Is the gap widening in BCS conferences' strength?

[IndianaAppMan]

Okay, it's only the first week of the season, but there were a fair number of inter-conference games this weekend that I think may be a preview of conference strength in FBS football. It seems like the strengths of certain conferences are widening the gaps between those of others. Meanwhile, the non-BCS conferences are pulling ever-closer to some BCS conferences.

The SEC (1) looks like it is far-and-away the best conference. Any arguments there?

The Pac-10 and Big 12 aren't too shabby (tie for 2). It's too close to call, in my opinion. They're definitely not the best, but winning those conferences will be a HUGE accomplishment.

The Big East seems to have pulled even with the Big Ten (tie for 4). Or the Big Ten has fallen back here, depending on how you look at it. (Keep in mind that the Big Ten has 11 teams while the Big East has just 8, so it's okay, for comparison purposes, if the #5 Big Ten team to be better than the #5 Big East). Looking at the top, WVU, USF, and Rutgers doesn't seem too different from Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, & Wisconsin.

The Big East & Big Ten are well-behind the Big 12 and Pac-10, and way off from the SEC. I would even argue that, if Ohio State & West Virginia weren't there to pull the load for everyone else, neither conference could be easily distinguished from the ACC.

The ACC is a distant 6. Man, does this conference look bad by BCS standards. In my book, they may end up falling behind the Mountain West (7), which I think has a chance of truly emerging as one of the six best conferences this year, despite its huge disadvantage with comparatively scarce media coverage.

The MAC, WAC, and C-USA could be anywhere from 8-10. Two had signature victories, and one has had a team in BCS bowls the past two years. The Sun Belt is bottom-barrel 11.

Your disagreements are eagerly awaited!

[TexasTerror]

The Sun Belt had that signature win of Ark St over Tex A&M...I know a lot of people who were pretty devastated by that one...

[813Jag]

Okay, it's only the first week of the season, but there were a fair number of inter-conference games this weekend that I think may be a preview of conference strength in FBS football. It seems like the strengths of certain conferences are widening the gaps between those of others. Meanwhile, the non-BCS conferences are pulling ever-closer to some BCS conferences.

The SEC (1) looks like it is far-and-away the best conference. Any arguments there?

The Pac-10 and Big 12 aren't too shabby (tie for 2). It's too close to call, in my opinion. They're definitely not the best, but winning those conferences will be a HUGE accomplishment.

The Big East seems to have pulled even with the Big Ten (tie for 4). Or the Big Ten has fallen back here, depending on how you look at it. (Keep in mind that the Big Ten has 11 teams while the Big East has just 8, so it's okay, for comparison purposes, if the #5 Big Ten team to be better than the #5 Big East). Looking at the top, WVU, USF, and Rutgers doesn't seem too different from Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, & Wisconsin.

The Big East & Big Ten are well-behind the Big 12 and Pac-10, and way off from the SEC. I would even argue that, if Ohio State & West Virginia weren't there to pull the load for everyone else, neither conference could be easily distinguished from the ACC.

The ACC is a distant 6. Man, does this conference look bad by BCS standards. In my book, they may end up falling behind the Mountain West (7), which I think has a chance of truly emerging as one of the six best conferences this year, despite its huge disadvantage with comparatively scarce media coverage.

The MAC, WAC, and C-USA could be anywhere from 8-10. Two had signature victories, and one has had a team in BCS bowls the past two years. The Sun Belt is bottom-barrel 11.

Your disagreements are eagerly awaited!
Speaking on the ACC, Clemson continues to do what they do best, and that's underachieve. They really didn't look like a potential ACC Champ against Bama. VaTech made a huge mistake by redshirting their QB Taylor, a change of pace could have jump started the Hokies against ECU. Thank goodness for Wake Forest and Boston College, otherwise there would have been no FBS wins for the league this weekend. And to top it off the league hasn't won a BCS bowl game in quite some time.

Having spent some time in Mountain West country this summer, I learned about this (http://www.themtn.tv/mtn/).

There's still lots of football to be played and if this season is anything like last season then we're in for a long, bumpy (but fun) ride.

[TheValleyRaider]

A&M losing to Ark St and Baylor getting hammered by Wake Forest doesn't speak very well for the depth of the Big 12, but neither does Arkansas almost losing to WIU and Miss St losing to La Tech for the the SEC

I think some of the teams at the top of the Big 12 are about as good as you'll get in the country, and the competitiveness there could rival the SEC. OU, Texas, Missouri and Kansas are legit, and Tech can beat just about anybody with their offense. Outside of USC and Oregon, who's really that good in the Pac10? Cal? They'd have to beat someone better than Michigan State for me to believe that

Much love for the Mountain West, as well, but really that's a big 3 conference with BYU, Utah and TCU, though the rest of the conference is capable of beating them AGS (except maybe SD St)

These things go in cycles, really. The ACC could easily be very good within 5 years if Miami and FSU rebuild, VT and Wake stays strong, and Paul Johnson and Butch Davis create their contenders at GT and UNC

[TheValleyRaider]

Having spent some time in Mountain West country this summer, I learned about this (http://www.themtn.tv/mtn/).

It'll be interesting to see if having their own DTV network (a la the Big Ten) will help MW exposure. I sure hope so, especially if it means not playing our big games on Thursday nights....

[813Jag]

It'll be interesting to see if having their own DTV network (a la the Big Ten) will help MW exposure. I sure hope so, especially if it means not playing our big games on Thursday nights....
That would be a huge benefit for TCU.

[TheValleyRaider]

That would be a huge benefit for TCU.

Well, TCU would really benefit if the next conference shakeup involved the recreation of the Southwest Conference.... xreadx xprayx

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

no way is the Big XII better than or even with the Pac 10. And this from someone who doesn't care for the P10.

[appfan2008]

the acc is depressing... i think duke looked the best out of anyone this side of wake forest...

[Bison101]

NO

Just simply look at teams like UNI, NDSU, App. St. We've all pulled big upsets. This weekend was just a lot of semi-FCS teams losing big. That's all- I certainly wouldn't be worried.

[brownbear]

the acc is depressing... i think duke looked the best out of anyone this side of wake forest...

Beating up on Baylor isn't that much of a bigger achievement.

[813Jag]

Beating up on Baylor isn't that much of a bigger achievement.
Maybe not but of the 2 FBS wins the league had, Baylor looks better than Kent State. Although both games were road games.

[DuckDuckGriz]

A&M losing to Ark St and Baylor getting hammered by Wake Forest doesn't speak very well for the depth of the Big 12, but neither does Arkansas almost losing to WIU and Miss St losing to La Tech for the the SEC

I think some of the teams at the top of the Big 12 are about as good as you'll get in the country, and the competitiveness there could rival the SEC. OU, Texas, Missouri and Kansas are legit, and Tech can beat just about anybody with their offense. Outside of USC and Oregon, who's really that good in the Pac10? Cal? They'd have to beat someone better than Michigan State for me to believe that

Much love for the Mountain West, as well, but really that's a big 3 conference with BYU, Utah and TCU, though the rest of the conference is capable of beating them AGS (except maybe SD St)

These things go in cycles, really. The ACC could easily be very good within 5 years if Miami and FSU rebuild, VT and Wake stays strong, and Paul Johnson and Butch Davis create their contenders at GT and UNC

Teams in the Pac 10 I would put up against most conferences:
USC
Oregon
Cal
Arizona State
Oregon State
UCLA

[I Bleed Purple]

The mtn. helping exposure?

heh

heheheh




heheheheheheh



heheheheheheheheheheheheheh

The mtn. has been in existence for four or five years now. Y'all know the MWC? Reporter asked Brian Johnson (Utah QB) if he had seen any defences like Michigan in the WAC. Uh..Okay?

The mtn. was only on cable until this year, when Direct TV finally picked it up. It's been a mess for some time now.

And the big three definitely could compete in any conference not named the SEC. The bottom teams, though, aren't very good. New Mexico used to be good. Wyoming could compete, as well as UNLV. CSU used to always be a threat. Of course you have AGS, but the quality just isn't quite as good. There has been a quiet opinion that the U and the Y should make it a PAC-12.

[TheValleyRaider]

Teams in the Pac 10 I would put up against most conferences:
USC
Oregon
Cal
Arizona State
Oregon State
UCLA

I'll grant you Arizona State, but Cal? The same Cal that self-destructed last year and squeezed by at home against a mediocre Big Ten team?

Oregon State just got nailed at home by Stanford, and UCLA, well, we'll see what Neuheisel can do...

[Skjellyfetti]

UCLA

They play Tennessee tonight. Should be an interesting game.

It's early in the season, but I'd put the Pac-10 in third behind the SEC and Big-XII at the moment.

[Poly Pigskin]

I'll grant you Arizona State, but Cal? The same Cal that self-destructed last year and squeezed by at home against a mediocre Big Ten team?

Oregon State just got nailed at home by Stanford, and UCLA, well, we'll see what Neuheisel can do...

Cal lost all their receivers and their starting RB, so it's gonna take them awhile to get rolling, but if you saw the game this weekend it was pretty clear they were much better than MSU. The collapse last year was largely psychological after blowing the final drive against OSU that would have put them at #1.

I wouldn't blow off OSU just cause they lost to Stanford (on the road, btw). I forget the exact year, but I heard a that since 01 or 02 the Beavers have the most wins in the Pac 10 other than USC. Stanford also has a chance to be much better this year, it looks like Harbaugh is doing a good job down on The Farm.

I think the top few teams in the Big 12 are better than the top teams in the Pac 10, but I also think the middle and bottom teams in the Big 12 are worse than the middle and bottom of the Pac 10.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I still don't understand why there hasn't been a shakeup of conferences out west.

WAC and MWC shifting things around
BYU
Utah
TCU
Boise St.
Fresno St.
Hawaii
New Mexico
Air Force

wouldn't be too shabby a conference... you could argue on the bottom two, moving San Diego St. or UTEP or Wyoming...

but that would make for a conference that could make a case for being on par with where the ACC appears to be top to bottom.

As for the other conferences...

I'd rank them (top to bottom)

SEC
Big 12
Big East
Pac 10
Big 10
ACC
WAC
MWC
C-USA
MAC
SBC

[DuckDuckGriz]

I still don't understand why there hasn't been a shakeup of conferences out west.

WAC and MWC shifting things around
BYU
Utah
TCU
Boise St.
Fresno St.
Hawaii
New Mexico
Air Force

wouldn't be too shabby a conference... you could argue on the bottom two, moving San Diego St. or UTEP or Wyoming...

but that would make for a conference that could make a case for being on par with where the ACC appears to be top to bottom.

As for the other conferences...

I'd rank them (top to bottom)

SEC
Big 12
Big East
Pac 10
Big 10
ACC
WAC
MWC
C-USA
MAC
SBC

I would not at all pick the Big East over the Pac 10. Not even close.

[Marcus Garvey]

The Big East has Pitt, Syracuse and a rapidly sinking Lousiville weighing it down right now.

The ACC is downright comical. They put the most players in the NFL, but apparently none of them are very good at playing as a team. I'm starting to enjoy the annual Tommy Bowden-Clemson saga: Will he be fired? Will he be given a contract extension?

The SEC is probably the best, but not the marign between them and the Big 12 is not as great, IMO, as their fans would like to believe. The Pac-10 is a distant 3rd behind the Big 12, while the Big 10 and Big East are damn near tied for 4th.

Oh, watching the Pitt-Bowling Green game on Sat. made me realize something: If Pitt fires Wanstedt at the end of the season (unlikely unless they win fewer than 5 games), all they have to do is hire Mark Whipple and they're guranteed 9 wins next year based upon their talent and schedule. Actually, I think Pitt just needs to fire their O.C., Matt Cavenaugh and replace him with someone who's offensive philosophy revolves around scoring points!

[Cap'n Cat]

Too early to tell.

Here's a better question: Is the gap between BCS and FCS expanding again?

I believe so.

[813Jag]

The Big East has Pitt, Syracuse and a rapidly sinking Lousiville weighing it down right now.

The ACC is downright comical. They put the most players in the NFL, but apparently none of them are very good at playing as a team. I'm starting to enjoy the annual Tommy Bowden-Clemson saga: Will he be fired? Will he be given a contract extension?

The SEC is probably the best, but not the marign between them and the Big 12 is not as great, IMO, as their fans would like to believe. The Pac-10 is a distant 3rd behind the Big 12, while the Big 10 and Big East are damn near tied for 4th.

