Top Five College Football Conferences of 2008

SEC

It certainly was not the most glorious year for the Southeastern Conference. However, it finished strong with another BCS National Title—making it three in a row for the devout SEC.

After riding the high of 2006 and 2007, was it ironic that the conference would struggle from the start of 2008?

Regardless, it happened.

Georgia did not live up to the preseason-No. 1 hype and Tennessee left the gate with an embarrassing loss to UCLA—which eventually led to the demise of Phillip Fulmer. Once again there was more drama than wins at Auburn.

Through it all, the season ended well and the SEC remains at the top of this list because no one stepped up and dethroned the conference. The SEC finished well in the bowls with Florida over Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS National Title, while Georgia defeated Michigan State 24-12 to finish No. 12 in the country.

Overall, the SEC finished with a total of four teams in the top 25. Florida finished at No. 1 and Tim Tebow became the first player ever to be ranked in college football’s AP Poll. He is between No. 1 and 0. Just kidding.

Big 12

Throughout the season, the Big 12 was the hot girl in the class, and we all fell in love. And why not? The offensive production was nothing short of magical in the conference. Colt McCoy of Texas, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, and Graham Harrell of Texas Tech were the leaders in the big elite quarterback charge.

Was there any negative side to having such elite level quarterbacks in one conference? If having such talent was a sin, then the Big 12 defenses reaped the repercussions.

Eventually, Big 12 defenses could not slow down the opposition in their bowl games, while the highlight offenses were bogged down and rusty from such a long layoff. So what turned out to be the best conference in 2008 eventually fell to the No. 2 spot. Not enough balance on both sides of the ball.

ACC

Who is at the head of the pack? How about Virginia Tech? They won the conference and their bowl game. Still not convinced?

So, who is the star of the Atlantic Coast Conference? Rumor has it, there isn’t one. Actually, there are about eight. With only three teams posting losing records, everyone seemed to have a say in the ACC in 2008.

If anything, the ACC was very balanced in this season. There was no Florida, USC, or Texas to horde the headlines, but every team seemed to hold its own. With only two games remaining in the regular season, there were eight teams with a legitimate shot to win the conference.

The ACC finished with Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in the AP top 25, but if the season was one week longer there is no telling who would be representing the conference.

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