College Football 2011: Power Ranking the Most Loaded BCS Conference Divisions

Spring practice is just weeks away, so why not talk college football a little more?

While some schools are getting acclimated to new coaches and early enrollees are adjusting to college life, I'm trying to get an early, early read on all the power conferences and which will be the strongest divisions.

Things are a little different this year since the Pac 10 is now the Pac 12 with two divisions. The Big Ten is now split up as well into the Legends and Leaders Divisions (Bravo to whoever came up with those names. Were "West" and "East" not suitable for your tastes?).

It feels weird not being able to throw the Big 12 into this, but it still works. Here's my early, early look at what I think are the most loaded divisions in college football:

8. SEC East: Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier greets his players after winning a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. The Gamecocks beat the Gators 3

The Gamecocks should be your favorites here.

Beyond South Carolina, it's anyones guess as how the rest of this division will shake out.

Georgia should be better or else Mark Richt could be out the door. Will Muschamp begins his first year as Florida's head coach, and we'll see just how much improvement Tennessee has made in the second year under Derek Dooley.

7. ACC Coastal: Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech, UNC, Duke, Virginia

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies hands the ball off to Darren Evans #32 against the Stanford Cardinal during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (

Until someone else straight up beats them, Virginia Tech is the team to beat in this division, but watch and see how Miami does under new coach Al Golden.

The Hokies will lose Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Williams to the NFL, and North Carolina is also losing several as well (Robert Quinn, Marvin Austin, T.J. Yates). 

6. Pac 12 South: USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Chris Galippo (R) #54 of the USC Trojans tackles Malcolm Jones #28 of the UCLA Bruins during the second half at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, California. USC defeated UCLA 28-14. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Im

I just don't see Colorado being a doormat in this division. Something tells me that honor will go to UCLA.

The Trojans, Arizona and Utah have plenty of talent, Arizona State should be improved, and I could easily see the Buffaloes being competitive in most of their games. 

5. Big 10 Leaders: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Dan Herron #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty

Watch how Ohio State does early with the suspensions in the first five games. If the Buckeyes stumble, this could become a pretty entertaining race.

But I suspect they'll hold serve and only get tested by Wisconsin. 

4. ACC Atlantic: Florida State, Maryland, NC State, BC, Clemson, Wake Forest

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State Seminoles reacts after their 26-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin

This race should be wide open. I would put the Seminoles as the favorites, but I also want to see what Randy Edsall does in his first year with the Terrapins.

Five of these six teams went to bowl games last year, and the division title was still up for grabs at the very end. Since this division has no powerhouse, I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

3. Pac 12 North: Washington, Wash. State, Oregon, Oregon State, Cal, Stanford

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal throws pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty

If you've got two top five teams in the same division together, along with three Heisman candidates in Andrew Luck, LaMichael James and Darron Thomas, I'll stop down and watch.

2. Big 10 Legends:Iowa, Michigan, Mich. State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern

Rick Dole/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 1, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images)

There's Edwin Baker and Kirk Cousins at Michigan State, Denard Robinson at Michigan and Nebraska's duo of Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead.

This is a quality division, and you've got to figure Iowa will be right in the thick of things too. On paper, I would say Michigan State and Nebraska would be your slight favorites, but I expect Michigan to be much improved under new coach Brady Hoke as well.

1. SEC West: LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Miss. State, Ole Miss

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Nick Fairly #90 of the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Is there any question here?

You want great running backs? OK, how about Trent Richardson (Alabama), Michael Dyer (Auburn) and Knile Davis (Arkansas).

Great teams? All of them except Ole Miss were in bowl games last year, and only Arkansas lost in the game's final minute.

Great coaches? Les Miles, Nick Saban and Gene Chizik have helped the SEC keep its stranglehold on the BCS national championship.

These teams recruit well, play great defense,there's some incredible rivalries, and Mississippi State's improvement just makes this division even better.