Which League's All-Conference Team Would Win in a Playoff?

The 2015 College Football Playoff field has been announced. If you've somehow just rejoined society, allow us to inform you that Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma will battle it out for the national championship. 

But what if, in an alternate universe, the playoff was made up of four all-star teams? (In case you're wondering, it's the same alternate universe in which games don't last longer than four hours and there are no 10 p.m. ET starts. Sorry, deadline problems.)

With a superlative season in full swing, we figured now is as good a time as any to stage a mock playoff with the recent release of the Power Five's all-conference teams. For example: Would the Big Ten's best players beat the SEC's best? How about the ACC's first team vs. the Big 12's first team? This is what we aim to find out because it's fun—and football is supposed to be fun. 

Also, there are several more days until bowl games start and we need something to do with our time. 

Methodology Explained

John Bazemore/Associated Press

This is the important part. There's no perfect formula for what we're about to do, but we're keeping it as simple as possible. 

We start by taking the first-team selections from the All-ACC, All-Big Ten, All-Big 12, All-Pac-12 and All-SEC teams (note that these all-conference teams include a mix of selections by media and coaches). Then, we break down the teams into seven categories—three offensive, three defensive and one special teams—and rank each conference subjectively based on the overall strength of that group. 

(That's where many of you will either inherently agree or disagree with the order, which is fine. Just be gentle in the comments section. It's the holidays, after all.) 

The best conference for each position group was given five points. The second-best team was given four points. The third-best was given three points and so on and so forth until the last-place team was awarded one point.

The totals from the seven categories were added up to determine which conferences had the best rosters based on the overall number of points. The top four conferences were then pitted against one another in our hypothetical playoff. 

Got it? Good. Now let's get to it. 

Offensive Backfield

David Goldman/Associated Press

SEC (5 Points)

• QB Dak Prescott
• RB Derrick Henry
• RB Leonard Fournette

ACC (4 Points) 

• QB Deshaun Watson
• RB Dalvin Cook
• RB Wayne Gallman

Big 12 (3 Points) 

• QB Baker Mayfield
• RB Samaje Perine
• RB DeAndre Washington

Big Ten (2 Points)

• QB Connor Cook
• RB Ezekiel Elliott
• RB Jordan Howard

Pac-12 (1 Point)

• QB Luke Falk
• RB Royce Freeman
• RB Christian McCaffrey 

Already, this is becoming difficult. Every Power Five's backfield has at least one superstar player. Shoot, Christian McCaffrey is a Heisman finalist, and his conference was rated last. 

But let's start with the SEC. The combination of Henry, the Heisman front-runner according to Odds Shark, and Fournette, the Heisman front-runner for most of the season, was too good to pass up at No. 1. Prescott's place as the SEC's best quarterback by a country mile rounds this group out nicely. 

The separation beyond the SEC is small. Watson, another Heisman finalist, is arguably the best quarterback in college football, and Cook is remarkably underappreciated nationally at running back. No one with at least 200 carries has a higher yards-per-average total than Cook (7.86). And he's done it while banged up all year.  

Receivers and Tight End

LM Otero/Associated Press

Big 12 (5 Points) 

• WR Corey Coleman
• WR Sterling Shepard
• WR Josh Doctson
• TE Blake Jarwin

SEC (4 Points)

• WR Laquon Treadwell
• WR Fred Ross
• WR Pharoh Cooper
• TE Hunter Henry

ACC (3 Points) 

• WR Tyler Boyd
• WR Artavis Scott
• WR Isaiah Ford
• TE Jordan Leggett

Pac-12 (2 Points) 

• WR Kenny Lawler
• WR Gabe Marks
• WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
• TE Austin Hooper

Big Ten (1 Point) 

• WR Jehu Chesson
• WR Aaron Burbridge
• WR Jordan Westerkamp*
• TE Jake Butt

The Big 12 didn't have a great tight end selection, but you're not going to find a better group of receivers than the one featuring two (but arguably three) finalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award presented annually to the top collegiate receiver. That first-team list doesn't even include Jakeem Grant from Texas Tech or KD Cannon from Baylor. The Big 12 is rolling two-deep in that category. 

