See "notes" following the table for more information on its contents.
| Magazine | Rank | Total Score |
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Pick Six Previews | 1 | 734.1 | 169 | 160.1 | 135.5 | 119 | 150.5 |
| ESPN | 2 | 737.9 | 188 | 181.9 | 109 | 126 | 133 |
| Phil Steele | 3 | 740.6 | 174 | 160.1 | 121.5 | 126.5 | 158.5 |
| Athlon | 4 | 745.4 | 180 | 183.4 | 127 | 109 | 146 |
| Arena Fanatic | 5 | 746.9 | 169.5 | 178.9 | 132.5 | 132 | 134 |
| DRatings.com | 6 | 751.5 | 175 | 186 | 127 | 114.5 | 149 |
| McIllece Sports | 7 | 777 | 183 | 185.5 | 120 | 132.5 | 156 |
| Lindy's | 8 | 781.1 | 190 | 187.1 | 127 | 120 | 157 |
| Versus Sports Simulator | 9 | 796.5 | 176.5 | 191 | 140 | 129.5 | 159.5 |
| CollegeFootballPoll.com | 10 | 817.5 | 201 | 196 | 127 | 131 | 162.5 |
This page shows the accuracy of preseason magazines' conference predictions for the five-year span 2017-2021 ("the last five 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 "2012-2021 (last ten 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: