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what is the best college football conference?

axl blaze

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what is the most talented college football conference? the SEC has been top dawg but I see this SEC supremacy ending after this season.

as college football fans we can't help but rep our conferences, so we are going to limit conference smack talk to this thread.

taken from another thread:

I think that a handful of ACC teams could challenge Texas better than any of the current Big 12 teams did. It is clearly ahead of both the Big East and Big Ten. The SEC just happens to be leagues ahead of everybody right now, even though they had a really weak year this year.

all your three major points are incredibly wrong, concerning the ACC. the ACC has been nothing more than a mediocre conference the last couple years. your only shimmer of decency was when Boston College had Matt Ryan - and that team still lost to FSU. as much as I like Miami and Jacory Harris they look miles and miles away from ever competing on the national spotlight. Virginia Tech has a great coach and usually a great defense, but they are lucky and grateful whenever they even crack the Top 10.

you can easily proclaim supremacy over the Big Easy, but even the Big Ten cellar dwellers would handle all teams save Miami this year.

the SEC is barely the best conference this year. they have to marquee teams in Alabama and Florida, but no other serious football teams (LSU is out of the conversation by now). look for our last 4 year (nadir) of SEC supremacy to come to end after this season.

the Big East may be a joke, but you guys should give more credit to Cinci, I believe. they have (had, lol) a great coach and two Heisman contenders on offense. I believe the QB would have been invited to New York City if he wasn't injured for a couple weeks.

sure, Cinci will most likely lose to Florida - but they are going to play inspired for Tim Tebow's going away party. unless, we have a repeat of that Michigan bowl game but I just don't see it.

Texas would blow away any ACC team. their offensive fire power, their offensive schemes, and their top notch coaching would be just too much. a Big Ten team can play Texas and keep it close, because Big Ten teams are big enough and similarly coached. an ACC team would just be outclassed.

what conference do you got?
 
the SEC is barely the best conference this year. they have to marquee teams in Alabama and Florida, but no other serious football teams (LSU is out of the conversation by now). look for our last 4 year (nadir) of SEC supremacy to come to end after this season.

The point is, the SEC routinely produces more teams that are in the conversation. Auburn should have gone to the NC a few years ago, UGA would have gotten a shot if florida wasn't a champ a few years ago, Ole miss was supposed to be dangerous, tennessee isn't far from being a conference champ again. There's just more depth here than there is elsewhere right now, and that doesn't just flit away after an NFL draft-- its about the national spotlight, the recruiting, the athletic programs, the coaches.

Now to be fair, when the ACC and Big ten fall down, it does make the SEC look better, but I sincerely doubt the NC in 2011 is going to be between miami and penn state.

the Big East may be a joke, but you guys should give more credit to Cinci, I believe. they have (had, lol) a great coach and two Heisman contenders on offense. I believe the QB would have been invited to New York City if he wasn't injured for a couple weeks.

Anybody can get invited-- winning is another matter entirely. Big East is still pretty much a joke. They have an automatic BCS berth, and the best they can do with it is Cinci. I can't wait to see the bible verse tebow puts up for the world of pain he's going to bring them. ;) Gators are going to run the score up like they're playing troy.

Texas would blow away any ACC team. their offensive fire power, their offensive schemes, and their top notch coaching would be just too much. a Big Ten team can play Texas and keep it close, because Big Ten teams are big enough and similarly coached. an ACC team would just be outclassed.

I fucking love this cute Big Ten mentality. Its like your first day in prison, and you have to start shit with somebody you think you can beat-- pick on the ACC. ;)

We actually have the benefit of knowing how poorly the big ten fair against the PAC 10 and Big 12, because we get to see them roll over a couple times a year. We rarely get to see them play an ACC or SEC team. I don't like OSU's chances against miami, VT, or GT.
 
My honest response? Are we talking in the history of the sport, or just 'right now' (and is that the last 5, 10, 25 yrs?)?

Historically? I'll got with the Big10+1.._+ND. Growing up, that's all I heard about was the Big10 teams and ND and that's a lot of what I got to watch growing up, since they held the tv contracts. Growing up in the south, we heard of some SEC prominence regionally, but they still weren't getting shown to the rest of the nation that much. Same goes for the Pac10 and Big12 (though the mystique of the SWAC and Big8 still resonated for us and got some air time), most likely we missed them due to regional issues. The Big East was the Big10's little brother, and the ACC was a basketball conference where football was for the athletes that wanted an education rather than an NFL future.

