texas A&M again (seriously, it must be a joke at this point), and someone decided it was more important for Tennessee to continue to play Kentucky instead of Florida. A Florida-Tennessee game that, more than any other, helped elevate the conference past the Big Ten in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Florida was in the middle of its worst season in years in 2025, and had fired its coach. Tennessee was in the middle of significant regression from its CFP season of 2024. 

And the game still got 4.76 million viewers — more on the same day than one of the greatest rivalries in college football history (USC vs. Notre Dame, 4.64).

Georgia vs. Tennessee, another longstanding rivalry eliminated on an annual basis by the new nine-game schedule, had a whopping 12.58 million viewers last season. I’m sure the Georgia-Arkansas game will crush in 2026. 

No Alabama-LSU (7.54 million), no Florida-LSU (7.64 million). Just a whole lot of trying to be everything for everyone, and being nothing of what it needs to be.

The championships have dried up, and so have the excuses. There’s nowhere to hide for the SEC. 

It’s a Big Ten world now.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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