Ranking Every College Football Conference After the 2023-24 Season

It's hard to believe that another college football season is done. But with Michigan's 34-13 victory over Washington on Monday night, the 2023 season has come to a close.

Now that another campaign is over, let's take a look at how each conference did in 2023.

To gauge how each conference performed this season, we'll take a look at a variety of factors: Teams ranked in the final AP Top 25, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) and bowl game results.

Let's get into it.

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Note: ESPN's FPI was updated to reflect the new 2024 conference realignment on Monday. For this, we'll use the conferences teams played in for the 2023 season.

10. Mid-American Conference

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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 26: A MAC conference logo is pictured during the Quick Lane Bowl between the Bowling Green Falcons and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on December 26, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 104.2

Bowl record: 2-4

Final AP Top 25 teams: None

The MAC finished the 2023 season with three teams reaching double-digit wins.

Miami OH (11-3) won the conference by defeating Toledo, which also finished 11-3, 23-14 in the title game. Ohio (10-3) was the only double-digit win team from the MAC to win a bowl game, beating Georgia Southern 41-21 to reach 10 wins.

Outside of those three teams, just two MAC sides managed to finish above .500, as Bowling Green and Northern Illinois—the only other MAC team to win its bowl game—went 7-6.

Last season, the conference finished with eight teams with losing records. Having one less in 2023 along with three double-digit win schools makes this year an improvement for the MAC.

9. Conference-USA

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LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO - AUGUST 26: A Conference USA logo is displayed on a padded wall before a game between the Massachusetts Minutemen and the New Mexico State Aggies at Aggie Memorial Stadium on August 26, 2023 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 103.2

Bowl record: 2-2

Final AP Top 25 teams: Liberty (25)

The best team in the CUSA this season was by far the Liberty Flames.

In their first season in the conference, they finished 13-0 during the regular season and beat New Mexico State 49-35 in the conference championship game.

Although losing 45-6 to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl isn't how Liberty wanted to go out, it was still a great season for first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell.

Speaking of NMSU, the Aggies also had a great season under head coach Jerry Kill. He led them to back-to-back bowl berths for the first time since 1959-60, and a 10-win season for the their inaugural season in the CUSA.

Jacksonville State (9-4) and Western Kentucky (8-5) won their bowl games over Louisiana-Lafayette and Old Dominion, respectively. Outside of these four teams, every other CUSA side finished below .500 on the season.

Although you'd like to see more teams without losing records in a given season, this was a solid year for the CUSA with the successes of their teams up top.

8. Mountain West

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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 16: The New Mexico Lobos huddle near the Mountain West logo during the second half of their game against the New Mexico State Aggies at University Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Aggies defeated the Lobos 27-17. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 91.8

Bowl record: 3-4

Final AP Top 25 teams: None

The Mountain West impressively had four teams reach nine wins this season, in UNLV (9-5), Air Force, Wyoming and Fresno State (all 9-4).

A chaotic late-season push by Boise State put the Broncos in the driver's seat for the conference title. Although UNLV, Boise State and San Jose State all finished 6-2 in conference play, it needed a bit of technology to decide which teams would play for the title.

UNLV and the Broncos didn't play each other in the regular season, so the MWC had a computer system determine that UNLV would host Boise for the championship.

The Broncos won 44-20 over the Rebels, and helped interim head coach Spencer Danielson secure the job full-time. Since head coach Andy Avalos' firing in late November, Danielson went 3-0.

Outside of the top teams, the MWC had six sides finish below .500. Next year, their schedules will look a bit different. Pac-12 leftovers Oregon State and Washington State reached a scheduling agreement with the conference, which will give them six opponents each for the 2024 season.

7. American Athletic Conference

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DENTON, TX - NOVEMBER 04: A Refree stands on the American Athletic Conference field logo during the UTSA Roadrunners and North Texas Mean Green on November 4, 2023 at Apogee Stadium, TX. (Photo by Christopher Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 89.9

Bowl record: 3-3

Final AP Top 25: SMU (22)

The American Athletic Conference had three teams finish with double-digit wins: SMU and Tulane (both 11-3), plus 10-3 Memphis.