Scope it back to the last 25 yrs, and I'd call it a toss up between Big10 and SEC, and really this is the time frame I can speak most competently about, having grown up in it. Big10 (and ND) still held great sway and awe early on - ftr, I hated having to watch them on tv :\ - and I could probably go back and count Nat'l Champs or at least appearances in that time frame to back me up with my next few statements. But in my mind, a power conference hinges on not having a single star (USC for the Pac10), but a collection of them (tOSU, PSU, MICH) each capable of being 'in the hunt for the NC' each year. Those teams need to NOT be a flash in the pan for a year or two (NW) but hold a sustainable position as an elite team both in the conference and in the nation (Florida State in the 90's, Oklahoma-Nebraska in the 80's). For the 25 yr span, I'd rank them Big10, SEC, and Big12 in a close grouping. Big East tried, but couldn't keep consistency other than Miami (80s). ACC finally got their shit together and pulled in BC, FSU, Miami, and VT to build itself into someone to pause and think about. Sorry Pac10, but you were still too far off the east coast tv schedule, leading to a blanket assessment of your conference containing the likes of Fresno State, New Mexico, and others simply due to our (my?) ignorance when watching left coast games ... once ESPN started showing them.

Scope down to the last 10 yrs, and one can easily recognize ND separated itself from the Big10 (refused to join) and I won't give it's prestige to that conference going forward. So what were we left with? tOSU, MICH, and PSU again (still....so there is that sustainability), and a few teams that will have a good year once in awhile, but most are considered below average. But Big10 was still relevant at the beginning of 10yrs ago...at least somewhat, but they were already in decline. Big12 tried to build itself up a bit more, but is still left hanging it's hat on TX and OU, whilst begging TT, MIZZ, OSU, and NEB to help them out more...they couldn't. ACC has robbed the BigEast of their power, and watched it subsequently slide off the table = FSU, Miami, BC, and a VT team that bounces in the top20 but not in the top5 consistently :\ BigEast meanwhile tries to power drain the MidAmerica conference.....and gets indigestion. The PAC10 finally gets more recognition, having teams like OU and Wazzou shine for a year or two before passing the 'runner up' trophy for the forum. Sorry, but still, PAC10 is viewed as USCw and the also-rans. SEC? I think 'perception' is that they finally grow into the top conference, in a time when everyone gets their games televised, and the SEC is putting teams into bowl games (a lot of them) and are seen as doing well overall. Is it justified, this perception? My southern drawl says 'yeah', but my brain says 'not so fast, my friend'. Let's look at the BCS bowls and NC's for a bit (not counting those coming an a few days):

Conference - Team (BCS Bowl Record, NCs)
ACC: FSU (1-5, 1), MIA (3-1, 1), VT (1-3, 0), MD (0-1, 0), WF (0-1, 0) = 5-11, 2-4
Big Easy: CIN (0-1, 0), WVU (2-0, 0), LOU (1-0, 0), PIT (0-1, 0), SYR (0-1, 0) = 3-3, 0-0
Big10+1: tOSU (4-3, 1), MICH (1-3, 0), ILL (0-2, 0), IOWA (0-1, 0), PSU (1-1, 0), WISC (2-0, 0), PUR (0-1, 0) = 8-11, 1-2
Big 12: OU (2-5, 1), TX (3-0, 1), NEB (1-1, 0), KAN (1-0, 0), COL (0-1, 0), KST (0-1, 0), TXAM (0-1, 0) = 7-9, 2-4
PAC10: USC (6-1, 1), OU (1-0, 0), WASH (1-0, 0), WSU (0-1, 0), OSU (0-1, 0), STAN (0-1, 0) = 8-4, 1-1
SEC: FL (4-1, 2), LSU (4-0, 1), AL (0-2, 0), GA (2-1, 0), TN (1-1, 1), AU (1-0, 0) = 12-5, 5-0

Quicker note - #BCS bowl appearance, # teams, winning % || NC appearances, # teams, winning %
ACC: 12, 4, 0.182 | | 2, 2, 0.333
BigEasy: 12, 7, 0.545 | | 0, 0, 0.000
Big10+1: 21, 7, 0.421 | | 1, 1, 0.333
Big12: 17, 7, 0.438 | | 2, 2, 0.333
Pac10: 14, 7, 0.692 | | 1, 1, 0.500
SEC: 19, 6, 0.710 | | 5, 3, 1.000
Source1
Source2



Not even scoping down to the last 5 yrs (owned by SEC), just looking at the last 10 yrs (BCS era), I would have to say that power would have to be ranked as this:
  1. SEC (held up by LSU, FL, and TN....and watch AL coming up - based on NC games alone, but with solid compliment of BCS bowl wins by others)
  2. PAC10 (held up by solid BCS bowl representation by a variety of teams)
  3. Big12 (held up by TX, held up and down by OU)
  4. .
  5. Big10+1 (held up, and down, by tOSU)
  6. .
  7. ACC (blarg)
  8. .
  9. .
  10. BigEasy (blarg)
 
Okay, new twist on the current theme - I couldn't decide which thread to put this in, since Axl is distracting me with multiple NCAAF threads....but I'll put it here, since this is about 'Conferences' and may ask 'how can any one conference improve', which brings me to the question of - Notably Lame!

We know the golden coneheads shunned the Big10+1 years ago, and now both the Big10+1 and Pac10 are rumoured to be shopping for more playgroup buddies. ND has once again shunned the world to state it's independence, but what if they were to join a conference? Which one? The claim is always the Big10+1 is the most natural fit, and for both geographic and academic reasons, this is true. But, from a ND perspective, where it's all about National Championships or bust....as their program continues to ride the tattered coattails of seasons won generations ago, and nothing to show for it in the past 10-15 years....what conference WOULD give them the best chance to regain prominence?

PAC10 would involve too much travel, but they'd only have to beat one or two decent teams a year (not that they could be the top 3/4 of the league now....). SEC is already full, wouldn't want their (ND's) arrogant asses, and southern fans are too uncouth for the ND alumni to associate with. Big10+1 would be too difficult for competition for them, forever, and they simply wouldn't get the BCS access they desire. ACC? Perhaps, as they keep similar academic standards, however there is the similar problem of too much travel as was seen with the PAC10 and when it came to basketball season they'd be murdered every year :\ Moreover, there will be more challenges for them against teams they don't have much tradition of playing against, such as FSU, MIAMI, VT, GT. Too risky to NOT be getting the BCS bids there. Big12? Not a good match for academics, geography, history, or any other reason. That leaves us with the BigEasy - where they already play their basketball and feel comfortable. In order for football to join the league, they'd need...what? A decent shot at winning the league every year and getting that BCS automatic bid - CHECK! A winning record, with a chance to retain those traditional ooc games like USCw - CHECK! No threat of real expansion of the conference, so it remains a small group of relatively weak teams - CHECK! Granted, other than BC there isn't much in the way of traditional games for ND in football, and there would be similar travel issues, but the academics are somewhat comparative, and this could work as a win-win for the ND and the BigEasy conference.

Now, I'm sure ND will NOT be joining any conferences anytime soon, as they STILL get the lucrative tv contracts and pretend to be relevant, and they have the BCS writing in the ND clause for the bids 8(. But they haven't been doing well enough to earn a BCS bid with their current deal and schedules :\ For the BigEast, they are a laughing stock in football, this would bring more 'prestige' to the conference AND increase their tv monies. Yes, ND would have to share the tv money it gets, but tell us how that's working out for you when your ratings continue to fall, you are NOT getting any big bowl money (even non-BCS bowls....say, what bowl would they have been in this year had they not abstained? GMAC against Central Mich? Little Caesar's against Northern Illinois? Yeah, no wonder they decided NOT to go to a bowl this year 8) ). At least with the conference affiliation you'd be getting a portion of the money for the teams that DID go to a bowl game. You're going to need it, ND, the way you hire and fire coaches.
 
I think ND would benefit greatly from playing teams with similar playing styles throughout the season rather than all different teams with different styles. The variety of teams that ND faces in it's current state is just too great. Imagine how much more preparation it would take to get ready for teams from all different conferences versus teams mainly from the same conference. This independant status of Notre Dame really seems to me like more of an disadvantage to the team than it's worth. The television contract is nice, but I imagine winning seasons would work better for the program in the long run.
 
