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At the end of each conference run-through, I take a look at how I perceive the conference's balance of power heading into the season. This is in no way based on schedules, so they are not predictions. This is just how I would rank the teams after writing thousands of words about each of them.
When I finished all of the Group of Five conferences, I compiled a full mid-major power rankings list. Now we're into the last of the power conferences; here are the ACC, the Big Ten, the Pac-12, and the Big 12.
Each team's name below links to its full preview.
Tier 1
These power rankings are basically trust exercises, and I trust these three teams the most when it comes to playing at a top-10 level. Alabama is Alabama, LSU is just about the most experienced team in the country, and Ole Miss might have the most raw explosiveness. Any of the teams in Tier 2 could be spectacular; I just trust these three to do so more.
(By the way: Alabama gets both Ole Miss and LSU on the road, and LSU gets both Bama and the Rebels at home. That could become important, even if Bama is the best team on paper.)
Tier 2
4. Tennessee
5. Georgia
6. Arkansas
7. Mississippi State
8. Texas A&M
9. Florida
10. Auburn
The quality of schedule varies in this group, but I would expect at least two of these to play at a top-15 level or so.
And because of experience and steady improvement, I would say Tennessee is the most likely of the bunch. If the Vols' offense quits taking its foot off of the gas in the first quarter of big games, they could easily end up in Tier 1.
Tier 3
So here's the primary difference among the bottom four teams in the conference: Missouri and Vanderbilt have proven units, and Kentucky and South Carolina do not. The Tigers and Commodores can lean on their defense, and at this moment in time, we have no idea what the Wildcats or Gamecocks can lean on.
Tier 4
13. Kentucky
14. South Carolina
I didn't like the Will Muschamp hire, but what happens in 2016 won't be his fault.
Confused? Check out the advanced-stats glossary here.
SEC West
| Team | 2015 Record (Conf.) | 2015 S&P+ Rk | Proj. 2016 S&P+ Rk | Proj. 2016 Wins (Conf.) | 5-Yr Rec. Rk | Ret. Experience (Off. / Def.) |
| Alabama | 14-1 (7-1) | 1 | 1 | 9.5 (5.9) | 1 | 55% (45% / 66%) |
| LSU | 9-3 (5-3) | 9 | 2 | 9.3 (5.6) | 7 | 92% (96% / 88%) |
| Ole Miss | 10-3 (6-2) | 5 | 7 | 7.8 (4.6) | 20 | 64% (74% / 54%) |
| Arkansas | 8-5 (5-3) | 15 | 17 | 7.3 (3.9) | 31 | 63% (37% / 89%) |
| MSU | 9-4 (4-4) | 16 | 21 | 7.4 (4.0) | 27 | 56% (44% / 69%) |
| A&M | 8-5 (4-4) | 42 | 25 | 6.7 (3.3) | 10 | 65% (59% / 72%) |
| Auburn | 7-6 (2-6) | 35 | 24 | 6.5 (3.4) | 5 | 62% (64% / 61%) |
SEC East
| Team | 2015 Record (Conf.) | 2015 S&P+ Rk | Proj. 2016 S&P+ Rk | Proj. 2016 Wins (Conf.) | 5-Yr Rec. Rk | Ret. Experience (Off. / Def.) |
| Tennessee | 9-4 (5-3) | 22 | 9 | 8.6 (5.2) | 15 | 81% (84% / 78%) |
| Georgia | 10-3 (5-3) | 32 | 15 | 8.5 (5.2) | 6 | 76% (75% / 76%) |
| Florida | 10-4 (7-1) | 18 | 19 | 8.0 (4.8) | 12 | 61% (63% / 59%) |
| Missouri | 5-7 (1-7) | 85 | 47 | 6.1 (3.1) | 33 | 75% (82% / 69%) |
| Vandy | 4-8 (2-6) | 83 | 69 | 4.9 (2.6) | 40 | 71% (59% / 83%) |
| Kentucky | 5-7 (2-6) | 95 | 83 | 4.3 (1.9) | 32 | 62% (62% / 61%) |
| S.C. | 3-9 (1-7) | 88 | 63 | 5.4 (2.8) | 22 | 62% (61% / 63%) |