The problem with this column (other than the writer) is that as the season goes on and conference teams only play one another, it becomes harder for someone to actually shift in the rankings other than at the bottom. It’s good cannon fodder for when bowl season starts to see who the regular season deemed the “best conference” was, but odds are they’ve been that way for the majority of the season. At any rate, away we go.
1. Big Ten
In what is probably the most underrated traveling trophy because limited people actually watch Indiana and Michigan State, the Hoosiers claimed The Old Brass Spittoon in an upset. Guessing there’s no actually passing of it and spit collecting as a tradition. The biggest win, however, was probably Michigan over Wisconsin seeing as the Badgers have been pretty stout outside the conference. Iowa losing to Northwestern (who, like, couldn’t beat anyone a few weeks ago) isn’t good for them. Also, Indiana is better than Notre Dame at football, probably, and that’s weird.
Best Win: Michigan over Wisconsin
Worst Loss: Northwestern over Iowa
PGOW: BYU @ Michigan State (it’s an out of conference game in October. You just go with it.)
2. SEC
Aside from, you know, total crazy happening in Tennessee – Georgia, the rest of the week was mostly mundane where SEC teams that were supposed to win beat SEC teams (or Memphis) that were suppose to lose. It figures to be a hectic Saturday with Hurricane Matthew bearing down, and really, football isn’t all that important compared to such things. Be safe, everyone down there.
Best Win: Tennessee over Georgia
Worst Loss: Missouri to LSU (come on Mizzou, compete)
PGOW: Alabama @ Arkansas
3. ACC
Clemson is elite as all elite can get. Louisville is still elite too. North Carolina is getting better since losing to Georgia (but that’s a nice skin on the wall for the SEC) and … well … what the hell is going on with Florida State? Also, Notre Dame is the cure for all that ails, apparently. Duke lost to Virginia after beating ND. Texas was “back” after they beat ND. MSU was “still elite” after doing the same.
Best Win: Clemson over Louisville
Worst Loss: Virginia over Duke
PGOW: Florida State @ Miami
4. Pac 12
Good week for the Left Coast. The conference has a major inside track on getting a playoff spot because the Big 12 is, well, a bit salty. Colorado looked like they’re up to snuff. California looks like they’re on a real upswing as well, overshadowed by everyone else in the conference improving. Wazzu is doing that weird thing where they come out of the gate not knowing the season has started and then look good. But then Oregon looks pretty bad, and Oregon State looks pretty worse. Also, Washington is damn good.
Best Win: Washington over Stanford
Worst Loss: Washington State over Oregon
PGOW: Washington @ Oregon (Gotta keep it going, Washington, especially against a slumping team starting a freshman.)
5. Big 12
There’s a lot of “not good” and one “other people hope they’re not good” and then “West Virginia” in this conference. Oklahoma and TCU are what they are, and that’s not changing. Texas isn’t “back,” they’re still on some arc of glacial-speed improvement. Baylor is the “other people …” team and honestly, who knows until they play someone (copy and paste from every year). But hey, WVU is a fun story, right?
Best Win: WVU over Kansas State
Worst Loss: Oklahoma State over Texas
PGOW: Texas vs. Oklahoma
