CBSSports.com Conference Power Rankings (Oct. 30): MAC moves into Top 5
| Conference Power Rankings | |||
| T-1 |  SEC (previous: T-1) | Top 25 Teams: 7 (both polls) Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 24-8 Nonconference record (Total): 32-8 Recently: Florida's loss to Georgia might have been one of the most significant games in the SEC title race. The SEC East essentially traded hands from the Gators to the Bulldogs in a game that featured nine turnovers and 24 penalties. It was not a battle of "SEC defenses." It was an ugly game that was won almost single-handedly by the play of Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones. The league is still dominating the polls and BCS standings but did not exactly blow away audiences on Saturday. SEC Power Rankings | |
| T-1 |  Big 12 (previous: T-1) | Top 25 Teams: AP: 4, Coaches 6 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 17-4 Nonconference record (Total): 26-4 Recently: Bob Stoops' record in Norman received another tick in the loss column, the third in the last two seasons. The Sooners were unaffected in the Big 12 title race by the loss to Notre Dame, but it was a surprising performance considering the ease of the last three victories. But the conference as a whole is still incredibly strong and could end up sending eight teams to the postseason. Having 80 percent of your conference bowl eligible is not too shabby and not too common in FBS play. Big 12 Power Rankings | |
| 3 |  Pac-12 (previous: 3) | Top 25 Teams: AP: 6, Coaches: 4 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 17-9 Nonconference record (Total): 24-10 Recently: Southern California took the biggest fall of any team in both polls this week after falling on the short end of a 1,206-yard shootout with Arizona. Combined with Oregon State's loss, it wasn't a great week for the best teams in the Pac-12. Washington's inconsistency makes the Pac-12 North look deep one week and shaky the next. One thing is for sure, there appears to be a gap between the Ducks and the rest of the league. Pac-12 Power Rankings | |
| 4 |  Big Ten (previous: 4) | Top 25 Teams: AP: 2, Coaches: 1 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 26-14 Nonconference record (Total): 34-14 Recently: Wisconsin loses at Camp Randall? Indiana wins a Big Ten conference game? The only thing that makes sense is Braxton Miller's phenomenal playmaking ability, and even that continues to surprise us. The Big Ten is in a strange position right now, particularly with the two ineligible teams playing so well. But the up-and-down nature of the top Big Ten teams is going on everywhere right now, so it's hard to place them anywhere else in the order. Big Ten Power Rankings | |
| 5 |  MAC (previous: 7) | Top 25 Teams: 0 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 15-26 Nonconference record (Total): 25-27 Recently: As we explained on Saturday in a bit more detail, this is a very special season for the MAC. If you include Ohio's loss to rival Miami, then MAC teams have taken down three undefeated opponents in the last two weeks. The league is second among FBS conferences with six teams already bowl eligible. There might be no MAC teams left in the polls, but I'll take Toledo, Kent State or Northern Illinois over most of the Top 25. | |
| T-6 |  Big East (previous: 5) | Top 25 Teams: AP: 1, Coaches: 2 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 14-11 Nonconference record (Total): 22-12 Recently: Things went from bad to worse in the Big East with Cincinnati dropping its second straight and Rutgers suffering its first loss of the season to Kent State. Two weeks ago, the Big East had three undefeated teams. Now, it's down two, and both losses came against MAC teams. Louisville is carrying the banner up in the BCS top 10, but the struggles in the rest of the conference have put a damper on an otherwise strong season for the Big East. Big East Power Rankings | |
| T-6 |  ACC (previous: 6) | Top 25 Teams: 2 (both polls) Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 13-15 Nonconference record (Total): 26-15 Recently: A closer look at the recent polls show what many know: the ACC is led by Florida State and Clemson. Beyond that? There is very little consistency in the ACC. That is one of the reasons why no teams other than the Seminoles or Tigers have broken through the Top 25 since Sept. 23 and no other teams received a single vote in either poll after Week 9. ACC Power Rankings | |
| 8 |  Mountain West (previous: 8) | Top 25 Teams: 1 (both polls) Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 11-20 Nonconference record (Total): 17-23 Recently: Nevada's high-powered offense led by Cody Fajardo and Stephon Jefferson have made the Wolf Pack threatening in their first year of Mountain West play, but they are no help when the biggest issue is stopping the run. Air Force ran for 461 yards on Nevada, controlling the time of possession and winning 48-31. The loss sets Nevada back in the race to challenge Boise State, and it appears the Broncos are standing alone at the top of the standings for good. | |
| 9 |  WAC (previous: 9) | Top 25 Teams: 1 (both polls) Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 12-13 Nonconference record (Total): 19-14 Recently: I have a sneaking suspicion voters might not have paid close attention to Louisiana Tech's narrow 28-14 victory over New Mexico State. Not saying the Bulldogs deserve to be anywhere but the Top 25, but the Bulldogs missed three field goals and needed the help of three Aggie turnovers to set up scores. But they are still ranked, and Utah State continues to burn through competition, defeating its last three opponents by a 29-point average margin of victory. | |
| 10 |  Sun Belt (previous: 10) | Top 25 Teams: 0 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 10-19 Nonconference record (Total): 16-20 Recently: Florida Atlantic ended a streak of 14 straight conference losses -- one that dated back to 2010 -- with its 34-27 victory over Troy. First-year coach Carl Pelini does not face an easy task getting the Owls into Sun Belt contention, but you have to start somewhere. Arkansas State opened up the Sun Belt race handing Louisiana-Lafayette loss No. 2 in conference play, setting up an exciting stretch in November. | |
| 11 |  C-USA (previous: 11) | Top 25 Teams: 0 Nonconference record (vs. FBS): 7-34 Nonconference record (Total): 12-35 Recently: It isn't often to get a competitive, nonconference opportunity at this point in the season. But that was spoiled when East Carolina, currently in contention for the Conference USA title, got run over by Navy at home. The Midshipmen racked up a season-high 523 offensive yards on the Pirates, getting 521 of them on the ground. Defense has rarely been the forte of Conference USA teams recently, but the Pirates' loss was not a good look. | |
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