Best NCAA Football Conference

[bowens]

Who do you guys think is the best conference in college football. I hear everybody say the SEC, but I'm going to have to say the ACC. Looking at the BCS games since the BSC started, current ACC teams have played in 13 BCS games compared to 11 in the SEC. 6 ACC teams have played for national championships, opposed to 2 in the SEC. and 2 ACC teams have won national championships opposed to 1 in the SEC. Granted, in head-to-head matchups, the SEC has won 3 out of 4 BCS games against the ACC, but I think BCS births and national championships are more important. What do you guys think? All this information came from the BCS website (http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/results).

[Manzana]

the SEC is the best, i wouldnt' go by BCS bowl games or national championships because then we could say the big east (bcs games) or pac-10 (championships) have a claim to this as well.

top to bottom the SEC is the best, much as i am a pac-10/big XII fan.

does ACC have a championship game?

also look at the bottom of SEC v Bottom of ACC:

SEC: kentucky, vandy, ole miss, miss, USC
ACC: Boston college, wake, duke, north carolina, maryland

[bursty]

Big Ten

GO BLUE!

[beatsme]

Who do you guys think is the best conference in college football. I hear everybody say the SEC, but I'm going to have to say the ACC. Looking at the BCS games since the BSC started, current ACC teams have played in 13 BCS games compared to 11 in the SEC. 6 ACC teams have played for national championships, opposed to 2 in the SEC. and 2 ACC teams have won national championships opposed to 1 in the SEC. Granted, in head-to-head matchups, the SEC has won 3 out of 4 BCS games against the ACC, but I think BCS births and national championships are more important. What do you guys think? All this information came from the BCS website (http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/results).

the ACC is tough, but the BCS bids have more or less been spread among 3 different teams: FSU, Miami, and Virginia Tech...I think Maryland squeaked in there once, right? And really, before Miami/VT left the Big East, the ACC had FSU and...well, not much else.

In terms of conference strength i.e. a conference with the most teams that can take a legitimate run at a national title, I think you probably have to say the SEC is tougher. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, and LSU are all, usually, among the best teams in the nation.

though I've always rated college conferences on the number of pro players they produce, so I'm inclined to think of the Big10/Pac10/SEC triad as the big leagues in college football. Just my opinion...

[thedude110]

What are you asking -- the best conference this year, or the best conference historically? Or are you asking the past ten years?

The Big East gets a bad rap, considering how many national championships it's played for historically and how young and on the way up it is. Pittsburgh, Rutgers and UCONN are all programs on the move toward being real, national programs and West Virginia and Louisville are good enough to play with anybody this year.

But if you're looking for the best conference in the NCAA, you need look no further than the Atlantic Ten (http://atlantic10.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/atl10-m-footbl-body.html). A .600 winning percentage in the 1-AA playoffs the last six years, two of the last three national championships and five teams in the preseason top 25 -- hard to find a more consistent (and difficult to win) conference.

EDIT: And I do believe Richmond shutout Duke (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200609020002) last weekend .... ;)

[achie25]

Big Ten!

Go Blue!!!

[iJon]

SEC all the way. Go Hogs.

jon

[d wade]

in today's world.

SEC by far the best. most powerhouse schools, no real cupcake teams

Big10. even the 'little' schools of the conference can be tough. like minn, wisc, etc

ACC. the ACC has really fallen off this year. Miami, FSU, VT, or NC St just arent what they used to be.

with that said.... GO CANES!

[dukebound85]

I say the Mountain West Conference

May be a bit biased but we got TCU, CSU, and Air Force which almost beat tenn last week


that and Utah has done weel like a year ago with going undefeated, first non bcs school in bcs game and had #1 nfl pick alex smith

[iSaint]

SEC all the way. Go Hogs.

jon

word

Go MSU Dogs! Shooting for four losing seasons in a row!

[xsedrinam]

Rankings don't count that much, especially this early on, but:
SEC with 5 teams in top 15:
#3-Auburn, #6-LSU, #7-Florida, #10-Georgia, #13-Tennessee

Big 10 has 4 teams which span the top 25:
#1-Ohio St., #11-Michigan, #16-Iowa, #25-Penn St.

I'd go with SEC, again. SN pollsters think so, too.

[macdaddy121]

Rankings don't count that much, especially this early on, but:
SEC with 5 teams in top 15:
#3-Auburn, #6-LSU, #7-Florida, #10-Georgia, #13-Tennessee

Big 10 has 4 teams which span the top 25:
#1-Ohio St., #11-Michigan, #16-Iowa, #25-Penn St.

