Colin Cowherd Reacts to Kelsey Plum’s Jab at Caitlin Clark and Declares Big Ten the New Powerhouse of College Football

In a recent episode of The Herd, sports commentator Colin Cowherd offered strong opinions on two major sports storylines: the controversy surrounding WNBA star Kelsey Plum’s comments on Caitlin Clark and the seismic shift in college football power dynamics favoring the Big Ten over the historically dominant SEC.

WNBA Drama: “Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You”

The conversation began with Cowherd defending WNBA players’ recent push for higher pay. This week, WNBA athletes wore shirts demanding better compensation, drawing attention to the fact that they currently receive just 9% of league revenues—compared to the NBA’s 50% revenue split. Cowherd applauded the unified demand for fair treatment, citing the league’s recent surge in popularity: merchandise sales are up 500%, and attendance has spiked by 40%.

But Cowherd took issue with how some players, specifically Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks, chose to make the protest personal. During a press conference, Plum noted that “zero members of Team Clark” participated in the planning meeting behind the protest, a clear dig at Indiana Fever’s breakout star Caitlin Clark.

Cowherd didn’t hold back. “Why do you take a shot at the golden goose?” he asked rhetorically. According to him, Clark’s arrival has been nothing short of transformative for the WNBA. “You were flying on airlines that made you pay for a cup of water. Now you’re flying private,” he quipped, comparing the league’s pre-Clark state to a struggling band staying at a Motel 6, now upgraded to a Ritz-Carlton thanks to one superstar addition.

Cowherd emphasized that negotiations and business success are built on momentum, not past performance. The WNBA may have historically lost money, but it’s now on an upward trajectory, and Clark is a central figure in that shift. “It’s time to grow up, girls,” he concluded. “This is the player who got you off the budget airline.”

Big Ten Takes Over: “SEC Had Their Run—Now It’s the Big Ten’s Turn”

Shifting gears, Cowherd turned to college football and the newly released Big Ten preseason media poll, which surprisingly placed Penn State above powerhouse Ohio State. Despite Ohio State boasting both the top offensive and defensive players in the country, and elite recruiting and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) support, Penn State was picked to win the conference.

While Cowherd believes Penn State is a legitimate national championship contender—with strong running backs, an elite offensive line, and upgraded wide receivers—he still favors Ohio State as the best overall team. “They’ve got a natty, a proven head coach, and the most talent on both sides of the ball,” he argued.

More significantly, Cowherd declared the Big Ten has overtaken the SEC as the premier college football conference. He pointed to recent head-to-head dominance—Ohio State “humiliated” Tennessee and “dominated” Texas, and Michigan stifled Alabama’s offense. “It looks like it did eight years ago—but in reverse,” he said, referencing how SEC teams used to overpower Big Ten opponents.

Cowherd attributed this shift largely to money. Big Ten schools have larger alumni networks, wealthier markets, and better fundraising infrastructure. “It’s Hollywood, tech, and financial centers versus car dealerships,” he said bluntly. With schools like Oregon backed by Phil Knight and USC tapping into Los Angeles’ economy, the Big Ten’s financial power has outstripped the SEC’s, allowing them to invest more in talent and facilities.

He also cited a critical statistic: every national champion of the College Football Playoff era has come from the preseason top six. This year, three of those six are Big Ten teams—Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon—further supporting his argument.

Cowherd’s analysis offers a snapshot of a changing sports landscape. In the WNBA, athletes are finally gaining leverage for better pay, but internal infighting threatens to derail progress. Meanwhile, in college football, a tectonic shift is underway: the Big Ten, long in the SEC’s shadow, now appears poised to dominate the next decade thanks to superior talent, resources, and vision.

Whether or not you agree with Cowherd’s take, one thing is clear—both the WNBA and Big Ten are entering new, potentially game-changing eras.