As for the original topic, I didn't really want to comment because "SEC" is such an easy answer. The SEC has 6 recruiting classes in the top 10 this year, and this is really a trend that isn't new. (The 6 are Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, LSU) I don't see the SEC becoming any weaker until this changes. FWIW, Florida will be a little weaker next year, certainly. Tennessee will be a powerful team, though.
 
As for the original topic, I didn't really want to comment because "SEC" is such an easy answer. The SEC has 6 recruiting classes in the top 10 this year, and this is really a trend that isn't new. (The 6 are Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, LSU) I don't see the SEC becoming any weaker until this changes. FWIW, Florida will be a little weaker next year, certainly. Tennessee will be a powerful team, though.

Ryan Mallet will win the heisman next year to go along with Arkansas National Championship victory, Thats right big 12 Im saying its gonna be 5 in a row for the sec after next year.
 
Not so fast razorback, OSU is going to be returining just about every one of their starters back, and the Buckeyes are going to silence the doubters next year when they run the table which will include a win against the U. Even Texas' head coach Mack Brown said quote "Terrelle Pryor will lead Ohio State to a National Championship before he is done".

Man the Buckeyes are so awesome! Greatest fans in college football, greatest stadium in college football, biggest program in college football, the only two time Heisman Trophy winner in college football, I love being a Buckeye Fan!

Merry Christmas!!!!
 
being a Buckeye fan is truly a blessing, smotpoker. the Horseshoe is the most fun atmosphere north of the Mason-Dixon line, and we party harder than any team east of the Pac-10. god bless Archie Griffin, what a true gentlemen. I had the blessing of being best friends with his nephew as a kid, and one time he even threw me the football. one of the best days of my life.

TLB brought up some good points about time frames of the best conferences. if we are talking all time - there is no doubt that the Big 10 is the best conference in the history of football.

if we are talking recently (plus 2004) it should go to the SEC.

RIGHT NOW, I think that the best conference is the Pac-10. sure, their last two teams have gotten smacked down in the bowls, but up and down I think that they have the most talented teams and the most talented coaches.
 
I fucking love this cute Big Ten mentality. Its like your first day in prison, and you have to start shit with somebody you think you can beat-- pick on the ACC. ;)

We actually have the benefit of knowing how poorly the big ten fair against the PAC 10 and Big 12, because we get to see them roll over a couple times a year. We rarely get to see them play an ACC or SEC team. I don't like OSU's chances against miami, VT, or GT.

I don't believe in the Big 10 inferiority complex theory. sure, it hasn't been pretty after our last National Title, but things are on the up again, I believe.

and you need to check your facts. unlike the cupcakes the SEC schedules in the offseason, the Buckeyes have scheduled Texas twice in approx. 2001-2003. the first game came down to the wire with Ohio State almost winning (playing against Vince Young), and then winning the subsequent year and then winning the National Championship. who they then played the "unstoppable" Miami Hurricanes who represent the ACC.

and then Ohio State played Texas in the bowl game last year, and OSU was in a rebuilding year (we were a very weak team) but OSU still lost on the last seconds of the game to an apparently great team. and that year, the Bucks got stomped by USC - but again - we were not a good footbal team.

fast forward to next year; where the Buckeyes play the Hurricanes for two years straight.

fast forward after that; the Buckeyes are playing the Oklahoma Sooners for two years.

no offense to SEC fans, but at least we don't play Northern Lousiana University or Presbytarian School for the Blind every year.

/end rant
 
ya-- because we play each other instead. We've been round and round about it, but its a simple fact, when you play in the (currently) hardest conference, your SOS doesn't suffer from making your OOC games against middle tenn and troy.
 
the "we play in the hardest conference" defense worked last year, I will give you that.

but this year there are only two above average SEC teams, and they both happen to be best in NCAA as a whole (FLA and BAMA).

come on man, the pundits are talking about how Northwestern is going to possibly upset Auburn.

Northwestern. they're even worst than Vandy, bro.

