Most prestigious college athletic sports conference?

I'm a prospective student-athlete who's aiming to play on one of the most prestigious sports teams at the college level. Can anyone give me a rundown of what's typically seen as the most prestigious college athletic sports conferences across the US?

When considering prestige in college athletics, the conversation often begins with the Power Five conferences. These are:

1. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) competes at the NCAA Division I level. Prestigious teams include the University of North Carolina in basketball and Clemson University in football.

2. The Big Ten Conference, with well-known programs such as the University of Michigan and Ohio State University in multiple sports.

3. The Big 12 Conference, which includes the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas, is known for its storied football programs.

4. The Pac-12 Conference, which includes storied programs from the University of Southern California and the University of Oregon, and

5. The Southeastern Conference (SEC), which is often seen as the most prestigious college conference, especially in football. Schools like the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University have historically fielded successful teams.

Beyond these, you have the Ivy League, which while not as competitive in some sports, carries its unique prestige and has a high level of academic rigor. Its schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are well-regarded, although they typically do not offer athletic scholarships.

Lastly, it's important to consider other conferences that compete at the NCAA Division I level. For example, the West Coast Conference (WCC), notably Gonzaga University in men's basketball, and the American Athletic Conference (AAC), with schools like the University of Houston in men's basketball and the University of Cincinnati in football are also notable.

The best conference can also vary significantly by sport. So, it can be advantageous to look into which conferences traditionally do well in the sport you'll be playing. Remember, what's most important is finding a school that aligns with your academic and athletic goals, rather than focusing solely on conference prestige.