As for the SEC, Treadwell might be the biggest mismatch at the receiver spot in all of college football and Pharoh Cooper is one of the great versatile athletes in the game. Plus, you can't ignore John Mackey Award winner Hunter Henry at tight end. 

*The Big Ten only had two wide receiver selections, so Nebraska's Jordan Westerkamp was subjectively added for a third selection over Chris Godwin of Penn State and Alex Erickson of Wisconsin. 

Offensive Line

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Big Ten (5 Points)

• OL Jack Allen
• OL Jordan Walsh
• OL Jack Conklin
• OL Pat Elflein
• OL Taylor Decker

Pac-12 (4 Points)

• OL Zach Banner
• OL Joe Dahl
• OL Joshua Garnett
• OL Tyler Johnstone
• OL Kyle Murphy

SEC (3 Points) 

• OL Sebastian Tretola
• OL Vadal Alexander
• OL Cam Robinson
• OL John Theus
• OL Ryan Kelly

Big 12 (2 Points) 

• OL Spencer Drango
• OL Cody Whitehair
• OL Ty Darlington
• OL Le'Raven Clark
• OL Nila Kasitati*

ACC (1 Point) 

• OL Roderick Johnson
• OL Adam Bisnowaty
• OL Landon Turner
• OL Eric Mac Lain
• OL Matt Skura

The Big Ten is an obvious choice here with Allen, Elflein and Decker. In fact, four of the five selections come from Michigan State and Ohio State. Don't be surprised if many of those names are found on All-American lists soon and heard on draft day next spring.

The separation after the Big Ten gets a little tricky, but Garnett, Johnstone and Murphy are Pac-12 stalwarts. Garnett specifically is an Outland Trophy finalist. From the SEC and Big 12, respectively, Robinson and Drango are All-American-caliber players.  

*The Big 12 first team included six offensive linemen. Oklahoma's Nila Kasitati was selected subjectively over TCU's Joey Hunt. 

Defensive Line

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Big Ten (5 Points) 

• DL Yannick Ngakoue
• DL Shilique Calhoun 
• DL Joey Bosa
• DL Carl Nassib 

SEC (4 Points)

• DL Myles Garrett
• DL Jonathan Allen
• DL Jonathan Bullard
• DL A'Shawn Robinson

Big 12 (3 Points) 

• DL Andrew Billings
• DL Charles Tapper
• DL Emmanuel Ogbah
• DL Josh Carraway*

Pac-12 (2 Points)

• DL DeForest Buckner
• DL Kenny Clark
• DL Lowell Lotulelei
• DL Aziz Shittu*

ACC (1 Point)

• DL Shaq Lawson
• DL Ejuan Price
• DL Connor Wujciak
• DL Nile Lawrence-Stample

It's entirely possible the Big Ten gets two first-team All-American selections out of its edge-rushers group alone. Seriously, is there a better group out there than Bosa, Calhoun and Nassib? Keep in mind all three have won either the conference's defensive lineman of the year or defensive player of the year.

The SEC isn't far behind, though, with Garrett, Allen, Bullard and Robinson. Alabama's defensive front seven is the best in college football, so it's no surprise to see two members from the D-line make the list. 

The Big 12 is known for offense, but there might not be a more dominant interior defensive lineman in college football than Baylor defensive tackle Billings. Ogbah is a supremely underrated edge rusher as well. 

*The Big 12 and Pac-12 had five defensive linemen selections, so Carraway was selected over Davion Pierson of TCU while Shittu was chosen over Antwaun Woods of USC. 

