College football conference power rankings: Big Ten shows it’s more than just Ohio State

With Iowa, Penn State and Michigan off to great starts, it’s time to wonder if the Big Ten is capable of unseating the SEC as the best conference.

It’s been a rough year for some of the traditional powerhouses in college football. Both Clemson and Ohio State are trying to bounce back after early-season losses, and they struggled against opponents who should have been overmatched by talent alone. The Tigers weren’t able to handle Georgia Tech, who held Clemson to just 14 points. The Buckeyes pulled away from Tulsa at the end, but it took way too long for a team of this caliber.

Meanwhile, the SEC had its showcase performance with Florida versus Alabama in The Swamp. It delivered as a top-tier matchup, and it might be the game of the year so far. The Gators’ comeback attempt came short, but it showed the Crimson Tide can be beaten against the right opponent. It was an interesting weekend in college football that showed a lot about where the conferences are on the totem pole.

19 ranked teams have lost in the first three weeks of the season. That’s the most losses among the Top 25 in the history of the poll, according to ESPN.

College football power rankings: Major questions surround ACC after rough week

5. Pac-12

With as much conversation about the week that was for the ACC, the week was even worse for the Pac-12. They came into the week with three ranked teams in action. Two lost against non-conference opponents. Oregon still holds the conference’s best chance to make it to the College Football Playoff, but UCLA was supposed to be next on the list of great Pac-12 teams. They lost to Fresno State of the Mountain West, as they plummet down the Top 25 after a No. 13 ranking. Arizona State also lost to BYU in a matchup where they could have established themselves as a legitimate threat. USC won in its first game after firing Clay Helton, but they have bigger issues after Jaxson Dart forced a quarterback controversy following the injury to starter Kedon Slovis. Arizona also handed Northern Arizona its first win of the season, which is not a good look for that school.

4. Big 12

There was a real chance the Big 12 could have jumped from last to third in the rankings, but an underwhelming win by Oklahoma keeps them held down. Now, the Sooners are preparing to welcome West Virginia to Norman right after they took out then-No. 15 Virginia Tech in Morgantown. The WVU defense held its ground when it matters, but they face a much bigger test this week. Every Big 12 team outside of Kansas won and the Jayhawks lost to Baylor. Oklahoma State survived Boise State, but all the other wins came in a comfortable fashion. Now, it’s time to go full throttle into the conference schedule.