Selecting the best conference in college football is a highly subjective exercise. I consider four factors, and they're subjective too, but they are the most relevant. First, are there weak links within the conference? Second, how difficult (or easy) are the non-conference schedules of the top teams? Third, how good is the quarterback play? And fourth, what is the style of play like? Is the conference fun to watch?
A conference can't be considered strong if the top teams can pencil in easy wins over the bottom half of the conference. If there are a lot of weak links, you're more likely to have a shot at the national championship. This is why the Big 12 and SEC have each produced three national champions in the last ten years, and the Florida State Conference ... ah ... I mean the ACC, has two titles during that period.
It also explains why the Pac-10 and Big Ten have, collectively, produced only a partial champion -- Michigan in 1997 -- during that same period. Those two conferences are balanced from top to bottom. The Pac-10 has had seven different conference champs in the last seven years. Similarly, the Big Ten is no longer dominated by Michigan and Ohio State. Purdue, Northwestern and Wisconsin have changed the face of the Big Ten.
If the top teams in a conference don't schedule tough non-conference games, it can hurt the reputation of the conference. Your best teams should go out and play the best from other conferences. Take a look at the schedule for this season and you find that the top teams in the Big 12 and SEC don't test themselves outside of conference. In the Big 12, Texas and Oklahoma don't play anyone. Kansas State has finally beefed up it's schedule with USC, but USC isn't what it used to be (the Trojans are the only Pac-10 team not to finish a season in the Top Ten in the last ten years.)
Similarly, in the Big 12, Oklahoma and Texas won't break a sweat in their non-conference games. At least Nebraska and Texas A&M have scheduled Notre Dame -- but the Irish haven't won a bowl game in eight years. However, the Pac-10 and Big Ten have meaty non-conference schedules. The Pac-10 will face Michigan, Miami, Kansas State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Alabama. The Big Ten has dates with Miami, Washington, Notre Dame, Oregon and UCLA.
With the increased use of pressure defense and the spread offense, the play of the quarterback has become more important than ever before. He must make big plays, make smart decisions and avoid allowing the attacking defense to make big plays against him. The more experienced quarterbacks can handle this. Check out the SEC last season. Tennessee and Florida didn't have typical years because they were breaking in young or inexperienced QBs. The Pac-10 returns the most veteran QBs this season with eight out of ten returning starters. The Big Ten has only six of 11 returning starters, and the SEC only has six of 12. The Big 12 returns eight of 12 starters. Expect the best QB play from the Pac-10.
Good QB play usually leads to a fun style of play -- the Pac-10 has an entertaining style because of its QBs. The Big Ten has changed dramatically over the last few years because of the spread offensive attacks employed by Northwestern and Purdue, and the Bill Walsh/West Coast offense Ron Turner uses at Illinois. However, the conference lacks an abundance of quality QBs after losing Drew Brees and Drew Henson.
In the SEC and Big East, the style of play is dominated by power running games. Consider the ground attacks at Tennessee, Miss. St., LSU, and Auburn in the SEC; and Miami and VaTech in the Big East. The Big 12 is essentially a defensive conference, with Oklahoma, Kansas State and Nebraska setting the tone. I happen to like the defensive style of play, but most fans don't. I think good passing attacks are more fun to watch than power running attacks.
All of this adds up to my conclusion that the Pac-10 is the best conference in college football right now. That's my story. And I'm sticking to it.
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