I'd go with SEC, again. SN pollsters think so, too.


You forgot to point out that Iowa and Penn State couldn't hold a candle to any of the 5 SEC teams you named.

SEC is the best conference hands down. If they wouldn't have to play eachother every year theay would dominate the rest of the NCAA.

[treblah]

SEC is the best conference hands down. If they wouldn't have to play eachother every year theay would dominate the rest of the NCAA.

Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner!

See yesterday's LSU/Auburn & Florida/Tennessee. Every week is like that.

[Phat Elvis]

Each conference is different every year. The best test is not the bowl games - since not every team actually decides to play well - it is how they do against other powers. So this year...Big Ten

OSU over Texas - in their house

Michigan just destroying ND - in their house

Go Blue! (Sorry I'm totally biased)

[Mike Teezie]

SEC.

LSU/Auburn was a WAR yesterday, by the way. LSU got hosed on some calls, but it was still a great game.

[ChickenSwartz]

SEC.

LSU/Auburn was a WAR yesterday, by the way. LSU got hosed on some calls, but it was still a great game.


That game was taken from them.

Even the weak SEC teams play tough football (maybe not Vandy), and just becasue they aren't ranked doesn't mean its cake for the powerhouse teams.

If the SEC didn't spend all season beating up on each other and then again in the championship game, they would contribute a national champion every year. Period.

Not to mention they have to fight the biased media that wants Notre Dame and USC to win it every year (e.g. LSU a couple years ago).

[xsedrinam]

Yesterday afternoon, I wanted to see the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game so bad, but had to go visit a sick friend at home. I thought for sure he'd be watching football (two birds with one stone...all that). I get there and he's watching "Love Affair" on the Hallmark Channel. Just shoot me.

Anyway, good to see that Michigan owned the Irish yesterday. Was it as ugly as the score?

[CorvusCamenarum]

in today's world.

SEC by far the best. most powerhouse schools, no real cupcake teams

Except for Tennessee. I'm a UA alum, so I'm required by law to promote intense dislike for UT whenever possible. ;)

[iSaint]

Except for Tennessee. I'm a UA alum, so I'm required by law to promote intense dislike for UT whenever possible. ;)

LOL true dat!

[Phat Elvis]

Anyway, good to see that Michigan owned the Irish yesterday. Was it as ugly as the score?

It was uglier than the score. Michigan went into a prevent defense (dumb) at the end of the first half that allowed an easy drive for a touchdown. Otherwise ND couldn't move the ball, protect Quinn, or stop Michigan. It was a really satisfying win.

[jdechko]

As much as I'd like to say the ACC (Go Jackets!), I'm gonna have to say that the SEC is one tough conference with the likes of LSU, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and sometimes South Carolina. There are a lot of tough games that make it difficult to win the conference, and just about any one of those teams still has a (remote) shot at winning the conference. (Although I secretly hope that none of them are winners :D ).

I have to say that next would be the Big 10 (Go Blue) or the Big 12 Conferences. (The UM-Notre Dame game was awesome).

But in basketball, the ACC is the best. :)

[iJon]

Add Arkansas to that list of SEC ranked teams come Monday. Go Hogs and sorry Auburn fans.

jon

[xsedrinam]

Tennessee 51-Georgia 33. SEC is indeed tough.

[iSaint]

As usual, the SEC is beating up on each other. Florida's the last hope for a high BCS position, but not my favorite by a long stretch.

EDIT: 2,500th post. Still at my 2.89 per day rate!

[KingYaba]

Big-12 :D

[Apple]

It features great dynasties along the lines of Miami, Florida State, and others, while also competing with todays standards. The only reason schools from the ACC are not winning championships is because of the tough conference schedules they have to face where even some of the weaker schools could upset a higher ranking opponent.

[xsedrinam]

It was so sweet to see Florida get put in place by Auburn. No undefeated team in SEC. Georgia goes down the second time, to Vandy. And what was the Miami-Florida Intl. fight about?

[iJon]

It was so sweet to see Florida get put in place by Auburn. No undefeated team in SEC. Georgia goes down the second time, to Vandy. And what was the Miami-Florida Intl. fight about?
Arkansas is undefeated in SEC play.

jon

[xsedrinam]

Arkansas is undefeated in SEC play.

