Ranking Methodology
Every point explained. No black boxes.
Algorithm Flow
Each game flows through this 13-step pipeline. Click on any team to see the exact values at each step.
1
Base Points
Assigns fundamental point values for wins and losses. Every game starts with these base points before any modifiers are applied.
2
Location Modifiers
Adjusts points based on game location. Away wins are rewarded more (harder to win on the road), away losses are less punishing. Home wins are worth less, home losses hurt more.
3
Opp Strength Formula
Combines conference strength and opponent ranking into a single strength value. Balances the importance of being in a strong conference vs individual team ranking.
4
Win Opp Modifier
Adjusts win points based on how strong the opponent was. Beating a top team earns significantly more points than beating a weak team.
5
Loss Opp Modifier
Adjusts loss penalty based on opponent strength. Losing to a top team is less damaging than losing to a weak team.
6
Loss Record Modifier
Applies an adjustment to losses based on the opponent's win/loss record. Losses to winning teams hurt less than losses to losing teams.
7
Margin Scaling
Adds points based on victory/loss margin, scaled by opponent strength. Blowing out a top team is worth more than blowing out a weak team.
8
Rank Strength Formula
Converts opponent's ranking to a strength value. Supports linear and exponential formulas. Higher-ranked teams (lower rank number) have higher strength.
9
Recency Weighting
Awards bonus for late-season games against quality opponents. Recent performance matters more for playoff selection.
10
Quality Win Bonuses
Awards additional bonus points for beating highly-ranked opponents. Tiered bonuses for Top 5, Top 10, and Top 25 wins.
11
Championship Game
Adjusts points for conference championship games. Winning the championship is a significant boost, losing is less punishing than a regular loss.
12
Auto-Bid Rules
Ensures top N conference champions are ranked within the guaranteed zone. Champions earn their spot by winning their conference.
13
Tiebreakers
Resolves ranking ties between teams with identical records. Uses head-to-head results first, then common opponent records if enabled.
Conference Strength
Dynamic modifiers based on cross-conference results:
See current values on the Conferences page.
Conference strength is applied only once through opponent strength calculations. There is no additional conference multiplier on final points to avoid double-counting.
Final Week Recalculation
On the final week of the regular season, the algorithm recalculates all game points from scratch rather than using incremental weekly totals. This ensures:
Week 14: Ohio State vs Michigan (27-9)
Ohio State
W Away| Base Win | +10.0 |
| Location (Away) x 1.35 | = 13.5 |
| Opponent Strength x 3.26 | |
| Record Modifier x 1.53 | = 44.0 |
| Margin (+18) | +4.9 |
| Top 25 Win | +1.5 |
| Recency | x 1.18 |
| Total | +59.4 |
Michigan
L Home| Base Loss | -8.0 |
| Location (Home) x 1.3 | = -10.4 |
| Opponent Strength x 0.31 | |
| Record Modifier x 1.77 | = -3.2 |
| Margin (-18) | -2.5 |
| Recency | x 1.18 |
| Total | -6.8 |
Want to adjust these parameters yourself?
Try the Sandbox