BRAGGING RIGHTS

Doesmy conference play better football than yours? We did a statistical analysis to help answer that question. It used to be that college football fans cared if their teamwas better than your team. Nowthey also care if their conference is better than you

1. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

The SEC plays the best defense in the FBS, and of all the categories it led in this analysis, its YPP differential stood out at almost double the second- place league. A testament to the SEC’s top- to- bottom strength is the fact that two teams considered to have had subpar seasons in 2015— Auburn and Missouri— had two of the 10 strongest non- conference performances in the FBS. Overall the league was 13- 6 vs. non- conference Power Five opponents, best of any league. Best teams per category Strength of schedule Alabama ( 3) Non- conference performance Alabama ( 71.43) Computer rank Alabama ( 1) Points per game differential Alabama ( 20.0) Yards per play differential Mississippi ( 2.2)

2. PAC- 12 CONFERENCE

This 12- team league’s depth of highquality teams showed, as it never ranked worse than third in any of the five analysis categories. The Pac- 12 joined the SEC as the only leagueswithout any teams with negative non- conference performance scores, and Utah gave the league one of the best non- conference wins of the season in beating Michigan. But what separated it fromthe SECwere agonizingmissed non- conference opportunities by some of its best teams, such as Stanford falling at Northwestern, Oregon blowing a 31- point lead to TCU and Washington State losing to Portland State. Best teams in each category SOS rank Southern California ( 1) Non- conference performance Utah ( 71.62) Computer rank Stanford ( 6) Points per game differential Stanford ( 15.2) Yards per play differential UCLA ( 1.25)

3. BIG TEN CONFERENCE

The Big Tenwas the only conference other than the SEC with a .500 or better record vs. non- conference Power Five competition in 2015. Itwas slightly better than the Pac- 12 in schedule strength and non- conference performance and slightlyworse in computer rankings and in the points and yards categories. In 2015, the Pac- 12’ s bestwere on parwith the Big Ten’s best, but the Pac- 12’ sworstwas better. That can make the difference. Like the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12, one result can decidewhich one ranks better between the Big Ten and Pac- 12. Best teams in each category SOS rank Maryland ( 2) Non- conference performance Ohio State ( 72.24) Computer rank Michigan State, Ohio State ( 3, tie) Points per game differential Ohio State ( 20.6) Yards per play differential Ohio State ( 1.83)

4. ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE

The ACC had one of the nation’s two best teams last season, but it also played more Football Championship Subdivision foes ( 17) than any other Power Five conference. ( The SECwas second at 11.) The ACC had theweakest strength of schedule of the power leagues. That, plus having four of the eight most damaging non- conference losses, landed it at fourth of the five power conferences. Best teams in each category SOS rank Georgia Tech ( 25) Non- conference performance Clemson ( 62.87) Computer rank Clemson ( 2) Points per game differential Clemson ( 16.8) Yards per play differential Florida State ( 1.85)

5. BIG 12 CONFERENCE

No league canmatch the Big 12’ s consistency. The Big 12 had the identical rank— fourth— in every analysis category. But in 2015 the Big 12wasn’t consistently outstanding in one area comparedwith its peers. It also is dragged down by Kansas having by far theworst computer ranking and non- conference performance of any Power Five team. Still, though the Big 12 enters 2016 coming off a season in which itwas fifth among Power Five leagues, it’s really, really close. Best teams in each category SOS rank Texas ( 11) Non- conference performance West Virginia ( 65.40) Computer rank Oklahoma ( 5) Points per game differential Oklahoma ( 21.5) Yards per play differential Baylor ( 2.07)

6. AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

In four of the fivemetrics used in this analysis, the AAC occupied its own tier, equidistant fromthe Power Five leagues aboveandthe rest of theGroupof Five below. So in the AAC’s case, perception reflects reality. In the composite computer rankings especially, the AAC compares favorably to the company it aspires to keep: It finished 2015 with more teams in the top 36 than the ACC and the Big 12. Best teams in each category SOS rank Southern Methodist ( 59) Non- conference performance Houston ( 67.38) Computer rank Houston ( 11) Points per game differential Houston ( 19.7) Yards per play differential South Florida ( 1.19)

7. MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

This conference has produced two teams that have reached the top two in the polls and are significant members of the Power Five. As recently as two seasons ago theMWCwould have ranked right behind the fifth- strongest conference. But the MountainWest slipped in 2015. Its strength of schedule and non- conference performancewere limited and included the twoweakest opponents any FBS teams faced, Mississippi Valley State and Savannah State. Best teams in each category SOS rank Fresno State ( 68) Non- conference performance Boise State ( 58.53) Computer rank San Diego State ( 40) Points per game differential Boise State ( 18.9) Yards per play differential Boise State ( 1.19)

8. MID- AMERICAN CONFERENCE

TheMAC is one of four conferences that gave upmore points per game than it scored andmore yards per play than it gained. But itwas not without its strengths. For one, Toledo had the best non- conference performance in the FBS. And theMAC is gaining on the Mountain West. TheMAC is a leading source of Power Five head coaches, but even as that helps its branding, it hurts its ability to develop competitive consistency. Best teams in each category SOS rank Western Michigan ( 67) Non- conference performance Toledo ( 79.38) Computer rank Toledo ( 29) Points per game differential Toledo ( 14.2) Yards per play differential Bowling Green ( 1.34)

9. CONFERENCE USA

Western Kentucky’s final 2015 computer rankingwas the third best of any Group of Five team, andMarshall joined the Hilltoppers in notching awin vs. Power Five opposition. Western Kentucky and Southern Mississippiwere within 0.07 of a yard of matching Louisiana Tech’s impressive YPP differential. But nine of the C- USA’s 13members finished in the bottom 28 of the FBS in SOS, and eight of 13 were in the bottom 28 in the FBS, according to the computer rankings. Best teams in each category SOS rank North Texas ( 74) Non- conference performance Marshall ( 32.95) Computer rank Western Kentucky ( 27) Points per game differential Western Kentucky ( 18.4) Yards per play differential Louisiana Tech ( 1.61)

10. SUN BELT CONFERENCE

Five of the Sun Belt’s 12 programs have been FBS members for fewer than five years. There is a reason the Sun Belt is last among FBS conferences. But the league’s expansion effort has been shrewd, and Arkansas State and newcomers Appalachian State and Georgia Southern appear built for sustained success. Still, the computers rank the rest of the league in the bottom 28% of the FBS. And 10 of its 12 teams finished 2015 between 100 and 126 in SOS. So there is roomto grow. Best teams in each category SOS rank Louisiana Monroe ( 95) Non- conference performance Appalachian State ( 34.52) Computer rank Appalachian State ( 39) Points per game differential Appalachian State ( 17.6) Yards per play differential Appalachian State ( 2.05)