Which College Football Conference Is the Best? We Pit the SEC vs. the Big 12

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Would you care to step outside?

As the college football season approaches, it’s time for fans to puff their chests out about their teams. Recently we have seen a wave of support by fans for their respective conference, as was highlighted by chants of “S-E-C, S-E-C” pouring through the last few national championship games.

Though it is hard to argue that the SEC is not the best conference in football, the Big 12 has certainly at least made it an argument with the likes of Texas, Oklahoma, and even Oklahoma State garnering much-deserved national attention.

So which conference is better, top to bottom?

Below is the list of teams in each conference ranked from best (the Generals) to worst (the Privates), and how each fare against their respective counterpart in battle. In addition is the numeric weight of each battle, which will be accumulated to determine the winner.

Two conferences. Twelve battles. One winner. Let’s get it on.

The Generals (12 pts)

Florida Gators vs. Texas Longhorns

These two Generals would clash, sending a shockwave that could be felt for miles around the battlefield. Both are loaded with talent, and both are lead by eerily similar quarterbacks that can beat you with their arm, feet, or leadership alone.

Both teams have savvy coaches in Urban Myer and Mack Brown, respectively, and both teams’ systems fit their personnel perfectly. These two heavy weights could certainly find each other in the national championship game and both have won it in the past five years.

Texas gets the nod offensively, behind Colt McCoy, who is more polished than Tim Tebow as a true quarterback. Tebow may be the best quarterback in the country and still not be the best passer in this simulated matchup. Both teams can score points in bunches but Texas’ balance rates this unit slightly higher.

Florida gets the nod defensively as they go two deep at every position with returning starters from a team that clamped down on Oklahoma and Heisman winner Sam Bradford in the national championship game last year. They literally have 22 starters on defense and Brandon Spikes in the middle. Texas’ defense is talented but lacks the killer instinct needed to suffocate offenses.

Florida’s defense rates significantly higher than Texas’ unit, and defense wins championships.

Advantage: Florida Gators

The Colonels (11 pts)

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

These two legendary programs have more history oozing out of them than half of the other colleges in these conferences combined. A battle between these two warriors would leave each other battered and bruised. Contrasting styles on offense, however, would make this simulated matchup very interesting.

Oklahoma gets the nod on offense with returning Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford. He will look to prove his unit’s dismal showing against Florida last year was a fluke and with a massive offensive line along with TB DeMarco Murray he will have the right tools to make that happen.

Alabama breaks in talented, but inexperienced QB Greg McElroy who they hope can duplicate John Parker Wilson’s ability to manage the game. The game plan will still be to pound the ball and play defense, which Alabama will do extremely well with mammoth NT Terrance Cody and LB Rolando McClain.

Defense usually sways the vote, but Oklahoma’s offense is just too good and would put up too many points for Alabama to match in this what-if scenario.

Advantage: Oklahoma Sooners

The Majors (10 pts)

Ole Miss Rebels vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

These are two teams that aren’t used to the spotlight but have been thrust into it lately with their play, their recruiting, and their heightened expectations.

Ole Miss boasts a Heisman-type candidate in Jevan Snead at quarterback, and some playmakers on offense, but it is the defense that is the true strength of the team. Despite the loss of DT Peria Jerry to the NFL, Ole Miss will get after the quarterback and put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses with a deep front-seven of athletic linebackers and linemen.

Oklahoma State has its “big three” in QB Zac Robinson, TB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant, and will rely on the experience of Robinson to set up the play making abilities of Hunter and Bryant. The Cowboys have flirted with success before and appear to have a nose hair lead over Ole Miss in this battle for “not ready for prime time players,” but Houston Nutt is the intangible that swings the scale in Ole Miss’ flavor. He simply gets the most out of his players.

Advantage: Ole Miss Rebels

The Captains (9 pts)

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. LSU Tigers

This is a no-contest. Both teams strength over the years, the defense, has been tested lately. LSU gave up over 30 points a game in the last three games of the regular season to Troy, Ole Miss, and Arkansas. Meanwhile Nebraska’s “black shirts” have been looking for their play to match their nickname since Tom Osborne left.

The Cornhuskers benefit from being in the Big 12 North and will compete for that title behind a solid offensive line, and a coach in Bo Pelini looking to put his stamp on the defense.

LSU benefits from the addition of John Chavis at defensive coordinator, replacing the two headed monster experiment they tried last year. Just like clockwork, LSU again brings in a boat load of talent on both sides of the ball.

The big question is at quarterback, but there is too much talent in the backfield and too much speed at receiver to keep LSU from being one of the more prolific offenses in the SEC.

Nebraska could easily go 9-3 and still lose this matchup with LSU on the battlefield.

Advantage: LSU Tigers

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