True. They're currently on top in the SEC West, but they're 5-1 overall. They lost to USC in their opener. And they still have Tennessee and LSU later on.

[MacsomJRR]

OK this thread is pretty dead at this point but I gotta give the Pac-10 my vote. I'm so sick of southern SEC fanboys yelling on about how tough their conference is and how hard all their teams have to work to do anything. USC killed Arkansas early on this year and I'm still hearing homers talking about a Arkansas/Ohio State BCS championship game? Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. Do SEC fans even watch the games? The Florida v. Arkansas game on 12/2 should be interesting but when the razorbacks hand the gators their second loss of the year what are you gonna do then?

PAC - 10 baby!

[iJon]

OK this thread is pretty dead at this point but I gotta give the Pac-10 my vote. I'm so sick of southern SEC fanboys yelling on about how tough their conference is and how hard all their teams have to work to do anything. USC killed Arkansas early on this year and I'm still hearing homers talking about a Arkansas/Ohio State BCS championship game? Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. Do SEC fans even watch the games? The Florida v. Arkansas game on 12/2 should be interesting but when the razorbacks hand the gators their second loss of the year what are you gonna do then?

PAC - 10 baby!

Yes we did get our ass whipped that first game. For one we didn't have Darren McFadden nor did we have a quarterback. Robert Johnson took the snaps (sucks) then Mitch came in next game. He wont the next 8 games. Then we brought in our QB from last year Casey Dick and been doing well. A loss is a loss but we didn't have our team together that first game.

jon

[xsedrinam]

The nearest to the Pacific Ocean 90% of the top 10 ranked teams gets is Austin, TX. 30% of those 9 teams is from the SEC. One can appreciate enthusiasm, but can't ignore geography. :p

USC looked good and convincing against a good Cal team. There are some obstacles in their path though. Obviously, they must get a W against Notre Dame and UCLA. With that, they control their destiny.

Some unanswered Qs: The computer polls have Michigan several points ahead of USC in the #2 spot, even though the people polls show USC in #2. If they win out, will the loss against Oregon St. work against them jumping over Michigan to play OSU for the championship?

If Arkansas wins out over LSU and Florida, or if Florida wins out over FSU and Arkansas, will they have a legitimate bargaining chip to deserve to play OSU since Auburn got snubbed two years ago at 12-0?

[xsedrinam]

Looks like USC is about to crash and burn behind UCLA. This will make the championship game controversy more exciting. Ohio St. vs. ?????

[Fearless Leader]

big east

go WVU!!!

[MacsomJRR]

UCLA's ends gave Booty trouble all day long. I'm a big USC fan but I have to give all the credit to the UCLA defense, they are speeeeeeeeeeedy.

[iJon]

Florida and Arkansas gave us a nail-biter tonight. Tough loss but a good game. Let's hope Florida gets the bid and brings it home for the SEC.

jon

[Bibulous]

Let's hope Florida gets the bid ....

agreed but OSU will give the Big Ten the National Championship.

[xsedrinam]

Florida and Arkansas gave us a nail-biter tonight. Tough loss but a good game. Let's hope Florida gets the bid and brings it home for the SEC.

jon
It's probably the right thing, though Florida is a team I've been conditioned to loathe over the years. An early S.I. poll has Florida picked over Michigan to go. It'll be worth it just to see BCS churn and squirm once more in the chaos.

[shady]

As usual, the SEC is beating up on each other.

Should we call the SEC the best because they habitually blow big games to each other? Everyone calls this the best conference but I have to disagree. I think its just a bunch of "par" teams that can't keep winning games. If LSU, Florida are so good why are they losing to Kentucky/Georgia? Is Kentucky really even that good? I don't think we should rank a conference as "#1" just because any team can win on any weekend, this is college football after all and any team from any conference can beat anyone at any time. I'm not saying you have to have everyone undefeated to be a good conference, but just because everyone in the conference loses to each other doesn't make them a powerhouse. Everyone should just step back, drop their bias, and really look at the big picture.

[cycocelica]

honestly, the SEC. Roll tide roll.

But if you want my biased opinion, Pac-10. WSU 27 - UCLA 7, thats all i have to say.

