From a W/L stanpoint, would we be better in the SEC?

[cyrocksmypants]

I'm not saying we'd EVER be there, but could we have a better record? Seriously. Bama is Bama, obviously. But what about the rest? Score more than 6 and you have a good shot at beating LSU because their offense is terrible. Mississippi State is good, but not world beaters. Florida has a really good defense, but their offense isn't anything special. Georgia is a solid squad. But top-to-bottom, I'd say the Big 12 is just as tough if not tougher. The SEC just happens to have Alabama and then a couple of really good teams that beat up on all of the terrible teams in conference and inflate their records.

[CycloneErik]

The SEC just has a couple of elite teams at the very top. Top to bottom, the Big 12 isn't weaker. We'd probably do about the same, but we'd have to deal with Alabama. I'm not sure I want any piece of that.

[iacyguy]

The SEC just has a couple of elite teams at the very top. Top to bottom, the Big 12 isn't weaker. We'd probably do about the same, but we'd have to deal with Alabama. I'm not sure I want any piece of that.

over/under on turnovers we have that game?

[CycloneErik]

over/under on turnovers we have that game?

About the same as the number of Kleenex I cry through.

Teams I know we could compete with regularly:
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Aggie
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Auburn
South Carolina

That puts us right about the middle, and that's not bad.

[Jordanj6502]

Problem is it depends on the schedule. You could have an easy time like MissSt with Arkansas, Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss (and Vanderbilt, though MissSt doesn't play them this year). or get stuck playing Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina. I am not saying we couldn't beat some of the top SEC teams, but they are good teams. You do get the benefit of 1 extra non-conference game, and that could be an easy cupcake.

[Jordanj6502]

Seriously take a look at Mississippi State's Schedule. I could see Iowa State getting 9 wins with that schedule. And that is hardly even a stretch.

[CycloneErik]

For any who are curious about Mississippi State's schedule: Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule - NCAA College Football - CBSSports.com

I also think we could win 9 with that schedule.

[mtowncyclone13]

Can someone do this analysis for the B1G? Id rather see us there for recruting reasons. I think we may do better in the ESPN-SEC because the horrible west division they have.

[cyrocksmypants]

I'm still curious how good Bama's defense really is. Offense doesn't exist in the SEC, so it's not like they're playing offensive juggernauts every week. I'd love to see them play Oklahoma State last year. I also think K-State could really give them fits with Klein having learned how to throw a decent ball this year.

[Erik4Cy]

If ISU was in the SEC I feel it would be a crapshoot. All up to the scheduling like it's been said. Could have only 3 wins or get a nice sched like Miss St and get to 9 wins.

[HFCS]

SEC schedules are complete cakewalks compared to Big 12. Mississippi State has a 98 SOS ranking right now. NINETY EIGHT!

-Take a random Big 12 opponent off the schedule and replace with a cupcake.

-Play that cupcake late in year for a "week off" like every SEC team does.

-Lately the Big 12 is 8 or 9 deep out of 10. There is always more than one bad team in the SEC.

[Dale]

Massey has Iowa State ranked 22nd (prior to today, but it shouldn't change too much), and in the Big 12 they're behind the teams they lost to (plus Texas) and ahead of the teams they've beaten (plus Kansas and WV).

So let's stick that 22nd-ranked ISU in the SEC:

SEC EAST
6 Florida
9 Georgia
11 SC
41 Tennessee
44 Missouri
52 Vandy
88 Kentucky

SEC WEST
1 Alabama
7 LSU
13 Texas A&M
20 Mississippi State
34 Mississippi
50 Arkansas
75 Auburn

ISU would probably go 4-3 in the East and 3-4 or 4-3 in the West. Could be one win more with an surprise victory; could be one loss more with an unexpected loss. But in either division, and playing a fair selection of teams from the other division, Iowa State could expect to be about .500, and more likely above .500 then below. The Cyclones' expected number of conference wins would probably be slightly higher in the SEC than the Big 12, although that depends on the exact schedule they'd have this year. (With Mississippi State's schedule this year, we'd probably do exactly what they're doing: run off 7 straight to start the season, lose 3 to the SEC murderers' row, and win their last 2 to go 9-3.)

Now, the Big 10:

LEGENDS

23 Nebraska
27 Michigan
35 MSU
36 Northwestern
60 Iowa
66 Minnesota

12 OSU
32 Wisconsin
49 Penn State
69 Indiana
75 Purdue
118 Illinois

In the Big 10, based purely on Massey, we win every conference game except Ohio State and go to the Rose Bowl. It doesn't matter which division we're in or what schedule we have. I am not kidding.

[DistrictCyclone]

I've become a huge fan of the round robin schedule these past two seasons. I hope the Big 12 stays at 10 teams forever.

[jrios545]

If we had Miss State's schedule, I think we get 10 wins. 9 easy wins with a trademark "upset" over LSU, A&M, or Alabama. As for the B1G, if we had Iowa's schedule:

N. Illinois
Iowa State
Northern Iowa
Central Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan St
Penn St
Northwestern
Indian
Purdue
Michigan
Nebraska

Let's say, Iowa goes to the B12 and we play Iowa on week 2, then I firmly believe we win out. Though a 10-2 or 11-1 season is more probable.
Even if we had Michigan's schedule we do at least 9-3 with losses to Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

[DistrictCyclone]

We have the toughest schedule in the country, I don't care what any computer model says. We've already lost to Oklahoma today, and now we're about to get beat by Oregon. That's rough.