Link: Why the Big Ten Isn’t College Football’s Best Overall Conference in 2016
- Thread starter RTR91
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Of course bowl games can't be used to measure conference strength if the bowls are exhibitions and draft eligible players decide to sit out.
That may be the way its heading, but for now, we will have a much better view of conference strength after the bowls than now.
At the top, the B1G is the best. Top to bottom, who know? Depends on what stats you want to look at.
I really don't care about any of this, though. A strong B1G just makes it harder to get into the playoff. I'd rather be undefeated in a weak P5 conference and take my chances in January.
I really don't care about any of this, though. A strong B1G just makes it harder to get into the playoff. I'd rather be undefeated in a weak P5 conference and take my chances in January.
Truth. In this day and age of social media and espn you don't even have to win your conference to get in the playoffs, just be a big name.
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I'm glad stats kinda backed up how I felt as the season unfolded. The Big Ten really has a ton of separation between their top teams and everyone else. Their bottom is really bad. Their middle is not that competitive. But I do agree with the general concept that conferences aren't judged by depth but quality at the top. In that regard, the Big Ten probably wins the analysis.
I've felt that the ACC was the best conference this year. Florida State is an immensely talented team that lost 3 games in conference. Pitt is probably the best 4-loss team I've seen in awhile. Louisville stumbled to the finish line but they have the Heisman winner at QB. Virginia Tech improved a lot once they stopped turning it over so much. UNC was not a slouch either. Clemson is as lethal of a team as any in the nation. Their middle is much better than the Big Ten's and the bottom is not as low.
The SEC is the deepest conference but they really lack in strength at the top. A lot of pretty good teams and one elite team.
I've felt that the ACC was the best conference this year. Florida State is an immensely talented team that lost 3 games in conference. Pitt is probably the best 4-loss team I've seen in awhile. Louisville stumbled to the finish line but they have the Heisman winner at QB. Virginia Tech improved a lot once they stopped turning it over so much. UNC was not a slouch either. Clemson is as lethal of a team as any in the nation. Their middle is much better than the Big Ten's and the bottom is not as low.
The SEC is the deepest conference but they really lack in strength at the top. A lot of pretty good teams and one elite team.
This article sort of summarizes my thoughts on 2016 quite well. The Big Ten has an excellent team (Ohio State) and three very good teams (Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan). But there's also a lot of brush fire there, too.
To put it into perspective......
LSU and Wisconsin played a one possession game that the Badgers won in Green Bay. Basically even teams.
Wisconsin and Penn State played a one possession game.
Wisconsin and Michigan played a one possession game.
Penn State and Ohio State played a one possession game.
Ohio State and Michigan played a one possession game.
The only anomaly in the whole thing is the Penn State-Michigan game.
Iowa played one possession games against both Wisconsin and Michigan....but also with Rutgers, Northwestern, and North Dakota State.
And people seem to forget that LSU was three plays away from 11-1. So in short, LSU/Wisconsin/Ohio State/Penn State/Michigan are all basically about the same level of team. Have them play round robin with each other and nobody goes 4-0 and nobody goes 0-4. Basically even teams.
Alabama is slightly better on the scoreboard, and I'd say quite a bit better talent-wise and substantially better than all save Ohio State coaching wise.
If you were rating the SEC WITH the Big Ten, you'd likely have:
1) Alabama
2) Ohio State
3) Michigan
4) Penn State
5) Wisconsin
6) Florida
7) LSU
8) Texas ATM (with a healthy Knight)
9) Auburn
10) Iowa
Right around that periphery would be Nebraska (only 3 losses to Iowa's four, but two were colossal blowouts....one to Iowa), Arkansas, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Let's put it this way.....the Big Ten as a conference had as many 3-9 or worse teams as it did playoff periphery teams (four, including a semi-finalist from last year). The SEC's worst record was the singular 4-8 by Mizzou. And an argument can be made that Ole Miss would have at least been bowl eligible had Kelly not gone down as well.
So I agree with the conclusion - the SEC is not what it was but that doesn't translate into another conference being something they're not, either.
To put it into perspective......
LSU and Wisconsin played a one possession game that the Badgers won in Green Bay. Basically even teams.
Wisconsin and Penn State played a one possession game.
Wisconsin and Michigan played a one possession game.
Penn State and Ohio State played a one possession game.
Ohio State and Michigan played a one possession game.
The only anomaly in the whole thing is the Penn State-Michigan game.
Iowa played one possession games against both Wisconsin and Michigan....but also with Rutgers, Northwestern, and North Dakota State.
And people seem to forget that LSU was three plays away from 11-1. So in short, LSU/Wisconsin/Ohio State/Penn State/Michigan are all basically about the same level of team. Have them play round robin with each other and nobody goes 4-0 and nobody goes 0-4. Basically even teams.