[iJon]

Should we call the SEC the best because they habitually blow big games to each other? Everyone calls this the best conference but I have to disagree. I think its just a bunch of "par" teams that can't keep winning games. If LSU, Florida are so good why are they losing to Kentucky/Georgia? Is Kentucky really even that good? I don't think we should rank a conference as "#1" just because any team can win on any weekend, this is college football after all and any team from any conference can beat anyone at any time. I'm not saying you have to have everyone undefeated to be a good conference, but just because everyone in the conference loses to each other doesn't make them a powerhouse. Everyone should just step back, drop their bias, and really look at the big picture.

Yes, Georgia and Kentucky are good this year. Georgia is usually good if you ask me. Hell even Mississippi State is looking decent this year in conference play (ain't that right iSaint).

Now if Arkansas can blow some more games then hopefully we can get this joke of a coach out of our state.

Never thought I would be rooting against my own team.

jon

[iRachel]

As a big ten alum, it pains me to say this, but I'd have to pick the SEC. Though, for this particular year, the ACC looks good.

[iSaint]

Yes, Georgia and Kentucky are good this year. Georgia is usually good if you ask me. Hell even Mississippi State is looking decent this year in conference play (ain't that right iSaint).

Yep!!! :D


Now if Arkansas can blow some more games then hopefully we can get this joke of a coach out of our state.

Never thought I would be rooting against my own team.

jon

I can't remember what game it was, but I saw Arkansas have two or three serious personal fouls called on them one game and it made me think there's problems with that team. If you can't control your players, you certainly aren't getting the message across to them to play the game right.

[twoodcc]

Should we call the SEC the best because they habitually blow big games to each other? Everyone calls this the best conference but I have to disagree. I think its just a bunch of "par" teams that can't keep winning games. If LSU, Florida are so good why are they losing to Kentucky/Georgia? Is Kentucky really even that good? I don't think we should rank a conference as "#1" just because any team can win on any weekend, this is college football after all and any team from any conference can beat anyone at any time. I'm not saying you have to have everyone undefeated to be a good conference, but just because everyone in the conference loses to each other doesn't make them a powerhouse. Everyone should just step back, drop their bias, and really look at the big picture.

this is a no-brainer, it's clearly the SEC. and yes Kentucky's quarterback is having a great year, just look at his numbers. and Georgia is good every year.

[iJon]

Hey iSaint, are you ready for the game this weekend in Little Rock. It should be very interesting since Mississippi State has been doing better than usual this year.

Enjoy it though cause this will be the last game that you play against our mediocre coach Houston Nutt. He will resign at the end of the season and take another job and Butch Davis will be taking over :D:D:D.

jon

[Naimfan]

As someone who does not have a dog in the hunt, so to speak, I don't know why the Big 12 is being so slighted. I mean, they have the 3-4-5 teams, and they've all managed to beat each other up, just as the SEC does. What the SEC has is a lot of history and a monster hype machine. It's a good conference, no doubt, but to say it's a no brainer is simply over the top.

The Pac-10 is also very good, as is the Big East. Which of the four is the "best" is simply unanswerable, until you define what "best" means. And there are so many ways that "best" can be defined that each of the four conferences mentioned will turn up "best" under a reasonable definition.

[BanjoBanker]

You forgot to point out that Iowa and Penn State couldn't hold a candle to any of the 5 SEC teams you named.

SEC is the best conference hands down. If they wouldn't have to play eachother every year theay would dominate the rest of the NCAA.

Amen! All the SEC teams beat up on each other and that tends to keep them out of the top spots. The SEC has by far the best rivalry's; just look at how many SEC games make network television each season.
:cool:

[BanjoBanker]

Except for Tennessee. I'm a UA alum, so I'm required by law to promote intense dislike for UT whenever possible. ;)

As Tennessee alum with a son at UA, I have to say GO BIG ORANGE!!!!

[twoodcc]

As someone who does not have a dog in the hunt, so to speak, I don't know why the Big 12 is being so slighted. I mean, they have the 3-4-5 teams, and they've all managed to beat each other up, just as the SEC does. What the SEC has is a lot of history and a monster hype machine. It's a good conference, no doubt, but to say it's a no brainer is simply over the top.

The Pac-10 is also very good, as is the Big East. Which of the four is the "best" is simply unanswerable, until you define what "best" means. And there are so many ways that "best" can be defined that each of the four conferences mentioned will turn up "best" under a reasonable definition.

as far as competition in one conference, it's the SEC hands down. not only do they beat up on each other, but other teams that are outside of the conference. what's Mark Rict's record for non-conference games? i think he's only lost a couple of games.

and they actually play defense