Linebackers

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

SEC (5 Points) 

• LB Kentrell Brothers
• LB Reggie Ragland
• LB Zach Cunningham

Pac-12 (4 Points) 

• LB Su’a Cravens
• LB Blake Martinez
• LB Gionni Paul

Big 12 (3 Points) 

• LB Dominique Alexander
• LB Eric Striker
• LB Nick Kwiatkoski

ACC (2 Points) 

• LB Steven Daniels
• LB Brandon Chubb
• LB Ben Boulware

Big Ten (1 Point) 

• LB Anthony Walker Jr.
• LB Joshua Perry
• LB Joe Schobert

It's interesting in a way that the Pac-12 would rank so high in this category when its most recognizable name, Cravens, is a converted safety. Still, safety, linebacker or whatever you want to call him, Cravens is one of the disruptive defenders in college football, and Martinez is among the most productive in terms of tackles. 

But it's tough to argue against the SEC here; Brothers leads all tacklers in college football with 152 tackles and Ragland is another member of Alabama's touted defensive front seven.

The gap after the top two opens up a bit. Striker is a fantastic pass-rusher and his overall game has improved, but his assignments are still tied closely to getting into the backfield. Boulware is a great selection too. Clemson has playmakers at all three levels of its defense, but Boulware is the rock of that group.

Secondary

NELL REDMOND/Associated Press

ACC (5 Points) 

• DB Jalen Ramsey
• DB Mackensie Alexander
• DB Jeremy Cash
• DB Jayron Kearse 

Big Ten (4 Points) 

• DB Desmond King
• DB William Likely
• DB Jourdan Lewis
• DB Jabrill Peppers

SEC (3 Points) 

• DB Vernon Hargreaves III
• DB Eddie Jackson
• DB Jalen Tabor
• DB Trae Elston

Pac-12 (2 Points)

• DB Budda Baker
• DB Adoree’ Jackson
• DB Sidney Jones
• DB Marcus Williams  

Big 12 (1 Point) 

• DB Xavien Howard
• DB Zack Sanchez
• DB Derrick Kindred*
• DB Daryl Worley

Other than offensive backfield and defensive line, this group had the least amount of separation. The Big 12, for example, gets a single point despite including Zack Sanchez and Daryl Worley, who are tied for fifth nationally with six interceptions. 

But it's hard not to love a backfield with Jalen Ramsey and Mackensie Alexander. Ramsey can do everything in the secondary and might be one of the first defensive backs taken in next year's draft, if not the first.

*The Big 12 had five defensive backs selected, so Kindred was subjectively chosen over Oklahoma State's Kevin Peterson. 

Specialists

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

ACC (5 Points) 

• PK Roberto Aguayo
• P Alex Kinal
• RS Ryan Switzer

Big 12 (4 Points) 

• PK Jack Cantele
• P Nick O'Toole
• RS Morgan Burns

Pac-12 (3 Points) 

• PK Aidan Schneider
• P Tom Hackett
• RS Christian McCaffrey 

Big Ten (2 Points) 

• PK Griffin Oakes
• P Sam Foltz
• RS William Likely

SEC (1 Point) 

• PK Daniel Carlson
• P Drew Kaser
• RS Evan Berry

When a "down year" means going 20-of-24 on field-goal attempts, you know you're pretty good. Aguayo might be the only kicker I can remember who actually opted to come back for another year in college instead of turning pro.

As for the Big 12, which received four points, consider that Burns has more kickoffs returned for a touchdown (three) than anyone in college football this year. 

