This one is a bit different. But let's take a look at the current landscape of college football by using the past 25-year averages for all 760+ active teams and then placing them in their current divisions and conferences. (*Note - Some teams play as non-affiliates or in a disconnected conference and are not reflected in the numbers below.)
Here are the Division Averages over the past 25 years. The average ranking reflects the average final ranking for division members among the entire landscape.
The Power depicts the average strength of the division.
This gives everyone an idea of the discrepancies between the divisions. Several years ago, I mentioned that NCAA-D1 football is similar to Professional Boxing. Heavyweight (FBS -P5), Cruiserweight (FBS -G5) and Light Heavyweight (FCS). You can see that clearly in the above data.
Next, we will rank the conferences within these divisions and rank them all using the same criteria.
Here are the Division Averages over the past 25 years. The average ranking reflects the average final ranking for division members among the entire landscape.
The Power depicts the average strength of the division.
| DIVISION | 2024 Members | Member Avg 25 yr RANK | Member Avg 25 yr PWR |
| NCAA D1 P5 | 70 | 37.0 | 114.41 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | 64 | 107.7 | 99.63 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | 129 | 229.3 | 82.32 |
| NCAA D2 | 162 | 365.7 | 68.33 |
| NAIA | 97 | 537.5 | 52.99 |
| NCAA D3 | 229 | 577.5 | 49.03 |
This gives everyone an idea of the discrepancies between the divisions. Several years ago, I mentioned that NCAA-D1 football is similar to Professional Boxing. Heavyweight (FBS -P5), Cruiserweight (FBS -G5) and Light Heavyweight (FCS). You can see that clearly in the above data.
Next, we will rank the conferences within these divisions and rank them all using the same criteria.
| DIVISION | CONFERENCE | 2024 Members | Member Avg 25 yr RANK | Member Avg 25 yr PWR |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Independent | 1 | 12.0 | 119.68 |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Southeastern | 16 | 25.4 | 117.58 |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Big 10 | 18 | 34.3 | 115.16 |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Big 12 | 16 | 43.4 | 112.55 |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Atlantic Coast | 17 | 44.8 | 112.38 |
| NCAA D1 P5 | Pacific 12 | 2 | 48.0 | 111.70 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | Mountain West | 12 | 83.2 | 104.14 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | American Athletic | 14 | 102.7 | 100.44 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | Mid-American | 12 | 106.2 | 99.76 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | Sun Belt | 14 | 114.1 | 98.38 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | Independent | 2 | 128.0 | 96.47 |
| NCAA D1 G5 | Conference USA | 10 | 132.7 | 95.32 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Missouri Valley | 11 | 142.9 | 93.81 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Big Sky | 12 | 151.1 | 92.37 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Southern | 9 | 182.1 | 87.61 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Ivy League | 8 | 196.9 | 85.54 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Coastal Athletic | 16 | 198.7 | 85.74 |
