College Football Power Rankings: SEC, Big Ten Not the Best Conference in 2010
Two weeks into the college football season, there have already been plenty of games that have helped determine which conferences are strong, and which are not.
The SEC and Big Ten are looking impressive, while the ACC has been downright awful.
A lot of teams are 2-0, but whose 2-0 record matters?
And whose 2-0 records are more indicative of problems rather than success?
No. 8: Big East
1 of 8
Record: 10-6 (.625)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 1 (No. 21 West Virginia)
On the rise: No one
Maintaining expectation: Rutgers, West Virginia
Fading fast: South Florida, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Louisville
Signature non-conference win(s): None
Big losses: Syracuse v. Washington, USF v. Florida, Louisville v. Kentucky. UCONN v. Michigan, Pittsburgh v. Utah, Cincinnati v. Fresno State
Analysis: The Big East is awful. Need proof? A middle-of-the-pack WAC team (Fresno State) beat a team that went undefeated in the Big East last season (Cincinnati) in Week 1. West Virginia is likely to fall out of the rankings if the Mountaineers can only beat Marshall by three points. It's going to be a long year for the Big East.
Mark my words: not one Big East team will finish in the Top 25 in the final poll of the year.
No. 7: ACC
2 of 8
Record: 15-8 (.652)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 1 (No. 17 Miami)
On the rise: Maryland, Wake Forest, North Carolina State
Maintaining expectation: Clemson, Boston College, Virginia
Fading fast: Miami, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina
Signature non-conference win(s): Maryland over Navy
Big losses: Miami v. Ohio State, Georgia Tech v. Kansas, Florida State v. Oklahoma, Virginia Tech v. Boise State, Virginia Tech v. James Madison
Analysis: The first two weeks have crushed the ACC, and at this point it wouldn't be surprising to see the BCS rankings open without an ACC team in them. The best hope the ACC has at producing a legitimate threat in college football is Maryland or Wake Forest.
North Carolina might be the best team in the conference, but the Tar Heels' legal troubles have already hurt them. Miami and Florida State both looked over-matched against teams from the Big Ten and Big 12, and that doesn't bode well for the remainder of the year.
No team in the ACC looks poised to run the table, and they have no team ready to compete for a national championship.
No. 6: Western Athletic
3 of 8
Record: 7-7 (.500)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 1 (No. 3 Boise State)
On the rise: Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State (No. 27 in AP poll)
Maintaining expectation: Hawaii, Idaho, Utah State, Louisiana Tech
Fading fast: New Mexico State, San Jose State
Signature non-conference wins: Boise State v. Virginia Tech, Nevada v. Colorado State, Fresno State v. Cincinnati
Big losses: Hawaii v. USC, Idaho v. Nebraska, Utah State v. Oklahoma, Louisiana Tech v. Texas A&M
Analysis: The WAC is known for having one team, Boise State, and so far that team has been impressive. The hope of every other team in the country is that one team in the WAC will be good enough to beat Boise. A road game to Nevada late in the season could prove to be a trap for Boise, as Nevada has stormed out to some huge victories early in the year.
At the very least, Hawaii and Fresno State have shown they should be ready to give Boise a game. Other than that, the WAC is better than the Big East and ACC simply because it has Boise and that Fresno State team.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 5: Mountain West
4 of 8
Record: 10-8 (.555)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 2 (No. 4 TCU, No. 14 Utah)
On the rise: Utah, Air Force (No. 28 in AP poll), San Diego State
Maintaining expectation: TCU, Wyoming
Fading fast: BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV
Signature non-conference wins: Utah v. Pittsburgh, TCU v. Oregon State, BYU v. Washington
Big losses: CSU v. Nevada, CSU v. Colorado, New Mexico v. Texas Tech, New Mexico v. Oregon, UNLV v. Wisconsin
Analysis: The Mountain West has a few good teams, and a few awful teams. The conference front-loaded its schedule with good teams from the Big 12, Big Ten, and Pac-10. Unfortunately for them, very few of those games were won.
Utah and TCU could both push to play in a BCS game, but it looks like there is too much parity within the Mountain West for an undefeated team to emerge (hopefully). Air Force is an interesting team; keep an eye on the Falcons next week against Oklahoma.
No. 4: Pac-10
5 of 8
Record: 14-5 (.737)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 5 (No. 5 Oregon, No. 18 USC, No. 19 Stanford, No. 24 Arizona, No. 25 Oregon State)
On the rise: Oregon, Stanford, Arizona, California (No. 29 in AP poll)
Maintaining expectation: USC, Oregon State, Washington
Fading fast: UCLA, Washington State
Signature non-conference wins: Oregon v. Tennessee, California v. Colorado, USC v. Hawaii
Big losses: Washington State v. Oklahoma State, Washington v. BYU, Oregon State v. TCU, UCLA v. Kansas State
Analysis: The Pac-10's numbers look great, but upon closer examination they are not as impressive. Only two of the 14 wins have come against teams from BCS conferences, and one of those teams was Colorado, who is at the bottom of the Big 12. The Pac-10 is extremely overrated in the AP poll, but there is definitely some potential here. Oregon looks like the Duckes are for real, and, with USC facing sanctions, they seem ready to be the powerhouse of the conference.
