College football season ignites a passion unlike any other. Fans nationwide roar for their favorite teams, all vying for the ultimate prize: the National Championship. But how are teams ranked throughout the season, and who decides which teams get a shot at glory?
This article delves deep into the world of college football rankings. We’ll explore the systems used, from the iconic AP Poll with its sports writer voters to the powerful College Football Playoff Committee that selects the teams battling for the title. We’ll uncover the factors that influence rankings, from a team’s performance on the field to the strength of their opponents.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Ohio State or Notre Dame or simply curious about the process behind crowning national champions, this article will equip you to understand the intricate world of college football rankings. So, buckle up and get ready to navigate the preseason polls, the weekly AP rankings, and the critical decisions made by the CFP Committee, all leading to the ultimate question: who will be crowned the National Champion? Bernard Oz and the guys at link house reveal all you need to know in this article.
What are College Football Rankings?
College football rankings are a highly anticipated aspect of the season, gauging the nation’s top teams throughout the year. These rankings hold significance beyond mere bragging rights for fans and schools. They play a crucial role in determining which teams get invited to the most prestigious bowl games and, most importantly, which four teams get to compete for the ultimate prize: the National Championship.
Two main pillars support the college football ranking system: polls and computer rankings.
Polls offer a subjective assessment, relying on voters’ expertise and overall impression. Two significant polls carry the most weight:
- The Associated Press (AP) Poll, conducted weekly by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, ranks the top 25 teams in the country. Teams receive points based on their ranking, with the highest number awarded to the number one team.
- The Coaches Poll, also released weekly, features rankings by head coaches (excluding their teams) for the top 25 teams.
Conversely, computer rankings employ complex algorithms to analyze data points and determine a team’s objective strength. The College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings is the most prominent system in this category.
These rankings are released throughout the season. The AP and Coaches Polls come out weekly, offering a consistent snapshot of the top teams. The CFP rankings, however, are released periodically, typically starting later in the season to allow for a clearer picture as the season progresses. The final CFP rankings in December hold the utmost importance as they determine which four teams get the coveted opportunity to compete for the National Championship title.
College football rankings blend expert opinion (polls) and data-driven analysis (computer rankings). This system creates a dynamic and exciting landscape throughout the season, ultimately culminating in the highly anticipated National Championship game, where the top-ranked teams battle it out to be crowned the best in the nation.
What are College Football Rankings Used For?
College football rankings serve several key purposes throughout the season:
- Postseason Play: The most critical use of rankings is determining which teams get a shot at the ultimate prize – the National Championship. The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, released weekly by the selection committee, dictate which teams compete in the prestigious playoff games.
- Bowl Game Selection: Beyond the CFP, rankings from major polls like the AP Poll and Harris Interactive Poll influence which teams receive coveted invitations to other bowl games. A higher ranking often translates to a more prestigious bowl matchup.
- Fueling the Narrative: Rankings drive conversation and excitement throughout the college football season. Sports media outlets use rankings to generate storylines, compare teams, and predict eventual national champions.
- Recruiting Advantage: A strong ranking is a valuable recruiting tool. Top-ranked programs like Ohio State or Notre Dame can leverage their position to attract the best high school players in the nation.
- Gauging Team Strength: While not the only factor, rankings offer a general indicator of a team’s overall strength. Head-to-head results, strength of schedule, and performance against ranked opponents all play a role in how teams are ranked, giving fans a sense of how their favorite team stacks up against the competition.
College Football Rankings Systems Explained
Ready to dive into college football rankings? We’ll break down the different systems used to rank teams.
College Football Playoff Rankings
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings determine which teams compete for the ultimate prize in college football: the National Championship. Unlike a simple win-loss record, these rankings consider a nuanced approach to assessing a team’s true strength. Here’s a breakdown of the critical factors that influence the CFP Rankings:
Strength of Record (SOR): This is the foundation but needs some critical considerations. Wins and losses matter, but not equally. Winning against a highly-ranked opponent carries more weight than winning over a weaker team. The CFP committee meticulously evaluates a team’s record, prioritizing wins against ranked teams and quality opponents.
Strength of Schedule (SOS): It’s not just about winning; it’s about who you beat. The CFP considers the overall strength of a team’s opponents based on their win-loss records and rankings. Playing a stricter schedule, even if it results in a few more losses, can be seen favorably if it demonstrates a team’s ability to compete against intense competition.
Conference Championships: Winning your conference championship holds significant weight, especially for teams with solid regular-season records. A conference title showcases a team’s dominance within its league and indicates its ability to compete at the national level.
