How the ranking works

Every FBS team gets a single score for the season so far. The score is the sum of three parts, calculated with exact fractions (no rounding errors) and then ranked highest to lowest.

Score = Base points + Game bonus + Win bonus

1. Base points

Each game earns base points. Beating an FBS team is worth the most; games against FCS opponents are penalised.

Result vs FBS vs FCS
Win 3 0
Overtime win 2 -1
Overtime loss 1 -2
Loss 0 -3
Tie (before overtime existed) 1.5 -1.5

2. Game bonus

For every game against an FBS opponent you also earn a bonus that rewards beating strong opponents:

Game bonus = multiplier × weight × V where V = the opponent's base points (never below 0)
  • Conference game: weight is your own conference's weight. Multipliers: win 1, OT win 2/3, OT loss 1/3, loss 0.
  • Non-conference game: weight is the opponent's conference weight. Multipliers: win 2, OT win 4/3, OT loss 2/3, loss -1.
  • Independents: an independent's games use weight 1. Independent vs independent: win 1, OT win 2/3, OT loss 1/3, loss -1/2. A conference team vs an independent uses the non-conference multipliers with weight 1.

Losing a non-conference game to a strong team costs you the most; the pre-overtime tie rule uses half of each pair of values (tie = 1/2 in place of 2/3 and 1/3).

3. Conference weight

A conference's weight measures how well it does against outsiders: the base points its teams earned in non-conference games against FBS opponents, divided by the number of those games. Independents count as outside opponents. A conference that wins more non-conference games has a higher weight, so beating or losing to its teams matters more.

4. Win bonus

Based on your win percentage p (OT wins count 2/3, ties 1/2, FCS wins are not counted, FCS losses are):

Win bonus = 500 × (2/3)^((1 − p) × 12), rounded half-up to the nearest 10
  • Undefeated: 500.
  • p below 2/3: 0.
  • The exponent uses a 12-game season.

Reading the app

  • Conference championship toggle (top right): include the conference title games in each season. They are added as a final step after the last regular-season week.
  • Seasons shown: 2005 to now, except 2020 (COVID schedules). The current season updates only when its cache is rebuilt.
  • The Audit tab shows game counts and checks per season.
Conference weights
Data audit (final regular-season state)
Game counts not at 12
Checks