Conference strength has never been just a talking point — it’s often the story of the season itself. Heading into 2025, the debate over which leagues deserve respect continues to simmer, especially after last year’s College Football Playoff field sparked heated arguments that even spilled over into media days this summer. Many questioned whether teams were advantaged or disadvantaged purely because of their conference’s reputation.
In the 12-team College Football Playoff era, those perceptions aren’t just talking points, they can determine a team’s postseason fate. A single slip in a tough league or an undefeated run in a weaker conference can be the difference between making the playoff and missing out on an at-large bid.
Power, depth and consistency are all part of the equation. The SEC continues to flex its muscle, but the Big Ten’s expanded footprint and back-to-back national championships by its members are forcing everyone to rethink long-held assumptions. It’s clear those remain the top two conferences, but who sits confidently behind them with kickoff of the 2025 season just days away?
The ACC and Big 12 both have strong cases, though each comes with its own questions about quality of depth. Even the Group of Six conferences are part of the conversation, at least in terms of potential playoff spoilers.
College football odds: Georgia, Notre Dame among best win total bets to make ahead of 2025 season
David Cobb
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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2025-college-football-conference-power-rankings-sec-still-clings-onto-top-spot-as-big-ten-asserts-dominance/
Author : Cody Nagel
Publish date : 2025-08-15 17:56:00
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