For my prediction on each college football game taking place in week 7 in the Big 12, check out the latest episode of Conference ChatterTV:
**With the non-conference football season essentially complete,** I went back and looked at every result in the Big 12 to see what the conference looked like after six weeks.
The numbers:
The Big 12 carries a 36-8 record against other conferences. Against BCS opponents, the Big 12 is 8-4.
A few observations and what I think of the figures:
• For comparison’s sake, the juggernaut SEC carries a 27-5 record (84.4 winning percentage) this season against non-conference opponents. The Big 12’s 36-8 record is good for a 81.8 winning percentage.
Both conferences are 8-4 against BCS opponents.
• Best Big 12 non-conference victory: Oklahoma 47, Florida State 17.
The Seminoles have played well since the Sept. 11 embarrassment in Norman, Okla. Florida State is 5-1 and ranked No. 16 in the latest Associated Press poll. FSU drilled then-No. 13 Miami (Fla.), 45-17, last weekend. FSU is making that OU victory look really good.
• Worst Big 12 non-conference loss: North Dakota State 6, Kansas 3.
The Big 12 faced seven lower-level, FCS schools this season. Six victories, one loss. The Kansas loss looked even worse when you factor it was a home loss.
• Here’s a breakdown of how the Big 12 has fared this season against other conferences:
ACC: 2-0
Big East: 1-0
SEC: 1-1
Big Ten: 1-1
Pac-10: 3-2
Western Atlantic: 5-0
Sun Belt: 4-0
Mid-American: 3-0
Conference-USA: 5-1
Mountain West: 5-2
FCS opponents: 6-1
Four non-conference Big 12 games remain, but none of the contests are against BCS schools, so the big picture likely won’t be affected.
• Speaking of the big picture … It’s always interesting to try and figure out what conference is the best in college football.
It’s been tough to argue lately against the SEC, which has triumphed in the last four BCS Championship games.
I don’t think we can come to an absolute conclusion on the best conference in 2010 after six weeks. Factoring in bowl games are a must.
But here’s what we know so far:
• In terms of ranked teams in the top 25, the SEC trumps all other conferences with six. The Big 12, Pac-10 and Big Ten all have four each. The ACC and Big East have only one apiece.
• This could be the first time in five years the SEC does not have a team compete for the BCS Championship. The SEC’s highest-ranked team at the moment is No. 7 Auburn.
• [The ESPN Stats and Info blog has a conference power rankings system][1], where a computer calculates a variety of factors in trying to determine the best conference. Worth a look.
The system has the SEC as the best conference so far in 2010, followed by the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Big 12.
So wait.
Is the Big 12 really the fourth-best conference in the country? Seems off. But it may be true this year.
Texas being down hasn’t helped. And the conference, which usually has at least one team in the top 3, doesn’t have any right now. The best-ranked teams in the Big 12 are No. 5 Nebraska and No. 6 Oklahoma.
Ohio State’s No. 1 ranking has really helped elevate the Big Ten. Ditto with No. 2 Oregon and the Pac-10. If the season ended today, we could be looking at a Big Ten vs. Pac-10 BCS Championship.
There seems to be only one way a Big 12 team plays for the national title this season: either Oklahoma or Nebraska has to finish the regular season undefeated and win the Big 12 Championship. Pretty simple.
I just don’t see it happening in a 2010 season where no Big 12 team seems to be overwhelmingly unstoppable.
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
[1]: http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/9106/conference-power-rankings-week-6