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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mark Russell

Big Ten ranked as second best conference by Athlon heading into football season

Opinions. Everybody has one. Athlon Sports recently gave theirs by ranking all ten major conferences in college football. To absolutely no one’s surprise, The SEC was given the top spot with the Big Ten coming in second.

This ranking feels about right for the top two spots, although I would suggest that the gap between the two conferences is closer than our friends from the south might like to admit. Of course, Ohio State is holding its own, but if Michigan could get its act together and Penn State play with some consistency, the Big Ten would be in the conversation for the top spot.

The ranking between three and five is more interesting with the ACC coming in at No. 3 followed by the Big 12 and the Pac 12. Clemson is clearly carrying the ACC, but it seems the likes of Texas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma would be enough to give the Big 12 the nod over the ACC.

The arguments are all about perspective, and we all know how much college football fans love to argue. Either way, Ohio State is in a good position and that’s the way we like it. But it wouldn’t be so bad if others would help pull some conference weight.

Here’s how Athlon’s rankings unfold top to bottom.

  1. SEC
  2. Big Ten
  3. ACC
  4. Big 12
  5. Pac 12
  6. AAC
  7. Mountain West
  8. Sun Belt
  9. Conference USA
  10. MAC

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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