Overall Standings and Playoff Seeds

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

1. SEC 

• Offensive Backfield (5) 
• Receivers and Tight End (4)
• Offensive Line (3)
• Defensive Line (4)
• Linebackers (5) 
• Secondary (3)
• Specialists (1)
• TOTAL (25)

T2. ACC*

• Offensive Backfield (4)
• Receivers and Tight End (3) 
• Offensive Line (1)
• Defensive Line (1)
• Linebackers (2)
• Secondary (5)
• Specialists (5)
• TOTAL (21) 

T2. Big 12

• Offensive Backfield (3)
• Receivers and Tight End (5)
• Offensive Line (2)
• Defensive Line (3)
• Linebackers (3)
• Secondary (1)
• Specialists (4)
• TOTAL (21)

4. Big Ten

• Offensive Backfield (2)
• Receivers and Tight End (1)
• Offensive Line (5)
• Defensive Line (5)
• Linebackers (1)
• Secondary (4)
• Specialists (2)
• TOTAL (20)

5. Pac-12 

• Offensive Backfield (1) 
• Receivers and Tight End (2)
• Offensive Line (4)
• Defensive Line (2)
• Linebackers (4)
• Secondary (2)
• Specialists (3)
• TOTAL (18)

I've always said being on the playoff selection committee would be the worst, most thankless job in college football because, no matter what, people will be angry with you. As it turns out, though, the Pac-12 would have been left out in our hypothetical playoff, too. 

Maybe selecting four teams is easy after all...

(No, it's not.) 

*Note that, because the ACC scored a 5 in two categories, it gets the edge over the Big 12. In real terms, that means the seeding would be as follows: 1. SEC, 2. ACC, 3. Big 12, 4. Big Ten. 

Playoff Prediction

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Orange Bowl: (1) SEC vs. (4) Big Ten

In reality, we got a Big Ten vs. SEC matchup in the Cotton Bowl with Alabama and Michigan State. In our fake playoff, we get the matchup in the Orange Bowl, which still makes sense for geographical purposes for the higher-seeded SEC. 

If you want to talk about strength vs. strength, how about the backfield of Dak Prescott, Derrick Henry and Leonard Fournette taking on a D-line with Joey Bosa, Shilique Calhoun and Carl Nassib? Pretty awesome, huh?

This has all the makings of a low-scoring defensive battle, but the SEC's defensive front, led by many of the same players who make up Alabama's stiff front seven, is too much for the Big Ten. Ezekiel Elliott and Jordan Howard have their moments, but when asked to come from behind late in the game, the Big Ten's lack of playmakers in the passing game means the conference falls just short. 

Projected Winner: SEC

Cotton Bowl: (2) ACC vs. (3) Big 12

Conversely, the ACC-Big 12 matchup we got in the Orange Bowl in real life is switched to the Cotton Bowl. Now imagine guys like Corey Coleman, Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson and Dalvin Cook running wild indoors on a fast track (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas). This game is the polar opposite of the Orange Bowl; it's a track meet in which the team with the ball last wins. 

The ACC's ground game helps the conference control the game early, and Jalen Ramsey turns an early Mayfield interception—just his sixth of the season—into points. An Aguayo field goal right before the half gives the ACC all the momentum. 

But the Big 12 is built for shootouts and comebacks. Mayfield and the receiving unit come out with a quick strike and turn the tables. Shaq Lawson is able to keep Mayfield scrambling, but the Oklahoma quarterback extends plays long enough to find an open Doctson downfield on the final drive. Then, it's a game-winning field goal from Jack Cantele to give the Big 12 the edge in the most wildly entertaining college football game of the 2015-16 season.  

Projected Winner: Big 12

CFP National Championship (1) SEC vs. (3) Big 12

After being left out of the initial playoff, the Big 12 comes into the championship game against the SEC with something to prove. 

After getting off to a fast start, though, the Big 12's hype cools when the SEC settles down. The SEC's defense holds the Big 12 to a field goal instead of a second touchdown, making the score a more manageable 10-0 instead of 14-0. Then, Henry and Fournette go to work on the Big 12's more susceptible defensive front. Andrew Billings makes some huge plays on early downs, but it's not enough to stop the SEC's offense from driving. 

Eventually, the SEC takes the lead and does just enough to keep itself at arm's distance. Needing a late score to pull ahead, Mayfield throws an interception to Vernon Hargreaves III, sealing the deal. 

Projected Winner: SEC