SMU had an impressive year under first-year head coach Rhett Lashlee. With the Mustangs' 26-14 win over Tulane on Dec. 2, they secured their first conference title since winning the Southwest Conference in 1984. SMU will move to the ACC next season.

Tulane, which lost head coach Willie Fritz to Houston last month, finished with double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

And it was a great season for Memphis, which reached double-digit wins for the first time since Mike Norvell's 12-2 season in 2019. Head coach Ryan Silverfield also won consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.

Eight AAC teams finished below .500 and missed bowl games. In 2024, Army will join the conference, taking SMU's place. It now means that two out of the three service academies, Army and Navy, will be playing in the same conference.

6. Sun Belt

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CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 25: The Sun Belt Conference logo is shown on a pylon as the James Madison Dukes take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Conway, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 85.5

Bowl record: 5-7

Final AP Top 25 teams: None

The Sun Belt—affectionately known as the "Fun Belt" within college football circles—had the most teams (12) play in bowl games than any other conference, including within the Power Five.

It also had a pair of teams reach 11 wins on the year, in James Madison (11-2) and Troy (11-2). The Dukes were the Cinderella team within the conference.

In their first season playing in the Sun Belt, JMU was undefeated through its first 10 games of the season. In Week 2, the Dukes upset Virginia 36-35, giving them a third-ever victory over a Power Five opponent.

JMU also hosted ESPN's College GameDay in November and drew the largest crowd in the show's history. App State handed the Dukes their first and only loss of the regular season that week.

Troy defeated App State 49-23 in the Sun Belt Championship to secure back-to-back conference titles. The Sun Belt did have seven of its teams finish below .500 thanks to bowl losses, but only two of the conference's teams (Southern Miss and Louisiana-Monroe) failed to make a bowl at all.

5. ACC

Maddie Malhotra

CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of an ACC logo on the field before a game between the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Alumni Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) ***Local Caption ***

Average FPI ranking: 45.4

Bowl record: 5-6

Final AP Top 25: Florida State (T-6), Louisville (19), Clemson (20), NC State (21)

The final year of the four-team playoff was particularly cruel to the ACC. Thanks to starting quarterback Jordan Travis suffering a season-ending injury late in the season, the selection committee left the undefeated ACC champion Seminoles out.

What's worse, Florida State—although was missing a number of starters due to opt-outs and the transfer portal—got embarrassed 63-3 to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

Florida State has sued the conference over its grant of rights and withdrawal fee.

Clemson missed out on the ACC title game and finished 9-4 on the season. The Tigers were embarrassed in Week 1, losing 28-7 to Duke, and their 31-24 loss to Florida State knocked them out of the playoff hunt entirely.

Despite Dabo Swinney hiring Lincoln Riley this offseason to retool the offense, the unit struggled to look consistent throughout the year. Miami and North Carolina didn't have strong seasons like they were anticipated to, either.

However, it was a good year for first-year Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who led the Cardinals to 10 wins and an ACC title game berth for the first time.

Just three ACC teams missed out on bowl games this season, as the conference had the second-most teams make bowl games.

In 2024 and beyond, making the playoff will be the conference's biggest goal.

4. SEC

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 02: Fans enjoy the activities at the SEC FanFest presented by Dr. Pepper before the college football SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on December 2, 2023 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 33.1

Bowl record: 5-4

Final AP Top 25 teams: Georgia (4), Alabama (5), Missouri (8), Ole Miss (9), LSU (12), Tennessee (17)

The SEC finished with the most teams ranked in the final AP Poll by far, as well as the highest average FPI record. But the season as a whole was a bit of a mixed bag for the conference.

For starters, Alabama upsetting Georgia in the SEC title game upended the final playoff rankings, putting the two-loss Crimson Tide in over undefeated Florida State. Alabama then losing 27-20 to Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal meant the conference was without a team in the title game for the first time in nine years. It also caused the SEC to miss out on a chance to win a fourth-straight national title.