Alabama is slightly better on the scoreboard, and I'd say quite a bit better talent-wise and substantially better than all save Ohio State coaching wise.
If you were rating the SEC WITH the Big Ten, you'd likely have:
1) Alabama
2) Ohio State
3) Michigan
4) Penn State
5) Wisconsin
6) Florida
7) LSU
8) Texas ATM (with a healthy Knight)
9) Auburn
10) Iowa
Right around that periphery would be Nebraska (only 3 losses to Iowa's four, but two were colossal blowouts....one to Iowa), Arkansas, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Let's put it this way.....the Big Ten as a conference had as many 3-9 or worse teams as it did playoff periphery teams (four, including a semi-finalist from last year). The SEC's worst record was the singular 4-8 by Mizzou. And an argument can be made that Ole Miss would have at least been bowl eligible had Kelly not gone down as well.
So I agree with the conclusion - the SEC is not what it was but that doesn't translate into another conference being something they're not, either.
1. One year does not mean very much of itself.
2. This reminds me of all the threads on other conference sites where they drew up reasons the SEC was NOT the top conference during the past few years.
3. The only true measure is the records against OOC P5 teams.
4. After the bowls we will add regular season and bowl records and see who is on top.
Also I am reminded of what Coach Saban said about "ya'll done got us dead and buried." The SEC has HALF the top ten in recruiting as of today, and 7 of the top 14 too. Not bad for a "dead" conference.
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A lot of the ACCs "resurgence" -- has come from beating teams from the SEC.
2016/11/26 South Carolina 7 - Clemson 56 L
2016/11/26 Kentucky 41 - Louisville 38 W
2016/11/26 Georgia 27 - Georgia Tech 28 L
2016/11/26 Florida 13 - Florida St 31 L
2016/09/17 Vanderbilt 7 - Georgia Tech 38 L
2016/09/10 Tennessee 45 - Virginia Tech 24 W
2016/09/05 Mississippi 34 - Florida St 45 L
2016/09/03 Georgia 33 - North Carolina 24 W
2016/09/03 Auburn 13 - Clemson 19 L
The SEC went 3-6....vs the ACC
The ACC teams represented here are the ACC's top 1/2 of their league...
But looking at the six losses -- it was tipped heavily in the ACC's favor -- as their top rated teams were hitting the SEC's 2nd tier teams....
The UGA loss, the Florida loss were legit defeats
Auburn vs Clemson and Ole Miss vs FSU were games where the SEC should have lost -- yet, but played well enough to have won....
2016/11/26 South Carolina 7 - Clemson 56 L
2016/11/26 Kentucky 41 - Louisville 38 W
2016/11/26 Georgia 27 - Georgia Tech 28 L
2016/11/26 Florida 13 - Florida St 31 L
2016/09/17 Vanderbilt 7 - Georgia Tech 38 L
2016/09/10 Tennessee 45 - Virginia Tech 24 W
2016/09/05 Mississippi 34 - Florida St 45 L
2016/09/03 Georgia 33 - North Carolina 24 W
2016/09/03 Auburn 13 - Clemson 19 L
The SEC went 3-6....vs the ACC
The ACC teams represented here are the ACC's top 1/2 of their league...
But looking at the six losses -- it was tipped heavily in the ACC's favor -- as their top rated teams were hitting the SEC's 2nd tier teams....
The UGA loss, the Florida loss were legit defeats
Auburn vs Clemson and Ole Miss vs FSU were games where the SEC should have lost -- yet, but played well enough to have won....
Fascinating article, especially how the conferences move around depending upon which filter you apply - these line up exactly with Selma's analysis. The only ranking that truly surprised me is how weak the median SEC team is, especially compared to the ACC.
I've been reading all of the pundit claims that the B1G is the best conference this season. My question is: based on what? OSU played a good OOC game against Oklahoma, and beat an over-hyped Houston team. Penn State lost to Pitt, and Wisconsin beat LSU by 2 points. Michigan played no one. That pretty much comprises the top conference teams, as far as inter-conference play goes. Other than that, these teams have been judged based on what they've looked like, when they played each other. Not exactly a scientific approach.
When the dust has settled from the bowls, and the playoff games, will be the time to judge conference strengths.
When the dust has settled from the bowls, and the playoff games, will be the time to judge conference strengths.
Oklahoma, not Ohio State, played Houston. Michigan beat a Pac-12 division winner that was 10-2 heading into the P12CG. Pitt is as good of a four-loss team as you'll find this year in my opinion. LSU was a very talented team regardless of their problems...more talented than Wisky.
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Don't know why anyone is worrying about which is the better conference. Bama are better than the lot of them. Nuff sed
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