As spring practices wrap up and transfer portal activity slows, the rankings of the Power Four conferences are analyzed with depth and quality in mind. While the easy approach places the SEC and Big Ten at the top, there is considerable nuance when considering championship contenders, playoff eligibility, and depth of teams. The SEC stands out with four significant playoff candidates, while the Big 12 proves to be closer in quality to the Big Ten than initially perceived, challenging old hierarchies of conference strength.
In our view, the SEC's weakness in 2024, elite quarterback play, will be a strength in 2025, showcasing the potential for improvement.
The Hotline considers quality depth the best measure of conference strength, especially with the differences in membership, leading to a nuanced ranking.
The order of conferences must factor in national title contenders and playoff participants, emphasizing that the Big 12 is closer in quality to the Big Ten.
With significant contenders, the SEC ranks first, but the comparative depth of the Big 12 challenges traditional hierarchies, indicating a more complex analysis.
Collection
[
|
...
]