Elsewhere, though, the conference did well in bowl games. Georgia's blowout victory over Florida State proved the Bulldogs weren't going anywhere anytime soon. Missouri shutting down Ohio State's offense and winning the Cotton Bowl was impressive. So was Ole Miss' offense slicing through Penn State's stout defense with a 38-25 victory. LSU and Tennessee both won their bowl games against Wisconsin and Iowa, respectively.

The bowl victories were impressive, but Alabama stumbling against Michigan to end the SEC's title game streak put a damper on the year for the conference.

3. Big 12

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 18: A Big XII logo is seen before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Baylor Bears at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 54.9

Bowl record: 5-4

Final AP Top 25 teams: Texas (3), Oklahoma (15), Oklahoma State (16), Kansas State (18), Kansas (23)

For a conference that is losing its two heavyweights in Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC next season, 2023 was a solid one.

The Longhorns won the conference and earned a playoff bid, marking the first time since 2019 the Big 12 was represented. Texas losing 37-31 to Washington dashed hopes for a Big 12 team to play for a national title for the first time in the four-team playoff era.

Elsewhere, the Big 12 had two other teams finish with double-digit wins, as Oklahoma finished 10-3 and Oklahoma State 10-4. There were also three teams that had 9-4 seasons in West Virginia, Kansas State and Kansas.

The four newcomers in the conference—UCF, BYU, Cincinnati and Houston—struggled a bit to get accustomed to Big 12 play. The Knights had the best season of the three, finishing 6-7 on the year with a 3-6 record in conference play. Houston went 4-8 and fired head coach Dana Holgorsen, BYU finished 5-7, and Cincy went 3-9.

In 2024, the conference will look a lot different, with former Pac-12 members Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado set to join. If it can get at least a couple teams in the expanded 12-team playoff, it'll be an improvement for the new-look Big 12.

2. Pac-12

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 01: A general view of the PAC-12 and 76 logos during the PAC-12 Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 43.2

Bowl record: 5-4

Final AP Top 25: Washington (2), Oregon (T-6), Arizona (11)

In the final season for the Pac-12 in 2023, the conference had a really fun campaign. It ended with three teams finishing with double-digit wins: 14-1 Washington, 12-2 Oregon and 10-3 Arizona.

Both the Ducks and Wildcats won their bowl games, with Arizona making a bowl game for the first time since 2017. Obviously Washington losing 34-13 to Michigan in the CFP title game was disappointing, but it was the Pac-12's first title game appearance since Oregon's in 2014.

Oregon State, USC, Utah and UCLA finished with 8-5 records. Five other Pac-12 teams finished below .500, including Cal, Stanford, Washington State and Colorado.

Speaking of the Buffaloes, Deion Sanders took Boulder by storm early in the year, getting Colorado off to a 3-0 start. The Buffs finished the season poorly, losing eight out of their last nine games, but the excitement surrounding the program was a sight to see.

The conference's swan song also gave us some fun games like Oregon-Washington (both matchups), Washington beating Washington State 24-21, and Arizona beating Oregon State 27-24.

The Pac-12 looked like the deepest and most competitive conference in all of college football in 2023. It's sad to see it go, but it went out on a pretty high note.

1. Big Ten

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HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 08: Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledges the crowd during the trophy presentation following the CFP National Championship football game between the Washington Huskies and Michigan Wolverines at NRG Stadium on January 8, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Average FPI ranking: 46.4

Bowl record: 6-4

Final AP Top 25 teams: Michigan (1), Ohio State (10), Penn State (13), Iowa (24)

Michigan won the national title, so therefore vaulted the Big Ten into the top spot in the rankings. The Wolverines finished the season a perfect 15-0 and won a national championship for the first time since 1997.

Outside of the Wolverines, the Big Ten had three teams reach double-digit wins in Ohio State (11-2), Penn State (10-3) and Iowa (10-4). Still, all three of these teams fell in their bowl games to Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee, respectively.

Elsewhere, just four other Big Ten teams finished above .500: Maryland, Rutgers, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Each of these teams except the Badgers won their respective bowl games, too.

In 2024, the Big Ten will look quite different. It will include Pac-12 newcomers in Washington, Oregon, USC and UCLA. The teams at the bottom of the conference this season such as Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota may have an even tougher time in the expanded Big Ten.