Conference Power Rankings: SEC returns to No. 1

What a difference a week makes.

In the last version of our rankings, it looked like the Big Ten would be impossible to knock from the top spot, and yet just seven days later, that's exactly what happened, thanks in large part to Ohio State's stunning loss.

The SEC managed to edge out the Big Ten and return to No. 1 for the first time since the preseason. A disastrous Week 1 set the conference back, but the SEC's depth is simply unmatched in the Power 5.

The rest of the rankings remain mostly unchanged, although Conference USA and the Sun Belt continued their trade-off at the bottom.

How the results are calculated: Seven editors submit their rankings. Every first-place vote is worth 10 points, each second-place vote is worth nine, and so on. Voting isn't just based on performance, but also on factors like key injuries and strength of schedule. Last week's rankings are in brackets.

1. SEC (2)

The SEC has one major advantage over every other conference: Alabama. While every other title contender seems to have a flaw, the Crimson Tide keep chugging along with dominant victories.

Even with Ole Miss and Arkansas falling out of the top 25, the SEC still has six ranked teams - most of any conference.

2. Big Ten (1)

More than anything, the two-headed monster of Ohio State and Michigan had propelled the Big Ten to the top. The Buckeyes upset loss to Penn State may not have hurt their playoff chances too much, but it destroyed the air of invincibility surrounding Urban Meyer's program and dented the national perception of the conference.

3. ACC (3)

Justin Fuente has made replacing a legend look easy, guiding Virginia Tech to a 5-2 record and a spot in the AP top 25. The ACC now has five ranked teams, tied with the Big Ten for second behind the SEC. The ACC is also the only conference with two top-five teams, but lacks the second-tier competition to move up this list.

4. Pac-12 (4)

The Pac-12 remains Washington and everyone else, unless another school emerges from the pack to challenge the Huskies. That looks unlikely, although Colorado's surprising run is certainly reason for optimism. The Buffaloes are finding success in the conference for the first time, while the usual powers - such as Oregon - have struggled.

5. Big 12 (5)

For the first time all season, the Big 12 has two teams ranked inside the top 10. Virginia Tech (No. 10) joined No. 8 Baylor in what has unquestionably been a down year for the conference. If neither school manages to finish the season undefeated, the Big 12 may be out of the playoff for the second time in three years.

6. AAC (6)

Not long ago, the AAC was actually ahead of the Big 12 in these rankings, but is now struggling to remain above the Group of 5 conferences. Houston's second loss of the season knocked the Cougars from the top 25, leaving Navy as the only ranked squad. While the American remains deeper than the Mountain West and the MAC, Houston's tumble leaves the conference without a true marquee team.

7. Mountain West (7)

Boise State is a perfect 7-0 and up to No. 13 in the AP poll, making it the favorite to emerge from the Group of 5 conferences and grab a New Year's bowl selection. Standing in its way will be a San Diego State team that's allowed all of 13 points across three conference games.

8. MAC (8)

Like the Mountain West, the MAC is home to a prestige team in Western Michigan. But it's missing an Aztec-like opponent to present a challenge, as San Diego State does with Boise State. Toledo could emerge as a Western Michigan spoiler, but it doesn't appear likely.

9. Conference USA (10)

There's not much separating Conference USA and the Sun Belt at this point, but C-USA had a pair of large victories this week to gain the edge. North Texas knocking off Army was a good win, but Middle Tennessee taking care of Missouri in Columbia was huge for the conference.

10. Sun Belt (9)

The Sun Belt finds itself back in the basement, not so much because of what it didn't do, but instead because of what Conference USA was able to pull off. Well, that and Louisiana Monroe getting dominated 59-17 by New Mexico.

theScore's conference power rankings will be released every Wednesday during the regular season. This week's edition was voted on by Michael Amato, Dane Belbeck, Alex Chippin, McKenzie Dalgleish, Michael deCourcy, Mike Dickson, and Dylan Perego. The full vote count is paired with the rankings below.