Through the first weekend of play, all six BCS Conferences had mixed results. The SEC and American Athletic Conference (old Big East) saw their stock improve slightly, while the Pac-12 and ACC saw theirs drop slightly. The breakdown of the bragging rights–and low lights, are listed for all six BCS Conferences below. The records against other BCS teams were: SEC 4-2, Big Ten 2-1, Big 12 2-1, Notre Dame 1-0, American Athletic (old Big East) 1-2, ACC 1-3, Pac 12 0-2.
However, part of the evaluations are impacted by losses to FCS teams.
The rankings of the BCS Conferences (see preseason breakdown of teams here) are still: 1) SEC, 2) Big 12, 3) Pac 12, 4) Big Ten, 5) ACC and 6) American Athletic. However the American Athletic nudged a little closer to the ACC this week on the play of Cincinnati and Louisville, the latter of which will be in the ACC next year.
American Athletic Conference – STOCK UP
Potential Cincy-Louisville title game more important than losses
1-2 vs. BCS foes
Good News: The most important news is at the top where the top two teams both won by 28 points MORE than expected. Cincinnati blitzed Big 10’s Purdue (42-7) and Louisville looked every bit the national contender with a 49-7 win over Ohio. Central Florida also feasted on an Ohio team, 38-7 over Akron. An easy opponent, but Houston’s 62-13 win over Southern demonstrated the offense the conference hoped for.
Bad News: South Florida blitzed 53-21 by FCS McNeese St, and UConn lost 33-18 to Towson. SMU was expected to put up more of a fight against TCU (23-41 loss).
Neutral: Temple’s 6-28 loss to Notre Dame was actually a couple of points better than expected. Rutgers just missed going into Fresno State for a win, losing 51-52 in OT.
ACC – STOCK DOWN
Clemson the biggest of three nice wins, but UNC-Syracuse-Va Tech pull down
1-3 vs. BCS
Good News: Clemson had the win of the day over SEC’s Georgia. NC State looked impressive over Louisiana Tech, winning 40-14. Virginia had a nice 19-16 win over BYU.
Bad News: Not much fight in UNC’s 10-27 loss to South Carolina
Neutral: Syracuse lost 17-23 at Penn State, and Virginia Tech’s 10-35 loss to Alabama was expected. The rest of the conference played cream puffs.
Big Ten – STOCK NEUTRAL
Northwestern’s win offset by Purdue and Iowa poor showings
2-1 vs. BCS
Good News: Northwestern’s solid 44-30 win on the west coast vs. Cal justifies the #22 ranking. Penn State’s solid win against ACC’s Syracuse. Michigan and Wisconsin showed firepower against weak opponents.
Bad News: Purdue’s 7-42 drubbing in what should have been a close game at Big East’s Cincinnati. Iowa upset by Northern Illinois 27-30, and Nebraska barely surviving Wyoming 37-34.
Neutral: Others handled weak opponents.
Big 12 – STOCK NEUTRAL
Mixed bag of great wins, firepower and stunning losses
2-1 vs. BCS
Good News: Oklahoma State 11 points better than expected in 21-3 win over SECs Mississippi State. Texas Tech’s easy 41-23 win at American Athletic’s SMU. Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor all showed tons of fire power.
Bad News: K-State will drop from Top 10 after stunning 21-24 loss to FCS’s North Dakota State. Iowa State stunned by FCS Northern Iowa 20-28. West Virginia barely surviving FCS William and Mary 24-17.
Neutral: TCU’s 27-37 just what was expected at LSU.
Pac 12 – STOCK DOWN
0-2 vs. BCS – Oregon State stunned, Cal and WSU losses, STOCK DOWN
Good News: Utah survives Utah State 30-26. Oregon putting up 66-3 good, even though just against Nicholls State. UCLA won 58-20 over Nevada.
Bad News: Oregon State first ranked team to ever lose to FCS team, 46-49 to Eastern Washington. Cal two-touchdown home loss to Northwestern.
Neutral: Washington State’s 24-31 loss at Auburn respectable for having gone cross-country, though a missed opportunity to back up coaches assertion bottom of Pac-12 was better than bottom of SEC.
SEC – STOCK UP
LSU, Alabama, and South Carolina dominance offset Mississippi State, Georgia performances
4-2 vs. BCS
Good News: South Carolina living up to billing with 27-10 win over ACC’s UNC. LSU 37-27 vs. TCU in Texas about what expected, but still BCS win away from home. Alabama’s 35-10 over ACC’s Virginia Tech about what was expected, but shows the gap.
Bad News: #5 Georgia lost biggest game of the weekend to ACC’s Clemson 35-38. Mississippi State getting handled so easily by Big 12’s Oklahoma State, 3-21. Kentucky upset by Western Kentucky 26-35.
Neutral: Auburn’s 31-24 over Washington State not quite the 10-point margin predicted at home, but still a BCS win after Cougars’ coach said bottom of Pac-12 was better than bottom of SEC. Ole Miss over Vandy in conference game, others handled weaker foes easily.