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Competitive CFB programs by conference:
Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:35 am
Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:35 am
By competitive, I mean teams capable of winning a national championship or teams regularly capable of being good and beating a NC team.
SEC: 10 (Texas, UGA, LSU, BAMA, OU, Tenn, Ole Miss, Auburn, Aggie, Florida)
BIG: 4 (Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, penn state)
ACC: 2 (Clemson, FSU)
Big 12: 0
Notes
SEC: Texas, UGA, LSU, BAMA, Auburn, Tennessee, OU, & Florida speak for themselves, multiple nattys and NY6 victories spread amongst them in recent history. Good histories, regularly good recruiting classes. Lots of wins. They are just one coach away from contending every year. Being generous, but Aggie and Ole Miss have had some pesky teams recently and are dumping tons of money into the programs. It's only a matter of time before they can actually contend.
BIG: Ohio State & Oregon are clear elite level programs atm. Money, recruits, and wins, they have nothing to prove. I wouldnt have put Michigan on this list, but they did just win a (fluke) natty and have lots of money. Penn state is like an ole miss with better history, they are pesky. And yes, i'm leaving USC off the list, they don't seem to be able to contend anymore, despite spending money and getting talent. Leaving Washington off too, i think they take a step back in the big 10.
ACC: Clemson and FSU are regressing and will likely have to leave the ACC to protect their programs. But, they have the history, money, and recent Nattys. Miami is like USC, i dont think they can contend in the modern era. SMU is not in the convo yet.
Big 12: Im sure they play decent football, but none of those teams could come close to winning a natty.
SEC: 10 (Texas, UGA, LSU, BAMA, OU, Tenn, Ole Miss, Auburn, Aggie, Florida)
BIG: 4 (Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, penn state)
ACC: 2 (Clemson, FSU)
Big 12: 0
Notes
SEC: Texas, UGA, LSU, BAMA, Auburn, Tennessee, OU, & Florida speak for themselves, multiple nattys and NY6 victories spread amongst them in recent history. Good histories, regularly good recruiting classes. Lots of wins. They are just one coach away from contending every year. Being generous, but Aggie and Ole Miss have had some pesky teams recently and are dumping tons of money into the programs. It's only a matter of time before they can actually contend.
BIG: Ohio State & Oregon are clear elite level programs atm. Money, recruits, and wins, they have nothing to prove. I wouldnt have put Michigan on this list, but they did just win a (fluke) natty and have lots of money. Penn state is like an ole miss with better history, they are pesky. And yes, i'm leaving USC off the list, they don't seem to be able to contend anymore, despite spending money and getting talent. Leaving Washington off too, i think they take a step back in the big 10.
ACC: Clemson and FSU are regressing and will likely have to leave the ACC to protect their programs. But, they have the history, money, and recent Nattys. Miami is like USC, i dont think they can contend in the modern era. SMU is not in the convo yet.
Big 12: Im sure they play decent football, but none of those teams could come close to winning a natty.
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Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:40 am to theliontamer
I think Southern Cal could still win a natty. I just don't think Lincoln Riley can.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:43 am to theliontamer
quote:
I wouldnt have put Michigan on this list, but they did just win a (fluke) natty
Do what now?
Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:45 am to theliontamer
quote:
Ohio State & Oregon are clear elite level programs atm. Money, recruits, and wins, they have nothing to prove
Oregon has a ton to prove. They've never won it all and consistently failed on the big stage.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 8:55 am to Tornado Alley
quote:
Oregon has a ton to prove. They've never won it all and consistently failed on the big stage.
Yet, no one has called bullshite on Texas A&M who has won nothing in modern college football history. Auburn and Ole Miss are also questionable on that list.
This post was edited on 7/7/25 at 8:56 am
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:02 am to VABuckeye
The Aggies are just Oregon. Both are capable but neither has done it. Auburn is definitely capable of winning a natty still. They have 4 undefeated seasons with 4 different coaches since 1950. They also have won the SEC in 4 different decades and should've won it in 1993 which would've been 5 different decades. I don't like Auburn at all but they are in one of the most talent rich areas in the country with wealthy boosters. They could def compete for a natty if they made the right hire. Now Ole Miss idk about, they might just be too small of a school without deep enough pockets. If Kiffin stays for the long term then I think they could make a deep play off run.
This post was edited on 7/7/25 at 9:03 am
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:10 am to theliontamer
I think a prerequisite for this should be a playoff appearance in the last 10 years. Obvious fluke appearances don't count, so there may be a team or two that were in the CFP once, but don't make the cut. Here would be my revisions:
SEC: Texas, UGA, LSU, Bama, OU, Tennessee
B1G: No change (sorry, Michigan State)
ACC: No change
B12: ASU (sorry, TCU, Cincinnati.)
SEC: Texas, UGA, LSU, Bama, OU, Tennessee
B1G: No change (sorry, Michigan State)
ACC: No change
B12: ASU (sorry, TCU, Cincinnati.)
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:13 am to theliontamer
If you're going to add all those SEC teams you have to add teams like Miami, Wisconsin, USC, Washington etc...
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:15 am to VABuckeye
quote:
Auburn also questionable on that list.
Auburn has two natty's and :13 seconds away from a 3rd in the last 20 years. We are dog arse now but we've earned a few more years of being on this list before becoming a complete afterthought.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:34 am to theliontamer
quote:
Texas, Tennessee
Define recent?
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:37 am to Old Sarge
quote:
Define recent?
Post WW2
This post was edited on 7/7/25 at 9:39 am
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:42 am to Old Sarge
I would say recent is BCS/CFP era. Could really go back into the 90s if you wanted.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:43 am to VFL67
They really just havent been close in 20 years, and are starting to barely be bowl eligible. I agree they are a force, but i think their private status and lack of devoted fan base hurts more than people think.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:49 am to Tornado Alley
Oregon is good but not elite.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:51 am to Tornado Alley
Michigan was caught filming opponents and stealing signs their only natty year. Their HC was suspended for half of the season for various infractions. They also have the advantage of UGA being eliminated in the SECCG despite it being their only loss. Their coach left and they stopped cheating and they lost 5 games the following season. It was a fluke natty.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:52 am to Tornado Alley
They've never won it all, but they have been to the final twice recently, and have beaten bog teams on big stages. They are clearly a contender and are only getting better with NIL and Dan Lanning.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:54 am to RandySavage
quote:
Auburn has two natty's and :13 seconds away from a 3rd in the last 20 years.
2010 is your only national title in the past 20 years.
What are you talking about?
If you're counting 1993, that was 32 years ago... and not an actual national championship either.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:54 am to Old Sarge
quote:
Define recent?
You really said that as a Aggy fan? Self awareness myth seems to be true with you guys.
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:56 am to WossNess
Your delusion is astounding
Posted on 7/7/25 at 9:56 am to RandySavage
I disagree, those teams can win a few games but them get blown out when they play a power house. They legitimately cannot win a natty. Auburn, Ole Miss, and Aggie get upset wins all the time. They are way closer to being a contender than Miami, USC, Wisconsin, or Washington. Those schools know they cannot win. The sec schools go into every season thinking they have a shot.
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