This weekend we will find out a lot more about the Pac-10 as its schools play some big games (Stanford v. Wake Forest, Cal v. Nevada, ASU v. Wisconsin, USC v. Minnesota, Washington v. Nebraska). The results of those games will give us a much better idea about whose conference is best.
Unless the Pac-10 wins four or more of those games, then it's going to get stuck with the overrated tag.
No. 3: SEC
6 of 8
Record: 18-6 (.750)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 6 (No. 1 Alabama, No. 10 Florida, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 15 LSU, No. 16 Auburn)
On the rise: Arkansas, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Kentucky
Maintaining expectation: Alabama, Mississippi State
Fading fast: Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia
Signature non-conference wins: Alabama v. Penn State, South Carolina v. Southern Miss, Kentucky v. Louisville, LSU v. North Carolina
Big losses: Tennessee v. Oregon (yikes), Vanderbilt v. Northwestern, Mississippi v. Jacksonville State
Analysis: Why does the SEC come in behind the Big Ten and Big 12 despite having six teams in the top 25? Well, compare the big wins to the big losses. The big wins have come against nobody in the college football world, save for North Carolina. But, North Carolina was missing eight—let me repeat—EIGHT starters, and LSU barely snuck by the Heels.
All the pundits said it would be a down year for the SEC, and while it hasn't been awful yet, save for Ole Miss v. Jacksonville State, nothing has been too impressive either. Frankly, it doesn't look like any of these teams will be on the level of Alabama, which should almost ensure 'Bama a spot in the national championship.
P.S. Why the heck is Arkansas at No. 12? The Gamecocks have accomplished much more in their victories, and yet are only at No. 13. Congratulations, Ryan Mallett! You crushed Tennessee Tech and Louisiana Monroe, and the voters love it!
P.P.S. Who wins the first two games and falls in the rankings? The Gators, that's who. Seems like a good way to know when you're hated.
No. 2: Big Ten
7 of 8
Record: 17-4 (.810)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 4 (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 20 Michigan)
On the rise: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State
Maintaining expectation: Iowa, Indiana
Fading fast: Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue
Signature non-conference wins: Ohio State v. Miami, Iowa v. Iowa State, Michigan v. UConn, Michigan v. Notre Dame, Northwestern v. Vanderbilt,
Bad losses: Illinois v. Missouri, Minnesota v. South Dakota, Penn State v. Alabama, Purdue v. Notre Dame
Analysis: The Big Ten has looked impressive in its victories so far. Ohio State, Iowa, Northwestern, and Michigan have all already logged wins against BCS conference opponents. Wisconsin's ranking is a bit higher than it should be, while Michigan's is lower than it should be. Denard Robinson has provided Michigan with high hopes for 2010, but keep in mind, Tate Forcier was doing the same thing this time last year.
Wait until Big Ten play begins before crowning him king.
There is no denying that Alabama dominated Penn State, but the Big Ten at this point just seems to have better overall teams than the SEC. The difference between the two conferences at this point is whether you give more weight to the Ohio State victory over Miami, or more weight to the 'Bama victory over Penn State.
Take a guess at what I thought.
No. 1: Big 12
8 of 8
Record: 21-3 (.875)
Teams in the AP Top 25: 3 (No. 6 Texas, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 8 Nebraska)
On the rise: Oklahoma, Kansas State, Missouri
Maintaining expectation: Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor
Fading fast: Colorado, Kansas (?), Iowa State
Signature non-conference wins: Kansas State v. UCLA, Missouri v. Illinois, Kansas v. Georgia Tech, Oklahoma v. Florida State, Oklahoma State v. Washington State
Big losses: Colorado v. California, Iowa State v. Iowa, Kansas v. North Dakota State,
Analysis: Winning games you're supposed to won't gain you respect, but it won't lose you respect either. The Big 12 as a whole has avoided losing games it was supposed to win, except for Kansas v. North Dakota State. The Big 12 is 2-1 against the Pac-10, 2-0 against the ACC, and 1-1 against the Big Ten. Frankly, what that all means is that there is a lot of parity in college football this year.
Texas has gotten off to a slow start and has a big test in Texas Tech this Saturday. Nebraska and Baylor also have big games, Nebraska against Washington and Baylor against TCU. Meanwhile, Kansas has proved to be the most bipolar team in the nation after two weeks.
The strength of the Big 12 is in Nebraska and Oklahoma, who seem destined to meet in the Big 12 championship. Both should finish the year among the top five teams in the country.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
