Power Ranking College Football Conferences Post 2014 Regular Season
College football is entering championship weekend, which means only one conference can claim the regular-season title as 2014's best in the nation.
Obviously, it's the Southeastern Conference, right? As ESPN's Lee Corso says, "Not so fast, my friend."
For this exercise, each conference's best teams were pitted together in an imaginary matchup, followed by the second-best, third-best and so on. Competition level, nonconference wins, bowl eligibility and contention for the College Football Playoff also factor into the rankings.
Since everyone will surely agree on the final results, please add your pleasantries in the comments section below.
11. Sun Belt Conference
1 of 11
2014 Champion: Georgia Southern (9-3, 8-0)
It's a shame something that gives us Fun Belt midweek contests has to enter the rankings first, but the Sun Belt is simply a step below the rest of the nation.
The conference provides a scattered collection of teams, stretching geographically from Georgia Southern to New Mexico State to Idaho—essentially the outcasts of college football. Although six teams reached bowl eligibility for three spots, the bottom three were 2-10 or worse.
However, Georgia Southern was an entertaining watch, even if its season has concluded. The Eagles' triple-option attack led the nation with 380 rushing yards per game and finished 11th with 39.1 points per outing.
Dan Wolken of USA Today notes the NCAA denied the program's appeal of a rule that does not allow a bowl appearance by a first-year Football Bowl Subdivision member.
Arkansas State's overtime victory over Utah State was the Sun Belt's best nonconference win, because a handful of others nearly topped a Power Five opponent but couldn't quite finish. Tip-of-the-hat to Louisiana-Monroe for knocking off Wake Forest, though.
10. Mid-American Conference
2 of 11
One step above the Fun Belt is the conference famous for #MACtion. The lower-tier Midwestern sector of college football provided a 10-win Northern Illinois squad, while Toledo, Western Michigan, Bowling Green and Central Michigan added seven or more.
The Mid-American Conference has five bowls for six teams, unless Northern Illinois somehow manages to slide into the Group of Five slot over Boise State. Ohio would likely be left out of the postseason.
Notable nonconference victories include Indiana, Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Purdue, which were accomplished by Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Akron and CMU, respectively.
The 2014 championship game between Northern Illinois and Bowling Green will take place Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. ET and be televised on ESPN2.
9. Conference USA
3 of 11
Marshall was two victories away from potentially representing the Group of Five, but Western Kentucky had other plans. And for that reason and one other, Conference USA lost a spot in the rankings.
If any member school had sprung a prominent or glamorous upset, C-USA would have a legitimate shot at hopping the American Athletic Conference. However, the best nonconference triumphs came against MAC or lower-level AAC opponents.
Eight teams reached the six-win total, but a couple schools are probably going bowl-less, since Conference USA has five to seven bowl slots. The remaining five recorded three or four victories, so the bottom of C-USA wasn't a laughingstock.
The title matchup pits the Marshall opposite Louisiana Tech, which has the potential to be a high-scoring affair considering both offenses rank in the top 12 in scoring. On Saturday, Dec. 6, ESPN2 will broadcast the game, which kicks off at noon ET.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. American Athletic Conference
4 of 11
The American Athletic Conference is one of the two non-Independent conferences with regular-season contests remaining, and there's still excitement to be had.
While Memphis has already claimed at least a share of the conference title, Central Florida and Cincinnati can earn a tie with victories this week. The Knights battle East Carolina (Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN), and the Bearcats take on Houston (Saturday, Dec. 6 at noon ET on ESPN).
However, the American wasn't very competitive outside itself, since the conference has five bowl-eligible teams—pending Temple's result Saturday evening. UCF toppled BYU, East Carolina overpowered Virginia Tech and North Carolina, and Temple destroyed Vanderbilt.
Collectively, the AAC managed to win just 36.4 percent of its nonconference slate, which was the worst mark in the FBS. Four of its 11 teams are likely to finish with four victories or less.
Plus, the only winless team in the nation, SMU, hails from the American. At least the 0-11 Mustangs made some really great tries this year.
7. Independents
5 of 11
Ranking the Independents is tricky, since there are only four teams and every game is technically a nonconference meeting.
With that being said, BYU, Notre Dame and Navy each recorded significant victories. BYU's 8-4 campaign included wins over Texas, Houston, Virginia and Cal, and the Cougars have accepted a bid to the Miami Beach Bowl.
Notre Dame collapsed late in the year but edged Stanford, North Carolina, Michigan and Syracuse. Navy dismantled Sun Belt champion Georgia Southern and is headed to the Poinsettia Bowl.
On Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. ET (CBS), the Army-Navy Game will put a bow on the 2014 regular season.
