Good to know that CBS still knows who's on top.....

#1.....SEC!!!

It just means more — or the most, in this case. It’s no surprise to see the SEC top this list. Prior to the 2023 season, the SEC had won four-straight national titles and finished the 4-team College Football Playoff era with six of the 10 possible championships being won by SEC schools.

And the additions of Texas and Oklahoma only strengthens the hand for the SEC. The Longhorns, in particular, join the SEC as a bona fide playoff contender.

#2......Big 10

While the Big Ten is a step behind the SEC, it’s certainly more comparable to its southeastern counterparts than other conferences across the country. And that’s besides just having the reigning national champions in the fold.

Beyond Michigan — which has only been the class of the league in football of late, in recent history — the Big Ten boasts the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa and more. The additions of four West Coast schools, namely Oregon for 2024, makes the league nearly as deep and strong as the SEC.

#3......Big 12

Here’s where the rankings get controversial, as the Big 12 will be happy to win out as the No. 3 conference. And it’s not so much that any one team in the league is a world beater, but that every team in the league seems capable of rising to a level of success — and winning the league, as currently constructed.

The likes of Arizona State and Colorado are probably further from contending than Utah or Oklahoma State. But the parity in the league should make for fantastic viewing and it will still take something shocking for the league not to produce a Top 4 team with a bye in the 12-team CFP.

#4......ACC

Despite commissioner Jim Phillips proclaiming the ACC as the No. 3 conference at football media days (though his comments were mostly to do with intra-conference revenue sharing), the ACC clocks in at No. 4 here. And while it might have a handful of teams at the front of the pack contending, the league isn’t very deep.

So while Florida State, Clemson and Miami headline things, the Syracuses and Virginias of the league aren’t doing so well. Perhaps new entrant SMU can spice things up in 2024.

#5.....AAC
#6.....Mountain West
#7.....Sun Belt
#8.....Conference USA
#9.....MAC

CBS Sports

This post was edited on 8/17/24 at 11:30 am