NCAA FBS Football Data

This is a landing page for the most recent college football data, and it will be updated on a weekly basis during the college football season. The ratings and predictions are updated with data through the end of championship week.

The ratings are now determined only by games played in the 2025 season.

Predictive Ratings

These are forward looking ratings, meaning that they’re intended to evaluate how good a team is and predict its future success, but they don’t evaluate the quality of a team’s achievements earlier in the season. These ratings are based purely on points.

The offense and defense columns refer to each team’s point scoring tendencies instead of the efficiency ratings that some other rating systems use. The overall rating is approximately the sum of a team’s offense and defense ratings. To predict the score of a game for the home team, take the home team’s offense rating, add half of the home advantage, subtract the visiting team’s defense rating, and add the mean score. Predicting the score is similar for the visiting team. Take the visiting team’s offense rating, subtract half of the home advantage, subtract the home team’s defense rating, and add the mean score. Predicting the margin of victory for a game is done by taking the home team’s rating, adding the home advantage, and subtracting the away team’s rating. For neutral site games, the home advantage is set to zero.

The last column here is SOR, which means strength of record. Unlike all the other columns, this is a backward looking rating and evaluates the quality of a team’s wins and losses in comparison to a hypothetical team with a rating 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS mean. Such a hypothetical team would typically be ranked somewhere between #10 and #15. Strength of record is just each team’s actual winning percentage minus the expected winning percentage for that hypothetical team against the same schedule. This is negative for most teams because their record is being compared against the expected record for a pretty good team.

