Which College Football Conference Has the Most Playoff Contenders?

Say this for the long offseason: Pretty much everyone is a playoff contender. 

The records are all the same, as no one has lost a game yet. There's as much optimism as a renewable energy source to power the United States for a century. 

But which teams are really legitimate playoff contenders? Which ones are just dark horses? It's not evenly spread from conference to conference, either. With a little less than six months until the start of the 2015 college football season, let's put some of those teams into perspective. 

Below is each Power Five conference, ranked by the number of potential playoff teams it has based on which players and coaches are returning.

FOUR: SEC, Pac-12

SEC

Legitimate: Alabama, Auburn

Dark Horse: Texas A&M, Tennessee 

Team	2014 Record	Key Departures
Alabama	12-2	QB Blake Sims, WR Amari Cooper, DB Landon Collins
Auburn	8-5	QB Nick Marshall, WR Sammie Coates
Tennessee	7-6	CB Justin Coleman
Texas A&M	8-5	WR Malcome Kennedy, OL Cedric Ogbuehi, DB Howard Matthews

How It Will Shape Up: The strength of the SEC should once again be in the West Division. Alabama and Auburn figure to be the preseason favorites, though both teams have to replace significant losses on offense. The Iron Bowl, once again, could have national implications. 

Two teams that could become intriguing playoff dark horses are Texas A&M and Tennessee. Former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, now holding the same job with A&M, could be that missing piece that the Aggies need to take the next step in their program's trajectory. 

While Tennessee has been building its program for what seems like an eternity, the Vols are the sexy SEC East favorites. That doesn't necessarily mean that they're legitimate playoff contenders, but what the heck, it's March. Let's go ahead and toss them into the conversation. 

Dream Scenario: The fantasy of having an all-SEC College Football Playoff comes to fruition. I mean, seriously, is this conference not the best or what? It's where real men go to play football. Roll Tide. 

Nightmare Scenario: The SEC cannibalizes on itself and no team finishes with fewer than two losses. Though conference supporters claim that shows the SEC's overall strength, it's not enough to convince the selection committee. Zero teams get in, and adding salt to the wound, Alabama drops from No. 4 to No. 5 in the final rankings. 

Pac-12

Legitimate: Oregon, USC

Dark Horse: Arizona State, UCLA 

Team	2014 Record	Key Departures
Arizona State	10-3	QB Taylor Kelly, WR Jaelen Strong
Oregon	13-2	QB Marcus Mariota, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
UCLA	10-3	QB Brett Hundley, LB Eric Kendricks
USC	9-4	RB Buck Allen, WR Nelson Agholor, DL Leonard Williams

How It Will Shape Up: The post-Marcus Mariota era at Oregon might not be as depressing as expected if Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams can make an immediate splash at quarterback. The Ducks have a key early nonconference game at Michigan State, which should be a litmus test for both teams. Then, a possible Pac-12 championship preview takes place on Nov. 21 with USC and Oregon. 

The Trojans are the trendy playoff contenders in head coach Steve Sarkisian's second year. However, there are some notable losses, especially on defense with lineman Leonard Williams. On top of that, the Trojans had a tough time finishing close games last season, losing on the road at Boston College and on a Hail Mary against Arizona State. 

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Are Oregon and USC legitimate playoff contenders? Sure, but there are some serious questions that will need to be answered. 

Dream Scenario: Oregon and USC meet in two Pac-12 classics, with both teams getting into the playoff. Oregon shows it can succeed without a once-in-a-generation player, getting back to the playoff. This time, the Ducks finish the job by winning it all. The toughness narrative? Gone. Chip Kelly's shadow looming over head coach Mark Helfrich? Also gone. 

Nightmare Scenario: Adams doesn't pan out and, in rich irony, the Ducks lose a stunner to Eastern Washington in Week 1. USC chokes away a couple of games again, pushing the narrative that the Trojans still...aren't...quite...back. 

THREE: ACC, Big 12

ACC 

Legitimate: Clemson

Dark Horse: Georgia Tech, Florida State 

Team	2014 Record	Key Departures
Clemson	10-3	DE Vic Beasley, DE Corey Crawford, DL Grady Jarrett
Florida State	13-1	QB Jameis Winston, WR Rashad Greene, DB Ronald Darby, TE Nick O'Leary, DT Eddie Goldman
Georgia Tech	11-3	RB Charles Perkins, RB Synjyn Days, RB Zach Laskey, WR DeAndre Smelter

How It Will Shape Up: In the past, listing Clemson as a legitimate playoff/title contender may as well have been agreeing to a death sentence. However, if there's any ACC team that can make a playoff run, it's the Tigers. 2015 sort of has an "if not now, then when?" vibe to it. Florida State is rebuilding and could experience a down year, relatively speaking. Plus, Clemson gets the Seminoles at home. 