Ryan Mallet will win the heisman next year to go along with Arkansas National Championship victory, Thats right big 12 Im saying its gonna be 5 in a row for the sec after next year.

and I can't believe I missed this gem! my left testicle has a bigger shot of winning the Heisman than Ryan Mallet ever will. don't get me wrong, he is a great game-manager, smart college QB (who often does win National Championships ala Craig Krenzel), however, he will never have the numbers to put up for a Heisman trophy.

you SEC fans have been flirting with the line between sanity and irrationality, lately ;)
 
the "we play in the hardest conference" defense worked last year, I will give you that.
but this year there are only two above average SEC teams, and they both happen to be best in NCAA as a whole (FLA and BAMA).

come on man, the pundits are talking about how Northwestern is going to possibly upset Auburn.
punditstalking about possibly upsetting Auburn? That doesn't sound like wishful thinking to you?? Maybe to build up anticipation for a game? Auburn is undergoing a serious reconstruction, and I still expect them to push NW around-- i guess we will leave this one until they actually play it

Northwestern. they're even worst than Vandy, bro.
Yes, given that the big ten is worse4 than the SEC top to bottom, you're correct.


and I can't believe I missed this gem! my left testicle has a bigger shot of winning the Heisman than Ryan Mallet ever will. don't get me wrong, he is a great game-manager, smart college QB (who often does win National Championships ala Craig Krenzel), however, he will never have the numbers to put up for a Heisman trophy.
UMM, yes, this person is a lunatic-- lets not talk about crazy homers though, Jim. You know me better than that. I take a relatively dispassionate view. Don't try to tarnish it-- it's more clear-eyed than your own.

you SEC fans have been flirting with the line between sanity and irrationality, lately ;)

as opposed to OSU fans, who have more than flirted with irrationality for over a decade.
 
I'm an SEC homer. But putting that aside, it would be hard pressed to find a better conference. My two favs are the SEC and the Big XII.

1.) SEC
2.) Big XII
3.) PAC-10
4.) ACC
5.) Big Ten

Besides having at least three teams in the Top 10 regularly, I think the SEC has the most rabid fans, the greatest venues in college football (LSU's Death Valley at night....absolute BEST) and field very fast and exciting teams. Having grown up a Dawg fan and a UGA grad, I am pretty biased. I've been to almost all the stadiums in the SEC (Sanford Stadium, Jordan-Hare, LSU's Death Valley, UF's The Swamp, SCAR's Williams-Bryce, Ole Miss' The Grove in Oxford and Tenn's Neyland Stadium) and they are all great in their own unique way. I've also been to Clemson's Death Valley (when I had season tickets for the Carolina Panther's Inaugural season back in 1995 when they played at Clemson before their Ericcson/Bank of America Stadium was built in Charlotte, N.C.) and "Between the Ghettos"at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field. BDS is a horrible stadium and Clemson's stadium just seemed a bit dated, not unlike Sanford. Bobby Dodd is probably the epitome of the ACC's atmosphere. Smallish crowds, not much spirit and mediocre in every way. I guess if you're not from the South, you probably wouldn't understand the passion we have for college football. Hell, we draw crowds to high school games that rival many colleges!! Down here, it's a freakin' religion. Maybe I should start a stadium thread. I'd like to hear about the atmospheres surrounding many schools around the country.
Go DAWGS!!! Focus Texas A&M Aggies.
 
punditstalking about possibly upsetting Auburn? That doesn't sound like wishful thinking to you?? Maybe to build up anticipation for a game? Auburn is undergoing a serious reconstruction, and I still expect them to push NW around-- i guess we will leave this one until they actually play it

it could be the hype machine, but honestly, the mere fact that people are talking about Northwestern beating Auburn is music to my ears. when can you ever honestly say this will happen again?

UMM, yes, this person is a lunatic-- lets not talk about crazy homers though, Jim. You know me better than that. I take a relatively dispassionate view. Don't try to tarnish it-- it's more clear-eyed than your own.

I know I can be a homer, hell we all can with a sport as passionate as college football. but I do truly love the game of football. I have spent years and years pining over formations and the best way to destroy my opposition in Madden. I respect your viewpoints of course, and I do too take off my scarlet and grey colored glasses at times.

as opposed to OSU fans, who have more than flirted with irrationality for over a decade.

honestly, it's been a lot longer than that. it's just that OSU fans have had to deal with the recent development of losing the last three bowl games. usually, we are a team that closes out seasons - so this has made us more crazy.