Head-to-Head Results: When two teams have played a familiar opponent, the CFP committee will compare their results. A win against a team that defeated another ranked opponent can boost your standing. Conversely, losing to a team that then loses to a weaker opponent negatively impacts your ranking.
Other Factors: While the above are the primary considerations, the CFP committee has some flexibility. Injuries to key players, the margin of victory (winning by a large margin against a decent team), and any other relevant data points might be factored in to create the most accurate picture of a team’s strength.
Listed below is the ranking process for the CFP
- A 13-member committee of college football experts convenes periodically throughout the season, typically starting after Week 6 or 7.
- They analyze all the data points mentioned above, along with any relevant news or injuries, to rank the top 25 teams in the country.
- The rankings are released publicly, with explanations and justifications for significant movements.
- The final CFP rankings, released in December, determine which four teams will advance to the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
The Associated Press Poll
The Associated Press (AP) Poll is a cornerstone of the college football ranking system, offering a weekly snapshot of the top 25 teams in the nation. This prestigious poll, conducted since 1936, relied on sportswriters’ and broadcasters’ expertise and informed opinions nationwide. Here’s how it works:
The Voters
The AP chooses a select group of over 60 sportswriters and broadcasters based on their college football experience and knowledge. These voters are geographically diverse, ensuring a national perspective on the rankings.
The Process
- Balloting: Each voter submits a confidential ballot ranking their top 25 teams in the country.
- Point System: Teams receive points based on their ranking on each ballot:
- 25 points for 1st place
- 24 points for 2nd place
- Decreasing point values for lower rankings (down to 1 point for 25th place)
- Tallying: The AP staff collects all the ballots and tallies the total points for each team.
- Ranking: Teams are then ranked from 1 to 25 based on the total points they receive.
Considerations for Voters
While there are no strict guidelines, voters are encouraged to base their rankings on:
- Performance: Recent game results and overall season performance are key factors.
- Head-to-Head Results: Wins and losses against common opponents hold significant weight.
- Strength of Schedule: The difficulty of a team’s opponents is considered.
- Overall Impression: Voters can also consider factors like a team’s coaching, talent, and potential for future success.
Impact and Importance
- The AP Poll is highly influential, with a top ranking generating significant national attention and prestige for a program.
- It is a conversation starter, sparking debates and discussions among fans and analysts.
- While subjective, the AP Poll plays a role in determining bowl game invitations. It is a critical factor alongside the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings in selecting teams for the National Championship.
Limitations
- The AP Poll is subjective and can be influenced by voters’ regional biases or recent performances.
- It doesn’t necessarily reflect a team’s true strength throughout the season.
The Coaches Poll: Inside Look at a Coach’s Perspective
The Coaches Poll is one of the two pillars of the college football ranking system, offering a unique perspective on team strength. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions:
- Who Votes: Head coaches across Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions cast their ballots. However, they cannot vote for their teams, ensuring some level of objectivity.
- Frequency: The Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season. This allows for adjustments based on recent performances and emerging storylines.
- The Process: Coaches submit their top 25 teams, ranking them from best (1st) to worst (25th). Each ranking carries a point value, with the number one team receiving 25 points, the second 24 points, and so on.
- The Result: USA Today (currently the poll’s sponsor) collects and compiles the ballots. The points for each team are totaled, and the teams are ranked based on the accumulated points. The team with the most points is crowned number one, and the list continues down to number 25.
What it Reveals
The Coaches Poll offers valuable insights into how head coaches perceive the overall landscape of college football. They may prioritize factors like:
- Head-to-Head Results: Coaches understand their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Victories against intense competition can significantly boost a team’s ranking in the Coaches Poll.
- Conference Strength: A team’s performance within its conference can influence coaches’ votes. A dominant team in a strong conference might be ranked higher than one with a similar record in a weaker conference.
- Eye Test: Coaches have a trained eye for talent and scheme. They might elevate teams with impressive game management, even if their statistics aren’t top-notch.
Limitations
- Subjectivity: The Coaches Poll is not purely objective. Coaches may have biases towards their conference or past opponents.
- Limited Scope: Coaches primarily focus on teams they’ve scouted or played against, potentially overlooking surprise contenders.
BCS Rankings
The BCS Rankings, or Bowl Championship Series Rankings, were a system used from 1998 to 2013 to determine the top two teams in college football who would play in the National Championship game. While no longer in use, understanding the BCS can provide context for the current College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. Here’s how the BCS Rankings worked.
Components
The BCS wasn’t a single ranking but rather a combination of three main components:
- Computers: Several complex computer rankings were factored in, each with its unique formula analyzing the win-loss record, the strength of schedule, the margin of victory, and other data points.
- Polls: Two major human polls contributed significantly:
- Associated Press (AP) Poll: Similar to the current AP Poll, a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters voted for the top 25 teams.
- Coaches Poll: Head coaches (excluding their teams) voted for the top 25 teams.
- Strength of Schedule (SOS): A designated BCS coordinator, who reviewed each team’s schedule and assigned a strength of schedule rating, added a human element.
Combining the Components
A complex formula was then combined with the results from these components to create a single BCS score for each team. The two teams with the highest BCS scores received bids to play in the National Championship game.
Criticisms of the BCS
- Lack of Transparency: The formulas used in computer rankings weren’t publicly available, leading to accusations of a “black box” system.
- Focus on Polls: Human bias in polls could influence the outcome.
- Strength of Schedule Limitations: The subjective human element in assigning SOS ratings could be inconsistent.
Legacy of the BCS
Despite its shortcomings, the BCS paved the way for a more streamlined and transparent system. The current CFP rankings incorporate some aspects of the BCS, such as computer rankings and strength of schedule considerations. However, the CFP relies more heavily on a committee of experts to analyze data and create a final ranking, aiming for a more objective approach.
Other Computer Ranking Systems for College Football
While the college football playoff (CFP) ranking is the most popular computer ranking system for college football, there are others. These systems have strengths and weaknesses, and some may be more accurate in certain situations. Here’s a breakdown of a few other ones.
Sagarin Ratings
- Developer: Jeff Sagarin, a statistician who created his unique ranking system.
- Focus: Primarily based on points scored and allowed, with adjustments for strength of schedule and margin of victory.
- Strengths: Simple to understand, emphasizes on-field performance, and has a long history of success in predicting game outcomes.
- Weaknesses: We may need to fully account for certain aspects like injuries or coaching changes.
Massey Ratings
- Developer: Bill Massey, another statistician with his ranking system.
- Focus: Similar to Sagarin, it emphasizes points scored and allowed but uses a more complex formula incorporating historical win-loss data.
- Strengths: Provides separate offensive and defensive ratings, giving a more nuanced view of a team’s strengths.
- Weaknesses: The complex formula can be less transparent for casual fans.
Football Power Index (FPI)
- Developer: ESPN Analytics, a computer model used by ESPN.
- Focus: Analyzes various factors like offensive and defensive efficiency, strength of schedule, and returning starters.
- Strengths: Provides advanced metrics for offense and defense, making it a good tool for in-depth analysis.
- Weaknesses: The exact details of the FPI formula are private, limiting transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions: College Football Rankings Unveiled!
College football rankings can be a complex beast, but fear not! Here are some answers to your burning questions:
1. Who votes in the college football polls?
There are two primary polls:
- AP Poll: A panel of sports writers nationwide cast their ballots for the top 25 teams each week.
- CFP Rankings: The College Football Playoff Selection Committee, made up of athletic directors and former coaches, meets weekly to rank the top 25 teams based on team performance, head-to-head results, and strength of schedule.
2. How much do preseason rankings matter?
Preseason polls like the AP Poll offer a starting point for discussions, but they hold little weight as the season progresses. The final rankings, determined by the AP Poll or CFP rankings, matter most for postseason play.
3. Besides polls, are there other factors considered in ranking teams?
While polls are a big piece of the puzzle, the CFP Committee also considers key statistical metrics like win-loss record, strength of victory, and strength of schedule. Upsets and close games can significantly impact a team’s ranking.
4. What was the system used before the College Football Playoff?
Before 2014, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the national champion using a computer formula combined with the AP and Coaches Poll (now defunct).
5. How do teams get into the College Football Playoff?
The top four teams in the final CFP rankings earn a berth in the College Football Playoff, a series of elimination games culminating in the National Championship game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, navigating the world of college football rankings can be a thrilling ride. From the pre-season buzz generated by the AP Poll to the high-stakes decisions made by the CFP Selection Committee, these rankings fuel the passion and drama of the college football season.
Understanding the different ranking systems, the role of AP poll voters and committee members, and the impact of weekly rankings on a team’s fate adds another layer of excitement to the game. Remember, rankings are just one piece of the puzzle. Ultimately, the on-field performance determines which team will hoist the National Championship trophy. So, watch the polls, cheer on your favorite team, and enjoy the rollercoaster ride of college football.