The defense must (must) reload and find new leaders given the departures of guys like defensive end Vic Beasley. If that side of the ball can even be passable, quarterback Deshaun Watson and Co. have enough firepower to win shootouts. 

Dream Scenario: Head coach Dabo Swinney has done a spectacular job, winning at least 10 games in each of the last four years. As Dan Wolken of USA Today wrote, Swinney recruits at a championship level, too. 

Yet, it never feels like he gets enough credit or like he's considered one of the best in college football. That skepticism, whether or not it's merited, gets put to bed for good as Swinney takes the Tigers to the national championship game. 

Nightmare Scenario: "Clemson-ing" is a thing of the past...or is it? The Tigers finish the regular season 11-1 but then lose in the ACC championship game—badly—to a 7-5 North Carolina team. The playoff dream is crushed on live television for everyone to see. 

Big 12

Legitimate: Baylor, TCU

Dark Horse: Oklahoma

Team	2014 Record	Key Departures
Baylor	11-2	QB Bryce Petty, WR, Antwan Goodley, LB Bryce Hager
Oklahoma	8-5	OL Daryl Williams, TE Blake Bell, DT Jordan Phillips
TCU	12-1	CB Kevin White, DT Chucky Hunter, LB Paul Dawson

How It Will Shape Up: Barring a major injury or other development, Baylor and TCU appear bound for a playoff collision course. The Frogs should be a preseason Top-Five team after finishing 12-1 with a Peach Bowl victory over Ole Miss. Baylor shouldn't be too far behind, though the offense must replace quarterback Bryce Petty. 

And as much as expectations for Oklahoma have tempered following a disappointing 8-5 season, the Sooners remain an interesting option. The talent is there. If the quarterback situation can improve, there might be something to this team. Head coach Bob Stoops has made his most critical staff changes to date—will they work out?

Jerry Larson/Associated Press

Dream Scenario: Imagine the opposite of last season, when Baylor and TCU were left out of the Final Four. In 2015, the Nov. 27 game between the Bears and Frogs is another classic with fans demanding more. 

Nightmare Scenario: The CFP selection committee sits in a dark room. Arkansas athletic director and committee chair Jeff Long takes a long cigarette drag. He thinks for a moment and then says, "I just don't know how we're going to decide between TCU and Baylor, so let's leave them both out. Again."

"But sir--" replies another member.

"Again!"  

In a desperate attempt to please the committee, the Big 12 expands back to 12 teams, adding Connecticut and North Dakota State. It does not work. 

TWO: Big Ten

Big Ten

Legitimate: Ohio State

Dark Horse: Michigan State

Team	2014 Record	Key Departures
Michigan State	11-2	WR/CB Tony Lippett, DE Marcus Rush, CB Trae Waynes
Ohio State	14-1	WR Devin Smith, DT Michael Bennett

How It Will Shape Up: Saturday, Nov. 21 could be a big day for the Big Ten. That's when Michigan State travels to Columbus to take on the defending national champs, Ohio State. The Buckeyes should be favorites, if not massive favorites, in every game. Their toughest conference games are at home, too. 

Michigan State won't get the same level of national hype as Ohio State, but it does get a key nonconference game (Oregon) at home early in the season. That could establish the tone for this year. Are the Spartans really playoff contenders, or will they be unable to get over the hump?

"We look forward to making 2016 that national championship," defensive end Shilique Calhoun said upon announcing that he is returning for his senior season, per Mike Griffith of MLive.com. 

Dream Scenario: Normally, predicting an undefeated season is silly, no matter how good a team is. It's just difficult to think that a group of 18-to-23-year-olds won't do what they're great at, which is screw up. However, head coach Urban Meyer has already led Ohio State to two straight undefeated regular seasons in 2012 and 2013. In this scenario, he does it again, and the Buckeyes become back-to-back champions. 

And, for kicks, we'll say Sparty gets into the playoff as well. That'll really stick it to anti-Big Ten folks. 

Nightmare Scenario: The quarterback trio that makes for the most interesting offseason competition falls to pieces. Braxton Miller transfers, J.T. Barrett gives up football for a life at sea and Cardale Jones sustains an unfortunate season-ending injury.

Ohio State and Michigan State both fail to meet expectations, and the Big Ten becomes college football's favorite target again. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football.