Oh, watching the Pitt-Bowling Green game on Sat. made me realize something: If Pitt fires Wanstedt at the end of the season (unlikely unless they win fewer than 5 games), all they have to do is hire Mark Whipple and they're guranteed 9 wins next year based upon their talent and schedule. Actually, I think Pitt just needs to fire their O.C., Matt Cavenaugh and replace him with someone who's offensive philosophy revolves around scoring points!
I don't think Rutgers will be that good this year, they didn't look too good against Fresno State.

[brownbear]

The Big East has Pitt, Syracuse and a rapidly sinking Lousiville weighing it down right now.

The ACC is downright comical. They put the most players in the NFL, but apparently none of them are very good at playing as a team. I'm starting to enjoy the annual Tommy Bowden-Clemson saga: Will he be fired? Will he be given a contract extension?

The SEC is probably the best, but not the marign between them and the Big 12 is not as great, IMO, as their fans would like to believe. The Pac-10 is a distant 3rd behind the Big 12, while the Big 10 and Big East are damn near tied for 4th.

Oh, watching the Pitt-Bowling Green game on Sat. made me realize something: If Pitt fires Wanstedt at the end of the season (unlikely unless they win fewer than 5 games), all they have to do is hire Mark Whipple and they're guranteed 9 wins next year based upon their talent and schedule. Actually, I think Pitt just needs to fire their O.C., Matt Cavenaugh and replace him with someone who's offensive philosophy revolves around scoring points!

When Pitt hired Wannstedt four years ago, I knew it was a terrible hire, bringing in a coach who has never been successful at any level. He may be a "great recruiter," but he can't coach at all. I'm convinced that almost anyone can do better.

If Walt Harris (1-10 at Stanford after he left Pitt) could get 5 winning seasons in a row (including a Big East title), anyone can do it.

www.firedavewannstedt.com (http://www.firedavewannstedt.com/)

[aust42]

Too early to tell.

Here's a better question: Is the gap between BCS and FCS expanding again?

I believe so.

I'd have to agree based on the scores from the so called power FCS conferences.

CAA Conf

Maryland 14 Delaware 7
Duke 31 JMU 7
West Virginia 48 Villanova 21
Navy 41 Towson 13
Ball State 48 Northeastern 14
Iowa 46 Maine 3
UCONN 35 Hofstra 3

Southern Conf

LSU 41 Ap State 13
Oklahoma 57 Chattanooga 2
Georgia 45 Ga South 21

MVCS Conf

Marshall 35 Illinois St 10
Eastern Mich 52 Ind St 0
BYU 41 Northern Iowa 17
Iowa St 44 SDSU 17
Arkansas 28 Western Ill 24
Ohio St 43 Youngstown 0

Big Sky Conf

Tx Tech 49 Eastern Wash 24
Boise St 49 Idaho St 7
Ariz St 30 Northern Ariz 13

[Poly Pigskin]

I would not at all pick the Big East over the Pac 10. Not even close.

Agreed. TTBF, which Big East schools can beat USC or Oregon?

[813Jag]

Agreed. TTBF, which Big East schools can beat USC or Oregon?
I hate to say it but USF didn't match up with Oregon even without Dixon last season.

[IndianaAppMan]

no way is the Big XII better than or even with the Pac 10. And this from someone who doesn't care for the P10.

Missouri ------------- USC
Oklahoma ----------- Oregon
Texas --------------- Arizona State
Texas Tech
Kansas ------------- UCLA
Oklahoma State ------- Cal
Nebraska -------------- Oregon State
Colorado
Kansas State ---------- Stanford
Iowa State ------------ Washington State
Baylor ----------------- Arizona
Texas A&M ------------ Washington

When I look at the list this way, only the teams in bold have legitimate shots at going to a BCS bowl, or even winning a national title.

Granted, we have a long season ahead that may cause conference perceptions to change, but from top to bottom, I don't see what makes the Pac-10 better than the Big 12.

I may have to amend what I said about the Big East. They're scarcely hanging on to fifth-best, just ahead of the ACC, which isn't much better than the Mountain West.

It's just startling how far the Big Ten has fallen. Just five or six years ago, we had Purdue, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa rotating around the Top Ten from week to week, with Penn State, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Minnesota making frequent appearances in the Top 25. Only Indiana and Illinois were gimme games. Now, the SEC is like that, only they're more top-heavy.

(Spacing intentional to emphasize degree of difference)
1. SEC

2. Big 12 & Pac-10


4. Big Ten

5. Big East
6. ACC
7. Mtn. West

8. CUSA, WAC, & MAC


11. Sun Belt

[IndianaAppMan]

Too early to tell.