6. Mountain West Conference
6 of 11
The Mountain West is typically a step above the four previously mentioned conferences, and this year was no different. Granted, most of the competitive teams are a part of the Mountain Division, since 6-6 Fresno State will represent the West in the championship game.
Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and Air Force each tallied at least nine wins in 2014, beating up on each other along the way. Just three of the 11 combined losses between the teams came from outside of the conference.
Additionally, Mountain West schools outlasted BYU (three teams), Boston College and Washington State. Seven programs qualified for bowl season, a perfectly convenient number for the seven tie-ins.
The smurf-turfers, however, are the biggest reason for the conference's No. 6 ranking. Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, Boise State will host Fresno State, and a win should seal the Group of Five berth for the Broncos.
5. Big Ten Conference
7 of 11
The Big Ten and Atlantic Coast conferences are so evenly matched, it's practically unbelievable:
- Total Record: Big Ten (98-70); ACC (98-70)
- Nonconference: Big Ten (42-14); ACC (42-14)
However, the top-level Midwestern conference narrowly—ever so narrowly—trails the ACC due to its lack of success in nonconference matchups and because it will probably miss the College Football Playoff.
Indiana, Nebraska and Iowa beat Missouri, Miami and Pittsburgh, respectively, but the Big Ten fell short in the remainder of its potential statement games, which will be discussed on later slides.
Since quarterback J.T. Barrett sustained a season-ending ankle injury, Ohio State might lose the No. 4 spot in the CFP to the Big 12 champion, barring other championship-game upsets.
Of course, the Buckeyes have to overpower Wisconsin before the playoff discussion really heats up anyway. The battle for the Big Ten crown is Saturday night, Dec. 6, at 8:17 p.m. ET on Fox.
4. Atlantic Coast Conference
8 of 11
The ACC's ranking is boosted by the second-half miracles of Jimbo Fisher and Florida State, which is one game away from locking up a College Football Playoff berth.
Behind the defending national champions, the ACC has 10 other bowl-eligible programs—a number eclipsed by only one conference in the nation.
Yes, that impressive sum is a product of the mess that was the Coastal Division, a faction of the ACC that is best described as having hilarious parity. Six of the seven teams reached the six-win mark, while Virginia had five.
But the ACC's nonconference exploits are where it really earned its status, registering wins over Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame (twice), South Carolina, Oklahoma State and USC.
Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, ABC will broadcast the ACC Championship Game between Florida State and Georgia Tech.
3. Big 12 Conference
9 of 11
The Big 12 is the other conference waiting to finish the regular season, but it's certainly included in the championship weekend hype.
Since the premier group decreased to 10 member schools, the first Saturday of December has essentially provided de facto title clashes. This year, TCU opposes Iowa State (noon ET on ABC), and Baylor hosts Kansas State (7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN).
ESPN's Heather Dinich notes Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said TCU and Baylor would be named co-champions if both teams win and one is selected to the College Football Playoff.
Six teams have qualified for the conference's five guaranteed bowl slots, and Oklahoma State could earn the necessary sixth win if it defeats rival Oklahoma in the Bedlam showdown.
The Big 12 secured victories over Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland and Tennessee, but its biggest advantage is the possibility of two playoff-bound teams.
2. Pac-12 Conference
10 of 11
The Pac-12 featured plenty of enthralling football throughout the year, but unfortunately for those on the East Coast, they probably didn't seen much live.
The schools combined to log an excellent 31-6 record in nonconference play, snagging some noteworthy wins along the way. Michigan State, Notre Dame (twice), Memphis, Texas, Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan fell to Pac-12 schools.
More importantly, eight schools have collected seven-plus victories and filled the conference's guaranteed bowl invitations. In fact, five of the six South Division schools achieved eight wins or more.
Plus, Oregon is a triumph in the Pac-12 Championship Game away from being chosen as a representative in the inaugural playoff. The Ducks look to upend Arizona—the only team to conquer Oregon this season—Friday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
1. Southeastern Conference
11 of 11
After all, sometimes Corso plays mind games with the audience and chooses his originally discussed team. "SEC bias!" chants may be ringing at computers everywhere, but it's hard to dispute the conference's depth.
Like ESPN's Brent Musburger so eloquently said, "Deal with it. They're the best."
The SEC racked up a staggering 12 bowl-eligible teams, and its fifth-, sixth- or seventh-best teams would punish similarly placed squads around the nation.
While the conference had its share of disappointing losses, SEC programs knocked off Kansas State, Wisconsin, Clemson, Boise State, Memphis, Utah State and West Virginia. The SEC amassed an FBS-leading 47-8 nonconference record.
Not only that, but consider all of the ranked-vs.-ranked clashes it encountered—20, to be exact.
Alabama, the nation's No. 1 squad, and Missouri will meet Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. ET on CBS for the SEC championship.
Note: Stats courtesy of CFBStats.com and B/R research.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
