Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news in college football, where Cyclone-on-Cyclone crime does not pay:

[More Dash: Appraising unbeatens | Prove-it games | Bama whining]

CONFERENCE CALL

Three weeks in, we are starting to get some clarity in the annual conference bragging rights tussle. And yes, it does (or should) matter when it comes to College Football Playoff parsing. While fans will cherry-pick the results that fit their arguments for or against certain leagues, The Dash has looked at all the data before making some conclusions.

Herewith, the top six leagues, in order, based solely on non-conference results to this point:

Big 12 (1).

Non-conference record: 22-5, .815 winning percentage.

Record vs. Power Five opponents: 6-4, .600.

Road/neutral record: 7-2, .778

Percentage of non-conference games played away from home: 33.

Best wins: Kansas State at Mississippi State; Kansas at Boston College; TCU at Purdue; West Virginia over North Carolina State.

Worst losses: Kansas to Coastal Carolina; Texas Tech at Arizona.

Percentage of non-conference games against FCS opponents: 29.7 (8-0 record).

The Big 12 hasn’t done much wrong thus far — there are five undefeated teams, and nobody has a losing record. Texas’ home loss to LSU was a big missed opportunity, and Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule looks softer now than it did before the season started with Houston and UCLA a combined 1-5. While Iowa State’s start has been a bit disappointing, Kansas State is off and flying under new coach Chris Klieman. There is definitely some padding of the record from scheduling FCS opponents, but the Big 12 hasn’t been scared to go on the road — and to win on the road.

Strongest playoff contender: Oklahoma.

View photos Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma have been the best team in the best conference so far this season. (Getty) More

Big Ten (2).

Non-conference record: 27-7, .794 winning percentage.

Record vs. Power Five opponents: 4-4, .500.

Road/neutral record: 5-4, .556

Percentage of non-conference games played away from home: 26.5.

Best wins: Iowa at Iowa State; Ohio State over Cincinnati; Maryland over Syracuse; Michigan over Army.

Worst losses: Purdue at Nevada; Illinois to Eastern Michigan; Maryland at Temple.

Percentage of non-conference games against FCS opponents: 11.8 (4-0 record).

There are six unbeatens remaining in the Big Ten, three in each division. But of those six, only Ohio State and Wisconsin have won all their games authoritatively. Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Penn State have, to varying degrees, had to sweat out some tense situations. The West Division looks less balanced now than it did coming into the year, thanks to wobbly starts by Northwestern, Purdue and Nebraska. Meanwhile, the deeper and stronger East saw two teams fizzle Saturday (Maryland and Michigan State). Credit the Big Ten for limiting its FCS opponents, but the league also has been the most home-heavy thus far.

Strongest playoff contender: Ohio State.

Southeastern (3).

Non-conference record: 25-8, .758 winning percentage.

Record vs. Power Five opponents: 5-4, .556.

Road/neutral record: 5-5, .500.

Percentage of non-conference games played away form home: 30.3.

Best wins: LSU at Texas; Auburn over Oregon; Florida over Miami; Alabama over Duke; Missouri over West Virginia.

Worst losses: Tennessee to Georgia State; Missouri to Wyoming; South Carolina to North Carolina; Mississippi to Memphis.

Percentage of non-conference games against FCS opponents: 27.3 (9-0 record).

The anticipated surge in Eastern Division competitiveness hasn’t happened — it still looks like Georgia head and shoulders above everyone else, though credit to Florida for finding a way to be 3-0. The rest of that division has found a way to underachieve. In the West, LSU and Auburn have the two best wins anyone has posted thus far in the entire nation, and neither of them were at home. And Alabama remains very much Alabama, albeit without much of a running game. There are too many FCS opponents, and it must be noted that the SEC is a bleak 1-4 in true road games out of conference.

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