Besides having at least three teams in the Top 10 regularly, I think the SEC has the most rabid fans, the greatest venues in college football (LSU's Death Valley at night....absolute BEST) and field very fast and exciting teams.

I've been to some Big 10 stadiums, Ohio Stadium of course, and some ACC stadiums (Boston College). I agree on ACC fans being weaksauce... they just don't get the whole "hey lets party and watch football and yell at people" spirit.

I'm sure SEC games are fun. I would love nothing more than for one of you Georgia fucks to show me around down there and then watch the game while I look at all the girls wearing dresses (do they all wear dresses to football games in the South?!)

still, OSU fans are crazy. I really can't stress enough of how anarchic it is. well, used to be might be the better terminology. it seems like you guys down South don't ever right. while their hasn't been a true riot since that loss to Vince Young and Texas in '05, their used to be lots of them and they used to get downright scary.
 
yes, there are a lot of sorority girls in dresses-- but superfan tailgaters don't do that shit.

Besides, to talk to the dress girls, you have to distract T-bag and scooter -- her would-be suitors-- with something shiny or bourbon-flavored.
 
punditstalking about possibly upsetting Auburn? That doesn't sound like wishful thinking to you?? Maybe to build up anticipation for a game? Auburn is undergoing a serious reconstruction, and I still expect them to push NW around-- i guess we will leave this one until they actually play it.

...

UMM, yes, this person is a lunatic-- lets not talk about crazy homers though, Jim. You know me better than that. I take a relatively dispassionate view. Don't try to tarnish it-- it's more clear-eyed than your own.
...
as opposed to OSU fans, who have more than flirted with irrationality for over a decade.

Media will hype any crap game, it's in their best interest to try and get someone to watch. We all know this, how else does ND remain on NBC? ;) Still, I'll point out the keyword in NW possibly upsetting AU as being 'possibly'. It is possible the AU bus gets lost and misses the game, or that they fumble every possession inside their own 10, or that lightening strikes the players on the sideline and they are left with 4 cheerleaders and a waterboy to field a team. There is a lot that is possible, there are many of those that are unlikely, some of them highly unlikely. Meh, I wouldn't get to wound up over talking heads mentioning a possibility, just hype. Wait until the game is played.

As to the last two remarks. Pander may claim a dispassionate and clear-eyed view in terms of UGA and their reality, but I have yet to see him remove his SEC glasses. :\ There are a lot of schools whose fan base not only flirts with irrationality, they date with quite a bit of heavy petting. The SEC is not immune to this (see AL during recent down years, before Saban arrived), however if we take the historical look again, I'd have to say ND married Ms. Conception and still is living in a fantasy world. That said, behind ND comes the Big10+1 as a conference.....but I would have to admit it is based on an era when they DID earn (or at least get) the recognition and chest beating opportunities. It's just hard to let go of that pride when times are down (ask TN, OU, MIA, etc). One just doesn't want to accept when they are no longer 'at the top', and they try to supplement a lack of recognition (or even repeatable quality performance) with a choice win here and there over a rival or in a bowl game. But wins here or there....everyone gets those. Realists are the ones who accept that it is a one-time-thing, and being a powerhouse tradition requires you win the hard ones consistently as well as the easy ones *cough*USCw*cough*. Football fans are not realists, they are ... ahem, WE are... fans, which by definition are FANatical, ie, irrational. Some of us have simply struggled long enough to appreciate success when it comes, as opposed to expecting it or pretending it exists when we keep our blinders on.


yes, there are a lot of sorority girls in dresses-- but superfan tailgaters don't do that shit.

Besides, to talk to the dress girls, you have to distract T-bag and scooter -- her would-be suitors-- with something shiny or bourbon-flavored.

This would be very true, as T-bag and scooter are very partial to bourbon flavored party favors. However, simply start the school cheer, and before you finish the first line, slip off with their girl....they'll be chanting insanely for the next 15 minutes. Your only problem is if she's got her own bourbon and jumps in leading the cheer. :\

Meh, I was going to comment on campuses, tailgaiting, etc. But I'll take that to sw's other thread.
 
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