Here's a better question: Is the gap between BCS and FCS expanding again?

I believe so.

I'm not sure it ever retracted that much. Wins by FCS teams against BCS teams have always been few and far between.

Ya know, I can't help but wonder if the results would be a bit different if FCS teams ever got to host FBS teams. Might Delaware have beaten Maryland? Might WIU have beaten Arkansas? We'll never know, but I think that if there were home games, FCS teams could win 15-20% of the time, instead of the even lower percentage that they have now.

Of course, we'll probably never know, short of the extemely slim possiblity of a lower-tier FBS team in dire financial straits (like maybe New Mexico State, Eastern Michigan, or Fla. Int'l) willing to do a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deal.

[aust42]

Ya know, I can't help but wonder if the results would be a bit different if FCS teams ever got to host FBS teams. Might Delaware have beaten Maryland? Might WIU have beaten Arkansas? We'll never know, but I think that if there were home games, FCS teams could win 15-20% of the time, instead of the even lower percentage that they have now.

Of course, we'll probably never know, short of the extemely slim possiblity of a lower-tier FBS team in dire financial straits (like maybe New Mexico State, Eastern Michigan, or Fla. Int'l) willing to do a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deal.

Unfortunately we will never host any more 1A games. I posed the question a while back in a thread: "When is the last time a 1A team played in your house?" For Delaware it was 1989 when we beat Navy 10-9. We played home/home series with Navy and Temple a few times back in the day. It was about that time that 1A's quit playing at 1AA stadiums. Of course the big programs won't play at 1AA stadiums due to the difference in ticket sales, but it's a shame the MAC and Sunbelt level type schools won't play at 1AA's anymore. Navy and Temple coming to Delaware stadium sold out everytime and generated a lot of hype in the area.

[Franks Tanks]

Why all the love for the Big East--they are terrible. WVU, Rutgers, USF, Louisville will all be worse than last year and nobody else is picking up the slack.

My take is

1.) SEC - sometimes over-rated but overall best and deepest
2.) Big 12- Very good on top with Okie, Texas, Mizzou and TT. Kansas also solid then we have a drop, but the top is good. Mizzou looks SOOO good right now
3.) Pac-10 - Largely because of USC's utter dominance. Will move up if Arizona State or UCLA can emerge. Oregen and Cal are down this year.
4.) Big 10- Ohio State in better then Okie IMO and Wisconson and Penn State will have very good years I believe, but not enough. Penn State is a sleeper they are very athletic and will be running a spread type offense with Darryl Clark. Penn State would easily win the Big East or ACC this year
5.) Big East- everone takes a step back.
6.) ACC

[813Jag]

Why all the love for the Big East--they are terrible. WVU, Rutgers, USF, Louisville will all be worse than last year and nobody else is picking up the slack.

My take is

1.) SEC - sometimes over-rated but overall best and deepest
2.) Big 12- Very good on top with Okie, Texas, Mizzou and TT. Kansas also solid then we have a drop, but the top is good. Mizzou looks SOOO good right now
3.) Pac-10 - Largely because of USC's utter dominance. Will move up if Arizona State or UCLA can emerge. Oregen and Cal are down this year.
4.) Big 10- Ohio State in better then Okie IMO and Wisconson and Penn State will have very good years I believe, but not enough. Penn State is a sleeper they are very athletic and will be running a spread type offense with Darryl Clark. Penn State would easily win the Big East or ACC this year
5.) Big East- everone takes a step back.
6.) ACC
I actually this year is the year for USF, they had some big losses on defense, but there offense should be stronger. Recievers are more consistent this season. Right now they own WVU, they just have to stay focused through the season. 9/12 is a big game for them Kansas comes to town, they win that they can gain lots of momentum.

[Franks Tanks]

I actually this year is the year for USF, they had some big losses on defense, but there offense should be stronger. Recievers are more consistent this season. Right now they own WVU, they just have to stay focused through the season. 9/12 is a big game for them Kansas comes to town, they win that they can gain lots of momentum.

I'll give you that-I can see USF winning the Big East this year.

[813Jag]

I'll give you that-I can see USF winning the Big East this year.
I agree with you that the Big East won't be as strong as some people think.