| NCAA D2 | Mid-America Intercoll. | 10 | 214.4 | 83.62 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Southland | 9 | 221.0 | 82.71 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | United Athletic | 9 | 222.2 | 82.72 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | BS-OVC | 9 | 225.3 | 81.94 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Patriot League | 7 | 226.9 | 81.60 |
| NCAA D2 | Great Lakes Intercoll. | 8 | 264.9 | 78.20 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Southwestern Athletic | 12 | 282.8 | 75.71 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Mid-Eastern Athletic | 6 | 286.2 | 75.25 |
| NCAA D2 | Northern Sun Intercoll. | 13 | 316.5 | 72.64 |
| NCAA D2 | Lone Star | 10 | 323.2 | 72.30 |
| NCAA D2 | Great American | 12 | 335.8 | 70.63 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Northeast | 8 | 335.9 | 70.59 |
| NCAA D2 | Pennsylvania State | 15 | 336.4 | 70.63 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Pioneer | 11 | 338.1 | 70.24 |
| NCAA D1 FCS | Independent | 2 | 340.5 | 69.66 |
| NCAA D2 | Gulf South | 8 | 349.9 | 70.46 |
| NCAA D2 | Great Midwest Athl. | 10 | 353.4 | 69.29 |
| NCAA D2 | South Atlantic | 12 | 367.8 | 67.71 |
| NCAA D3 | Wisconsin Intercoll. | 8 | 368.0 | 67.59 |
| NCAA D2 | Rocky Mountain | 10 | 369.7 | 67.71 |
| NAIA | Frontier | 9 | 402.0 | 64.76 |
| NCAA D2 | Independent | 2 | 406.5 | 63.86 |
| NCAA D2 | Great Lakes Valley | 9 | 408.2 | 64.22 |
| NCAA D3 | American Southwest | 4 | 410.0 | 64.27 |
| NCAA D2 | Mountain East | 10 | 428.3 | 62.12 |
| NAIA | Mid-South | 7 | 442.7 | 61.08 |
| NCAA D2 | Southern Intercoll. | 13 | 461.1 | 59.74 |
| NCAA D2 | Central Intercollegiate | 11 | 465.5 | 59.38 |
| NCAA D2 | Northeast-10 | 9 | 470.4 | 59.08 |
| NCAA D3 | Ohio Athletic | 10 | 471.1 | 59.38 |
| NCAA D3 | Conf.of Ill. and Wisc. | 10 | 494.4 | 57.13 |
| NCAA D3 | Centennial | 7 | 510.0 | 55.77 |
| NCAA D3 | American Rivers | 9 | 513.8 | 55.56 |
| NAIA | Sun Conference | 8 | 515.4 | 55.63 |
| NAIA | Mid-States | 13 | 515.5 | 53.97 |
| NAIA | Great Plains Athl. | 11 | 515.7 | 55.25 |
| NCAA D3 | Northwest | 8 | 518.3 | 55.08 |
| NCAA D3 | Liberty League | 7 | 519.3 | 54.84 |
| NCAA D3 | New Jersey Athl. | 7 | 526.0 | 54.23 |
| NCAA D3 | Minnesota Intercoll. | 10 | 531.0 | 53.51 |
| NAIA | Heart of America | 14 | 539.8 | 52.77 |
| NCAA D3 | Southern Athletic | 8 | 551.0 | 52.29 |
| NCAA D3 | Empire Eight | 8 | 554.4 | 50.02 |
| NCAA D3 | So. California Intercoll. | 6 | 556.2 | 52.06 |
| NCAA D3 | Old Dominion Athl. | 8 | 561.8 | 51.30 |
| NAIA | North Star Athletic | 5 | 574.8 | 50.07 |
| NCAA D3 | The Presidents' Athl. | 11 | 577.0 | 50.17 |
| NAIA | Appalachian | 7 | 579.9 | 50.35 |
| NCAA D3 | Michigan Intercollegiate | 8 | 585.5 | 49.43 |
| NCAA D3 | North Coast Athletic | 9 | 593.0 | 47.25 |
| NCAA D3 | Middle Atlantic | 10 | 601.0 | 47.23 |
| NCAA D3 | Landmark | 7 | 609.9 | 46.33 |
| NAIA | Sooner Athletic | 9 | 612.5 | 43.80 |
| NCAA D3 | USA South | 9 | 627.0 | 45.34 |
| NAIA | Kansas Coll. Athl. | 12 | 629.7 | 45.92 |
| NCAA D3 | Southern Collegiate | 5 | 635.2 | 44.27 |
| NCAA D3 | Heartland Coll. Athletic | 7 | 639.9 | 43.83 |
| NCAA D3 | New England | 8 | 649.5 | 43.45 |
| NCAA D3 | Northern Athletics | 9 | 668.2 | 39.69 |
| NCAA D3 | Midwest | 10 | 674.1 | 39.06 |
| NCAA D3 | Commonwealth Coast | 6 | 680.3 | 40.30 |
| NCAA D3 | Massachusetts SCA | 10 | 701.6 | 36.80 |
| NCAA D3 | Upper Midwest Athl. | 6 | 730.2 | 30.53 |
| NCAA D3 | Eastern Collegiate | 4 | 749.5 | 25.09 |
| NAIA | Independent | 1 | 751.0 | 24.36 |
