Welcome Back!
Instead of an Odds and Ends this week I'm doing a Conference Call. With the bowl season coming to a close, I wanted to revisit how each conference did in their out-of-conference (OOC) games. Once again, you'll discover that the SEC is KING! At least as far as OOC games go. First, let's start with how each conference did in their bowl games (where the SEC was NOT king...).
NOTE: I am keeping last week's feature on the future of the conferences at the bottom, in case you missed it, and there are some updates.
| Conference | Wins | Losses | Pct | Games Remaining |
| MAC | 4 | 2 | .667 | 0 |
| Independents | 3 | 2 | .600 | 0 |
| AAC | 4 | 3 | .571 | 0 |
| Big Ten | 5 | 4 | .556 | 0 |
| ACC | 5 | 4 | .556 | 0 |
| SEC | 6 | 5 | .545 | 1 |
| CUSA | 3 | 3 | .500 | 0 |
| Pac 12 | 3 | 4 | .429 | 0 |
| Mountain West | 3 | 4 | .429 | 0 |
| Sun Belt | 3 | 4 | .429 | 0 |
| Big 12 | 2 | 6 | .250 | 1 |
As you can see, the MAC did the best overall, with the Big Ten and ACC tying for best among the Power 5 conferences. However, if Georgia wins the National Championship Game, the SEC record and percentage will improve to 7-5/.583, which would move them to tops among the P5, and 3rd overall. If they lose, they'll stay in the same spot, but move into a tie with CUSA at 6-6/.500. If TCU wins, the Big 12 will still stay in last place at a dismal .333 winning percentage; if they lose, it drops to an even more dismal .222.
When we add in the bowl results to the regular season results, here is how each conference did. Remember, for these purposes, all independents count as G5 teams, even Notre Dame.
Vs. G5
1. SEC 25-3 .893
2. Big Ten 20-3 .870
3. Big 12 10-3 .769
4. AAC 15-6 .714
5. ACC 19-8 .704
6. Pac 12 14-6 .700
7. SBC 17-14 .548
8. MAC 10-11 .476
9. Ind 17-20 .459
10. MWC 11-13 .458
11. CUSA 11-17 .393
The AAC was the clear best among the G5 conferences, even outpacing the ACC (probably hurt by their games against ND) and Pac 12. The Sun Belt was the only other G5 group to finish above .500, and they played more games against fellow G5 teams than any other conference, save for Independents. The Big 12 only played 13 of their 30 OOC games against G5 competition. The SEC leads, and CUSA brings up the rear.
Vs, P5
1. SEC 16-9 .640
2. Big 12 9-8 .529
3. Big Ten 9-10 .474
4. ACC 10-14 .417
5. Pac 12 5-8 .385
6. AAC 4-15 .211
T7. SBC 3-13 .188
T7. Ind 3-13 .188
9. MWC 3-15 .167
10. MAC 2-19 .095
11. CUSA 1-11 .083
Once again, the SEC leads, despite playing more games against P5 foes than any other conference. The Big 12, despite their poor showing in the bowls, is the only other conference above .500 against fellow P5 competition. Once again, the AAC and SBC lead the G5 conferences, and CUSA is dead last.
Vs. All FBS
1. SEC 41-12 .774
2. Big Ten 29-13 .690
3. Big 12 19-11 .633
4. Pac 12 19-14 .576
5. ACC 29-22 .569
6. AAC 19-21 .475
7. SBC 20-27 .426
8. Ind 20-33 .378
9. MWC 14-28 .333
10. CUSA 12-28 .300
11. MAC 12-30 .286
The SEC leads again, far and away above all of the others. Against all FBS teams, there is a clear demarcation between P5 and G5 conferences. The AAC and SBC are atop the G5 yet again, with the MAC at the bottom against all FBS teams.
In case you're interested, here is a table that shows how each conference did against every other conference. Simply find the conference you're interested in along the left and read across to see how they did against the conference along the top.
| SEC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac 12 | AAC | MWC | MAC | CUSA | SBC | Ind | FCS |
| SEC | | 7-4 | 3-2 | 3-2 | 3-1 | 4-0 | 4-0 | 7-0 | 4-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 14-0 |
| ACC | 4-7 | | 2-4 | 3-2 | 1-1 | 6-1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1-1 | 6-1 | 5-5 | 13-0 |
| Big Ten | 2-3 | 4-2 | | 1-3 | 2-2 | 2-1 | 4-0 | 6-1 | 3-0 | 1-1 | 4-0 | 8-1 |
| Big 12 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-1 | | 2-1 | 3-1 | 0-1 | 3-0 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 8-0 |
| Pac 12 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 1-2 | | 0-1 | 7-2 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 3-2 | 10-0 |
| AAC | 0-4 | 1-6 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-0 | | 1-2 | 2-0 | 5-0 | 4-1 | 3-3 | 9-1 |
| MWC | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-4 | 1-0 | 2-7 | 2-1 | | 2-2 | 3-3 | 1-0 | 3-7 | 9-3 |
| MAC | 0-7 | 0-1 | 1-6 | 0-3 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 2-2 | | 1-1 | 2-4 | 5-2 | 10-2 |
| CUSA | 0-4 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-5 | 3-3 | 1-1 | | 4-6 | 3-2 | 9-1 |
| SBC | 1-3 | 1-6 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 4-2 | 6-4 | | 6-3 | 14-0 |
| Ind | 2-3 | 5-5 | 0-4 | 1-0 | 2-3 | 3-3 | 7-3 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 3-6 | | 7-0 |
As you can see, the SEC and the Big Ten are the only conferences that got a win against every other conference, but the SEC is the only one to have a winning record against every conference!
