I disagree. It is harder to win a conference when many teams are competitive. 75% of the Pac-12 has a 0.500 record or above, compared to only 59% for the SEC… which is supposed to be the best / most competitive conference. And that is with the SEC picking weak non-conference opponents traditionally. I live in SEC country. Everyone argues that it is harder to win in the SEC, that it offers the greatest parity, etc. But every SEC team schedules at least one cupcake annually. USC scheduled Texas, Notre Dame and a (13-1 last yr) W. Michigan out of conference. Alabama, for example, scheduled FSU, Fresno State, Colorado State and Mercer. All 4 of those teams ended up being cupcakes… and Mercer is an FCS school.
If USC ends up winning the Pac-12, their statistical/competitive rankings will be higher than Ohio State and TCU, two other potential two loss champions. Only Auburn’s would be better of the four potential two loss champions. Even so… everyone seems to be already discounting the Pac-12.
It is an odd system though. Last year, USC had three losses and could not even play for the Pac-12 championship. But they also ended the year with a streak of 9 victories, winning the Rose Bowl in dramatic fashion. And the same CFP committee ranked this 3rd when it was all said and done… behind only Clemson and Alabama.
Overall conference, from top to bottom, the Pac12 is generally recognized as the worst of the Power 5 conferences in terms of football.
USC is a very good football team with a tough schedule, but that’s just one team. Other than WSU, Stanford and UDub, teams such as Arizona, ASU, Utah, CU, UCLA, Cal, etc. just aren’t all that good this season. Also, USC was blown out by USC 49-14, and ND was blown out by Miami. Blow outs never look good to the CFP committee. And USC barely beat Cal and Utah.
I have no idea how USC’s “statistical/competitive rankings” will be higher than TCU’s or OSU’s, if USC wins the Pac 12, especially if OSU beats Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship.
And Fresno State is no cupcake. They’re ranked #25 and their record is 9-3. I’m no Bulldog fan, but my D’s high school seems to funnel quite a few recruits there in the past couple years and, coincidently, Fresno is improving.
I did attend the Stanford-ND game last Saturday and I’m thinking about the Pac 12 championship, but 5:00 PM Friday night in Santa Clara is always a traffic nightmare though I’d take Cal Train and VTA.
Stanford tends to fare better in terms of strength of schedule, but you’ll notice that the Pac 12 conference is under represented, which is not new news:
After the South Division being unsuccessful in 6 attempts in the championship game, congrats to USC on finally winning its first and the South’s first Pac 12 championship.
Now onto the Cotton Bowl! The commentators are positively giddy about the Ohio State/USC match up. It will be a real test for USC against a really powerful team. And Ohio is mighty ticked off about being left out of the playoffs which may give them more grit.
My D’s bestie attends Ohio State so they are going to watch the game together, lol.
