Conference strength
A conference’s average team against an average FBS team, with its 90% range. Independents are unranked.
Rating cutoff: Tue, Oct 20, 2026, 8:26 AM ET. How to read these ratings
By average rating
Rank Teams90% rangeBestLowest
1 
SEC 16 teams 10 top 25 13.5 to 17.9 Rating+15.7 33.9 18.2 Expected playoff teams3.5 Best
UGA27.6Lowest
ARK1.9
SEC 16 teams 10 top 25 13.5 to 17.9 Rating+15.7 33.9 18.2 Expected playoff teams3.5 Best UGA27.6Lowest ARK1.92 
Big Ten 18 teams 7 top 25 9.5 to 13.6 Rating+11.6 31.6 20.1 Expected playoff teams3.2 Best
OSU29.6Lowest
RUTG−0.1
Big Ten 18 teams 7 top 25 9.5 to 13.6 Rating+11.6 31.6 20.1 Expected playoff teams3.2 Best OSU29.6Lowest RUTG−0.13 
Big 12 16 teams 4 top 25 7.2 to 11.6 Rating+9.4 31.3 21.9 Expected playoff teams2.2 Best
UTAH20.3Lowest
WVU−2.2
Big 12 16 teams 4 top 25 7.2 to 11.6 Rating+9.4 31.3 21.9 Expected playoff teams2.2 Best UTAH20.3Lowest WVU−2.24 
ACC 17 teams 3 top 25 3.6 to 7.9 Rating+5.7 28.9 23.1 Expected playoff teams1.4 Best
MIA26.3Lowest
STAN−9.9
ACC 17 teams 3 top 25 3.6 to 7.9 Rating+5.7 28.9 23.1 Expected playoff teams1.4 Best MIA26.3Lowest STAN−9.95 
Pac-12 8 teams 0 top 25 −5.7 to 0.3 Rating−2.7 25.7 28.4 Expected playoff teams0.5 Best
BSU7.6Lowest
CSU−15.7
Pac-12 8 teams 0 top 25 −5.7 to 0.3 Rating−2.7 25.7 28.4 Expected playoff teams0.5 Best BSU7.6Lowest CSU−15.76 
American 14 teams 0 top 25 −10.1 to −5.5 Rating−7.8 22.5 30.3 Expected playoff teams0.1 Best
UNT2.7Lowest
CLT−23.9
American 14 teams 0 top 25 −10.1 to −5.5 Rating−7.8 22.5 30.3 Expected playoff teams0.1 Best UNT2.7Lowest CLT−23.97 
Sun Belt 14 teams 0 top 25 −12.7 to −8.1 Rating−10.4 21.4 31.8 Expected playoff teams0.4 Best
JMU2.3Lowest
ULM−23.4
Sun Belt 14 teams 0 top 25 −12.7 to −8.1 Rating−10.4 21.4 31.8 Expected playoff teams0.4 Best JMU2.3Lowest ULM−23.48 
Mountain West 10 teams 0 top 25 −15.1 to −9.4 Rating−12.3 18.6 30.8 Expected playoff teams0.1 Best
UNM−0.2Lowest
UTEP−25.3
Mountain West 10 teams 0 top 25 −15.1 to −9.4 Rating−12.3 18.6 30.8 Expected playoff teams0.1 Best UNM−0.2Lowest UTEP−25.39 
C-USA 10 teams 0 top 25 −15.5 to −10.1 Rating−12.8 18.6 31.4 Expected playoff teams0 Best
LIB−1.1Lowest
MTSU−21.1
C-USA 10 teams 0 top 25 −15.5 to −10.1 Rating−12.8 18.6 31.4 Expected playoff teams0 Best LIB−1.1Lowest MTSU−21.110 
MAC 13 teams 0 top 25 −17.8 to −13.0 Rating−15.4 17.4 32.8 Expected playoff teams0 Best
TOL−2.3Lowest
SAC−29.8
MAC 13 teams 0 top 25 −17.8 to −13.0 Rating−15.4 17.4 32.8 Expected playoff teams0 Best TOL−2.3Lowest SAC−29.8— 
Independent 2 teams 1 top 25 5.0 to 16.1 Rating+10.5 33.1 22.6 Expected playoff teams0.7 Best
ND26.5Lowest
CONN−5.4
Independent 2 teams 1 top 25 5.0 to 16.1 Rating+10.5 33.1 22.6 Expected playoff teams0.7 Best ND26.5Lowest CONN−5.4Ratings in points; 0 = average FBS. Squares: average ratings. Bars: 90% rating ranges. The dashed line marks 0.
How deep each conference is
Each logo is a team at its rating; the bar is the conference’s average with its 90% range.
SEC: average +15.7, teams from 1.9 to 27.6 
Big Ten: average +11.6, teams from −0.1 to 29.6 
Big 12: average +9.4, teams from −2.2 to 20.3 
ACC: average +5.7, teams from −9.9 to 26.3 
Pac-12: average −2.7, teams from −15.7 to 7.6 
American: average −7.8, teams from −23.9 to 2.7 
Sun Belt: average −10.4, teams from −23.4 to 2.3 
Mountain West: average −12.3, teams from −25.3 to −0.2 
C-USA: average −12.8, teams from −21.1 to −1.1 
MAC: average −15.4, teams from −29.8 to −2.3 
Independent: average +10.5, teams from −5.4 to 26.5 Logos: available team ratings. Bar: the conference average, over its 90% range. The dashed line is the FBS average, 0.