See "notes" following the table for more information on its contents.
| Magazine | Rank | Total Score |
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
| Phil Steele | 1 | 1,410.1 | 174 | 160.1 | 121.5 | 126.5 | 158.5 | 148 | 131 | 134.5 | 119 | 137 |
| Athlon | 2 | 1,438.4 | 180 | 183.4 | 127 | 109 | 146 | 137 | 133 | 151 | 138 | 134 |
| Arena Fanatic | 3 | 1,441.4 | 169.5 | 178.9 | 132.5 | 132 | 134 | 145.5 | 127.5 | 145.5 | 134 | 142 |
| McIllece Sports | 4 | 1,481 | 183 | 185.5 | 120 | 132.5 | 156 | 147 | 130 | 136 | 132 | 159 |
| Lindy's | 5 | 1,486.1 | 190 | 187.1 | 127 | 120 | 157 | 148 | 141 | 145 | 132 | 139 |
| Versus Sports Simulator | 6 | 1,533 | 176.5 | 191 | 140 | 129.5 | 159.5 | 154.5 | 157 | 149 | 135 | 141 |
| CollegeFootballPoll.com | 7 | 1,597 | 201 | 196 | 127 | 131 | 162.5 | 150 | 161.5 | 175 | 125 | 168 |
This page shows the accuracy of preseason magazines' conference predictions for the ten-year span 2012-2021 ("the last ten years" going into the 2022 season). In order to qualify for either table, a magazine must have been published for every year used in that table.
There is also a "2019-2021 (last three years)" table and a "2017-2021 (last five years)" table.
Tables with more years have the advantage of having a larger sample of data: a single unusually lucky or unlucky year has less impact on the standings. However, tables with fewer years have the advantage of including more magazines: several of the magazines available today were not published if one goes back far enough.
Notes: