There’s an ever-growing debate going on nationwide, and it has nothing to do with McCain vs. Obama or Congress vs. bailout.

And trust me, it’s not nearly as important.

For some reason, the fans, the media and ESPN (who I refuse to include with “media”) are asking the same old pointless question: Which conference is the best in college football?

Last year it was all about the Pac-10 and SEC. This year the debate again centers on the SEC, but it’s matched up with the talented Big 12. When it comes down to it, they’re both loaded.

No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 LSU are undefeated and look exceptional on defense. Despite losses last week, No. 11 Georgia and No. 12 Florida have a showdown in November of monumental proportions. And the other teams aren’t bad either, with No. 13 Auburn and No. 19 Vanderbilt having a chance to move up in the polls.

The Big 12 is all about quarterbacks this year. It boasts the likes of No. 1 Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, No. 4 Missouri’s Chase Daniel, No. 5 Texas’ Colt McCoy and No. 7 Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell. It’s hard to find a more exciting and talented mix than that.

So, why does it matter which is the best?

We debate the BCS because it decides the national champion and is as flawed as our current financial system. Heisman Trophy candidates are argued because it’s left up to a bunch of voters who turn it into a high school popularity contest.

But conference bragging rights are just that. There’s no real trophy like that Stanley Cup that all the members from the SEC can pass around when more teams finish in the top 10 than the Big 12. We all know there is no sort of playoff or round-robin tournament.

And please, no more fan polls. You can’t watch a single game on any of the ESPN family of networks without one. I don’t need some stupid demographic telling us that folks in the state of Oklahoma think the Big 12 is the best. I took geography in the ninth grade. I know where the Sooner State is.

Basically it’s all propaganda. The media and ESPN believe hyping conferences, not teams, will bring in more traffic to their outlets. And sadly, it probably does.

But, the only time conference debates mean anything is during bowl season. It’s fun to keep up with how the Big 12 does against the SEC because teams are actually playing each other. Right now, Missouri’s schedule doesn’t have LSU or Georgia on it.

So, if you want to call me up and discuss who’s the best in the SEC West between LSU and the Tide, I’m all ears. But if you want to argue the status of two completely different conferences with entirely diverse recruiting patterns and playing styles, I’m out.

There are just more important issues at hand.