Mr Hockey
That's a hard question to answer. It depends on how you define success for a conference. NC's, pro players, head to head, most teams ranked, etc., etc....
I think the Big 12 is hyped beyond it's true abilities. Nebraska, Texas, K St get rankings to begin every year based mainly on reputation and usually dont live up to the expectations. Ok St, Missouri & Kansas are pretty much just emerging nationally, & they are using the K St model to do it. Hard to respect teams that take that approach (especially, since all 3 lost their bowl games). Tx Tech hasnt been much better than mediocre for as long as I can remember. Colorado & Tx A&M are once proud programs that have fallen on hard times -- those things happen to the best of programs (see the Univ of Wash Huskies)! ISU has taken the cellar spot vacated by Kansas, & Baylor is satisfied to win an occasional conf game. OU definitely the creme of the crop, but, I wouldnt say they are 2 notches above the rest of the conf. I thought Nebraska's defense was just as good as OU's last yr & Texas always has the athletes to contend (just not the coaching!), OSU just posted back to back W's v the Sooners, & we all saw what K St did to them this yr.
As for the Pac 10, SC is on top right now, but, there is always another team in the conf that can step up & beat the best team in the conf. The fact that 9 of the 10 teams have won or shared the conf title in the last 10 yrs, makes it hard for me to see the rest of the conf as a few notches below any one team in the conf. Anyone interested in arguing about conf strength should be impressed by that stat. I guess the best question would be how do I think those Pac 10 champs would have stacked up against the best team(s) in the country at that same time? I'd have to say that the best team in the Pac 10, is usually not the best team in the country. But, when they are the best team in the country, they have to do more than most teams in other conferences to prove it. When Miami goes undefeated in the Big East, are they really better than a 1 loss Pac 10 or SEC team? I dont think so! When Florida St dominates the ACC, who have they really beaten? I believe the first 4 or 5 yrs of the BCS, either one of those two teams was in each championship game -- & until recently, I thought those were the weakest of the BCS conferences top to bottom. ACC on the rise even before the new additions!
I will say that I think the best two teams of the last 10 yrs or so were the undefeated Tenn & Okl teams in their respective championship seasons--U of Miami caught a huge break to face the Cornhuskers in a title game. I know I didnt really answer your questions, but, I just felt I had to reply w some of my thoughts.
That's a hard question to answer. It depends on how you define success for a conference. NC's, pro players, head to head, most teams ranked, etc., etc....
I think the Big 12 is hyped beyond it's true abilities. Nebraska, Texas, K St get rankings to begin every year based mainly on reputation and usually dont live up to the expectations. Ok St, Missouri & Kansas are pretty much just emerging nationally, & they are using the K St model to do it. Hard to respect teams that take that approach (especially, since all 3 lost their bowl games). Tx Tech hasnt been much better than mediocre for as long as I can remember. Colorado & Tx A&M are once proud programs that have fallen on hard times -- those things happen to the best of programs (see the Univ of Wash Huskies)! ISU has taken the cellar spot vacated by Kansas, & Baylor is satisfied to win an occasional conf game. OU definitely the creme of the crop, but, I wouldnt say they are 2 notches above the rest of the conf. I thought Nebraska's defense was just as good as OU's last yr & Texas always has the athletes to contend (just not the coaching!), OSU just posted back to back W's v the Sooners, & we all saw what K St did to them this yr.
As for the Pac 10, SC is on top right now, but, there is always another team in the conf that can step up & beat the best team in the conf. The fact that 9 of the 10 teams have won or shared the conf title in the last 10 yrs, makes it hard for me to see the rest of the conf as a few notches below any one team in the conf. Anyone interested in arguing about conf strength should be impressed by that stat. I guess the best question would be how do I think those Pac 10 champs would have stacked up against the best team(s) in the country at that same time? I'd have to say that the best team in the Pac 10, is usually not the best team in the country. But, when they are the best team in the country, they have to do more than most teams in other conferences to prove it. When Miami goes undefeated in the Big East, are they really better than a 1 loss Pac 10 or SEC team? I dont think so! When Florida St dominates the ACC, who have they really beaten? I believe the first 4 or 5 yrs of the BCS, either one of those two teams was in each championship game -- & until recently, I thought those were the weakest of the BCS conferences top to bottom. ACC on the rise even before the new additions!
I will say that I think the best two teams of the last 10 yrs or so were the undefeated Tenn & Okl teams in their respective championship seasons--U of Miami caught a huge break to face the Cornhuskers in a title game. I know I didnt really answer your questions, but, I just felt I had to reply w some of my thoughts.
Last edited:
