One of the best water-cooler debates every fall: which college football conference is the strongest? <\/p>\n
In recent years, it\u2019s been the SEC in landslide. However, with so many high-impact players leaving the SEC for the NFL this offseason, the balance of power may have shifted. <\/p>\n
Which conference is king? Let\u2019s have a look at the major ones.<\/p>\n
Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: Florida State (5), Virginia Tech (13)<\/em><\/p>\n The ACC has two teams with great defenses and national title aspirations but also two teams breaking in new quarterbacks. The ACC also doesn\u2019t have huge depth in terms of high-impact teams, though I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Maryland crept into the top 25 by year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: None<\/em><\/p>\n Not much to say here. The Big East was going strong with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati just a couple years ago but has taken a step backward.<\/p>\n Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: Wisconsin (10), Nebraska (11), Ohio State (16), Michigan State (17), Penn State (25)<\/em><\/p>\n The Big Ten has at least two schools that seriously believe they can win it all in Wisconsin and Nebraska and several other highly competitive teams. It may not be as strong at the top as it was during Ohio State\u2019s peak but the Big Ten should be deeper and tougher overall this year.<\/p>\n Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: Oklahoma (1), Oklahoma State (8), Texas A&M (9), Missouri (21), Texas (24)<\/em><\/p>\n With three of the top nine teams in the country plus two other top-25 teams, the Big 12 just might be the SEC\u2019s top challenger this season. Oklahoma looks like the favorite to win it all. I don\u2019t expect Missouri and Texas to remain in the top 25 this season, though.<\/p>\n Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: Oregon (3), Stanford (6)<\/em><\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget about factoring USC in here, as the Trojans should play like a top-25 team this season despite being BCS-ineligible. Oregon and Stanford both flirt with elite contender status. However, the Pac-12 has as many pushovers as it does contenders. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n Ranked in coaches\u2019 preseason pool: Alabama (2), LSU (4), South Carolina (12), Arkansas (14), Auburn (19), Mississippi State (20), Georgia (22), Florida (23)<\/em><\/p>\n The SEC is tough to assess this season. It easily has the most teams in the coaches\u2019 preseason poll with eight. But how many of those teams have inflated reputations and are due for a regression? Arkansas and Auburn lost Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton, respectively, and may totally collapse this season.<\/p>\n Even though it\u2019s slightly weaker than it was last season, the SEC is still college football\u2019s top conference top to bottom. The other conferences boasting elite teams also have plenty of duds. The SEC has more tough outs than easy outs, with two thirds of its teams making the national top 25. It has two of the top four teams. Even if Arkansas and Auburn slide backward, Mississippi State and Georgia have the upside to be top-15 teams this season.<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t a landslide victory but, in my opinion, the SEC is still college football\u2019s creme-de-la-creme. If I were a betting man \u2013 and, oh wait, I am \u2013 I\u2019d bet on the SEC having a representative in the national title game for the sixth straight season.<\/p>\nBIG EAST<\/h3>\n
BIG TEN<\/h3>\n
BIG 12<\/h3>\n
PAC-12<\/h3>\n
SOUTHEASTERN<\/h3>\n
THE VERDICT<\/h3>\n