As promised, here is how the conferences are set up for next year and beyond, with some minor updates.
Conference Alignments
Here is how each conference is set to change over the next few years.
AAC
2023
Charlotte
East Carolina
FAU
Memphis
Navy
North Texas
Rice
SMU
Temple
Tulane
Tulsa
UAB
USF
UTSA
6 teams are set to join next year to replace the 3 that are leaving, bringing the total to 14. They will not be using divisions, and will continue to play an 8-game schedule.
ACC
The ACC is not adding or losing any teams, but is dropping its division setup next year. They will still play an 8-game conference schedule using a 3-5-5 format, where each team will have 3 permanent opponents, and then alternate the other 10 teams from year to year, 5 per year.
Big 12
2023
Baylor
BYU
Cincinnati
Houston
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
UCF
West Virginia
The Big 12 will not be using divisions, but will continue with a 9-game conference schedule that will preserve traditional rivalries (or at least those that will be left after Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC, whether that is in 2024 or 2025), and every school will play every other school at least once every 2 years. There are rumblings this move could even happen in 2023, but I don't think that will be the case.
Big Ten
2024
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
UCLA
USC
Wisconsin
The Big Ten will use divisions in 2023, but will perhaps dispense with them when USC and UCLA join the conference in 2024. The Big Ten has yet to decide whether to reconfigure their 2 divisions, go to pods, or ditch divisions entirely. A scheduling model has also not yet been worked out.
CUSA
2023
FIU
Jacksonville State
*Kennesaw State
La Tech
Liberty
Middle Tennessee
New Mexico State
Sam Houston
UTEP
WKU
CUSA will be a 9-team conference, but my understanding is that they are looking to add a 10th member, possibly from the FCS ranks, though one or more of the current remaining Independents, UConn, UMass, or Army (I highly doubt Notre Dame would join CUSA...) are a possibility. I assume they will play an 8-game round-robin schedule, and will pit their top 2 in a CUSA Championship Game, but I haven't heard any firm plans yet. When their 10th team is added, will they go to a 9-game round-robin schedule? Remember, FCS teams must go through a transition period to be eligible to win the conference or play in bowl games.
*= Kennesaw State is set to join in 2024
MAC
There are no changes to the MAC lineup, and I have heard of no changes to their current scheduling model, and no plans to expand.
Mountain West
The MWC is not adding or losing teams, but they are eliminating the 2 division format for the 2023 season. That means the 2 teams with the best conference record will meet in the title game.
Pac 12
2024
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
Utah
Washington
Washington State
The Pac 12 is losing USC and UCLA beginning in the 2024 season. They have already eliminated divisions, starting with this past season, and I assume they will begin a 9-game round-robin schedule once the 2 schools leave. No word yet whether they will change their name back to the Pac 10, or if they will look to expand to 12 or 14 or 16 teams (or some number in between).
SEC
2025
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Missouri
Oklahoma
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
The SEC will be adding Texas and Oklahoma in 2025, but it's possible they could be added sooner. Whenever the 2 teams join, the SEC plans to eliminate its 2-division format, and have the 2 teams with the best conference record play in the title game. A scheduling format has yet to be worked out, but most people feel the SEC is leaning toward a 3-6 model, with 3 permanent opponents, and 6 alternating, so each team would play every other at least twice every 4 years.
Sun Belt
The SBC is not expected to make any changes in the near future, as they are happy with their current lineup and division format.
Independents
2023
Army
Notre Dame
UConn
UMass
BYU will be joining the Big 12 in 2023, and New Mexico State and Liberty are joining CUSA the same year. That means the ranks of the Independents are shrinking down to just 4 teams, and it's unclear if any of these 4 will ever join a conference, as Notre Dame and Army have always been Independents by choice, and UConn and UMass are not considered desirable at tis point.
New Conference
2024?
Abilene Christian
Austin Peay
Central Arkansas
Eastern Kentucky
North Alabama
Southern Utah
Stephen F. Austin
Tarleton State
*UT Rio Grande Valley
Utah Tech
A new conference, consisting of FCS members of the WAC and Atlantic Sun, are planning to petition the NCAA to join the FBS and form an 11th conference, which is yet to have a formal name. They plan to join in 2024. Since this is a whole conference possibly joining, it is possible they may not have to do the whole FBS transition thing, but that is still up in the air. They are also looking to expand almost immediately.
*= Expected to join in 2025, in that program's 1st season
Feel free to leave a comment. Check out yesterday's Power Rankings, and come back Monday for Paul's Picks for my pick for the National Championship Game!
Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!
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