Since the 2000 season, the Pac-10 has the best record in games against the other Bowl Championship Series conferences (81-62, a .566 winning percentage). The Pac-10 also has a .500-or-better record during this period against each of the other five major conferences. The SEC ranks second among the six BCS conferences with a .528 mark, while the other four conferences are all under .500. Bringing up the rear is the Big Ten with a .475 winning percentage. The Pac-10 often gets little respect from fans and media. The conference's teams were a miserable 2-6 against the Mountain West last season, and this season Oregon lost decisively to Boise State of the Western Athletic Conference in a key early matchup. Critics say the conference would be nothing without USC. But even without the Trojans' 19-3 record against the other BCS conferences since 2000, the Pac-10 would still be above .500.

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