year out.  By big boys, I mean Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and other top SEC teams.  Big 12 is seeming to have the same issue recently. 

PAC 12 is a solid, deep league with no top end teams and only one real cellar dwellar. Without a top tier team, they beat each other to death in conference play with the 9-game schedule.  Some may call it mediocrity, but whatever you call it, they are beating themselves each year and ensuring no team will make the playoff.