Understanding Rankings

College football uses multiple ranking systems, each with its own methodology and purpose.

Official Rankings

AP Poll (Associated Press)

The AP Poll is voted on by 62 sportswriters and broadcasters:

Released every Sunday during the season
First ballot winner gets 25 points, second gets 24, etc.
Purely subjective based on voter opinions
Most traditional and widely recognized
Voters reveal their ballots publicly

Coaches Poll

Voted on by 66 FBS head coaches (or their representatives):

Also released on Sundays
Similar point system to AP Poll
Coaches cannot vote for their own team
Part of the USA Today Sports rankings
Individual ballots kept anonymous

College Football Playoff Rankings

The CFP Selection Committee rankings:

Released Tuesday evenings starting in Week 9
13-member committee evaluates teams
Most important for playoff selection
Considers: Record, Conference championships, SOS, Common opponents, Head-to-head
Top 4 teams make the playoff (expanding to 12 soon)

Computer Rankings

Algorithmic rankings based on mathematical formulas:

Simple Rating System (SRS)

Measures average point differential adjusted for strength of schedule
Zero is average, higher is better
Positive SRS indicates above-average team

ELO Ratings

Chess-inspired rating system
Teams gain/lose points based on game results and opponent strength
1500 is average for FBS teams

FPI (Football Power Index)

ESPN's proprietary metric predicting team strength:

Projects future performance
Accounts for returning players, recruiting
Used for game predictions

Strength of Schedule (SOS)

Measures difficulty of a team's schedule:

Based on opponents' records
Can be past schedule or future schedule
Important context for team records

How Rankings Change

Factors that influence ranking movement:

Wins - Especially against ranked opponents
Quality of Victory - Margin and style matter
Losses - Who you lose to and how badly
Schedule Strength - Tougher schedules get more credit
Conference - Conference strength influences perception
Timing - Late-season games matter more

Ranking History

View historical rankings data:

Team's ranking progression throughout season
All-time best/worst rankings
Weeks ranked in top 25
Preseason vs final ranking comparison

Why Rankings Matter

Playoff Selection - Top 4 make the playoff
Bowl Games - Higher ranks get better bowls
Recruiting - Top teams attract better players
Perception - Media coverage and recognition
Betting - Rankings influence lines

Controversies and Debates

Common ranking debates:

Subjective vs. objective evaluation
Conference bias (SEC, Big Ten, etc.)
Schedule strength calculations
Impact of injuries and key players
Preseason rankings influence

CFB Analytics provides both human polls and computer rankings so you can form your own opinion!

Understanding Rankings