Predictive Ratings
Home advantage: 1.79 points
Mean score: 26.83 points
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
   1      90.08  -0.22  Indiana               45.97   44.01    .240
   2      86.76  +0.36  Ohio State            38.36   48.39    .154
   3      84.78  +0.03  Oregon                43.78   40.89    .177
   4   +1 82.83  +1.38  Texas Tech            41.41   41.40    .080
   5   -1 82.28  +0.12  Notre Dame            43.33   38.82    .000
   6      78.37  +0.16  Utah                  42.62   35.69   -.022
   7      76.03  -0.03  Miami                 34.05   42.01    .005
   8   +1 74.13  -0.04  USC                   40.24   33.96   -.003
   9   -1 73.92  -1.69  Alabama               36.57   37.26    .023
  10   +3 73.60  +1.20  Georgia               32.81   40.85    .122
  11      73.33  +0.08  Washington            38.22   35.07   -.122
  12      72.99  -0.02  Vanderbilt            41.86   31.10    .008
  13   +2 72.38  +0.17  Iowa                  30.70   41.61   -.066
  14   -4 72.27  -1.01  BYU                   35.18   36.96    .087
  15   -1 72.10  -0.21  Texas A&M             38.47   33.63    .115
  16      71.70  -0.16  Oklahoma              29.31   42.47    .050
  17      71.50  +0.12  Ole Miss              40.19   31.31    .067
  18      70.96  +0.04  Penn State            36.45   34.46   -.218
  19      69.68  -0.06  Michigan              33.59   36.15   -.019
  20      68.33  +0.01  South Florida         39.41   28.99   -.141
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
  21      68.13  +0.11  Texas                 32.02   36.19    .008
  22      67.29  -0.52  Missouri              32.31   35.01   -.134
  23      67.21  -0.26  Tennessee             41.50   25.70   -.148
  24      66.53  -0.28  Arizona               32.04   34.50   -.144
  25   +1 65.79  +0.04  Florida State         34.02   31.54   -.431
  26   +1 65.67  +0.10  Illinois              32.95   32.77   -.074
  27   +2 64.61  -0.11  LSU                   26.03   38.51   -.181
  28   -3 64.50  -1.93  North Texas           41.35   23.14   -.113
  29   -1 64.32  -0.69  Auburn                28.81   35.51   -.349
  30      63.58  +0.03  Pittsburgh            34.92   28.57   -.174
  31      63.49  +0.61  Iowa State            29.75   33.65   -.198
  32      62.59  -0.08  Louisville            31.62   31.02   -.209
  33   +1 62.07  -0.42  James Madison         29.93   32.19   -.050
  34   +1 61.91  -0.07  Florida               27.17   34.72   -.379
  35   +1 61.74  +0.13  SMU                   30.56   31.16   -.239
  36   -3 61.61  -1.03  Virginia              30.64   30.97   -.163
  37      61.16  +0.04  TCU                   32.07   28.92   -.218
  38      60.89  -0.09  Nebraska              31.24   29.62   -.251
  39      60.29  +0.16  Kansas State          32.47   27.68   -.313
  40      59.61  -0.15  South Carolina        25.54   34.08   -.424
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
  41   +1 59.50  +0.07  Georgia Tech          31.37   28.13   -.158
  42   +2 59.29  +0.36  Arizona State         24.91   34.28   -.145
  43   -2 59.29  -0.19  Cincinnati            31.17   28.13   -.256
  44   -1 59.23  +0.05  Clemson               27.93   31.16   -.324
  45      58.29  +0.11  Houston               28.47   29.87   -.139
  46      58.02  -0.10  East Carolina         28.53   29.43   -.270
  47      58.02  -0.07  Toledo                26.65   31.22   -.313
  48      57.95  +0.09  NC State              31.25   26.41   -.222
  49   +3 57.86  +0.56  Northwestern          23.89   33.94   -.268
  50      57.84  +0.12  Arkansas              34.65   22.88   -.578
  51   -2 57.79  -0.02  Mississippi State     32.15   25.72   -.374
  52   -1 57.46  -0.14  Wisconsin             20.53   36.87   -.282
  53   +1 57.20  +0.64  Duke                  34.09   23.21   -.307
  54   -1 57.08  -0.07  Kentucky              26.33   30.74   -.356
  55      56.96  +0.42  Boise State           27.93   29.07   -.201
  56   +6 56.80  +1.93  Tulane                25.89   30.80   -.073
  57   -1 56.73  +0.24  Kansas                30.02   26.75   -.374
  58   -1 56.20  +0.12  Memphis               28.47   27.73   -.287
  59   -1 55.58  -0.14  Old Dominion          26.59   28.85   -.153
  60      55.20  -0.05  San Diego State       21.86   33.37   -.228
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
  61   -2 55.07  -0.20  Wake Forest           23.27   32.00   -.256
  62   +1 54.99  +0.28  Michigan State        28.04   26.90   -.421
  63   -2 54.97  +0.04  Rutgers               31.83   23.17   -.306
  64      54.60  -0.10  Washington State      21.50   33.04   -.361
  65      54.57  +0.05  Minnesota             25.64   29.01   -.199
  66      53.38  +0.04  Baylor                32.59   20.60   -.427
  67      53.34  +0.14  UTSA                  30.73   22.54   -.393
  68   +2 52.95  +0.31  New Mexico            24.97   27.76   -.191
  69   -1 52.69  -0.16  Maryland              24.96   27.69   -.476
  70   -1 52.37  -0.39  UNLV                  32.55   19.62   -.205
  71   +1 51.78  +0.24  UCLA                  24.29   27.37   -.409
  72   -1 51.77  +0.15  UCF                   22.69   28.99   -.432
  73   +1 51.50  +0.17  Purdue                24.21   27.18   -.478
  74   -1 50.96  -0.41  Utah State            28.29   22.86   -.398
  75      50.74  -0.25  Navy                  25.89   24.86   -.052
  76      49.65  -0.20  Army                  18.63   30.94   -.393
  77      49.00  -0.25  UConn                 27.85   21.17   -.241
  78      48.83  -0.26  Virginia Tech         24.51   24.32   -.582
  79      48.62  -0.24  Colorado              23.61   25.01   -.573
  80      48.39  -0.05  West Virginia         24.19   24.05   -.459
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
  81      48.26  +0.07  Stanford              21.21   26.85   -.451
  82      48.24  +0.23  Western Michigan      18.61   29.64   -.257
  83      47.67  +0.15  Hawai’i               23.18   24.43   -.293
  84      47.37  +0.03  Louisiana Tech        21.69   25.52   -.386
  85      46.98  +0.09  California            23.01   23.87   -.356
  86      46.93  +0.06  Fresno State          21.07   25.86   -.307
  87   +1 46.55  +0.19  Texas State           29.81   16.61   -.470
  88   -1 46.39  -0.00  Western Kentucky      23.49   22.91   -.298
  89      46.04  -0.22  Ohio                  23.82   22.36   -.250
  90      45.22  -0.85  Miami (OH)            20.71   24.50   -.435
  91      45.05  -0.27  Kennesaw State        23.09   22.19   -.151
  92      44.90  -0.25  Boston College        24.97   19.91   -.701
  93      44.27  +0.18  Temple                24.90   19.11   -.500
  94      43.84  +0.09  Air Force             25.00   18.75   -.642
  95      43.68  +0.03  North Carolina        17.88   25.71   -.610
  96      42.80  +0.12  Syracuse              20.83   21.80   -.549
  97      42.74  +0.16  Marshall              25.08   17.65   -.522
  98   +4 41.24  +0.74  Troy                  18.39   22.88   -.345
  99   -1 40.73  -0.11  Wyoming               12.29   28.59   -.603
 100      40.63  -0.05  Southern Miss         21.60   19.10   -.407
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
 101   -2 40.59  -0.24  Florida International 20.38   20.20   -.374
 102   +1 40.43  +0.20  Missouri State        20.47   19.87   -.356
 103   -2 40.19  -0.32  Jacksonville State    20.18   19.99   -.378
 104      39.99  +0.18  Liberty               19.90   19.87   -.645
 105      39.73  -0.02  Central Michigan      17.45   22.13   -.354
 106      39.43  +0.01  Tulsa                 19.02   20.55   -.638
 107      39.07  -0.09  Oregon State          17.62   21.41   -.675
 108      38.50  +0.33  Oklahoma State        16.21   22.32   -.704
 109      38.09  -0.07  Florida Atlantic      24.56   13.39   -.607
 110      37.76  +0.03  Nevada                14.76   23.04   -.689
 111   +3 37.31  +0.52  Colorado State        17.49   19.65   -.758
 112   -1 37.13  +0.05  Louisiana             19.99   17.10   -.453
 113   -1 37.11  +0.15  Arkansas State        16.59   20.35   -.476
 114   -1 37.07  +0.24  Georgia Southern      22.58   14.36   -.430
 115      36.03  +0.01  Bowling Green         12.96   22.98   -.629
 116   +2 35.98  +0.24  San José State        20.13   15.92   -.702
 117      35.97  +0.08  Delaware              22.16   13.81   -.487
 118   -2 35.82  -0.10  UAB                   21.53   14.32   -.589
 119      35.63  +0.13  South Alabama         18.94   16.64   -.616
 120      35.03  +0.11  App State             17.90   17.10   -.549
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  Offense Defense   SOR
 121      34.90  -0.00  Buffalo               15.32   19.75   -.574
 122      34.34  -0.37  Rice                  14.36   20.00   -.517
 123      33.47  -0.11  New Mexico State      13.60   19.84   -.629
 124      33.25  -0.08  Northern Illinois     11.52   21.67   -.718
 125      32.67  -0.20  Eastern Michigan      18.92   13.76   -.652
 126      32.31  -0.03  UTEP                  16.77   15.54   -.797
 127      32.09  -0.04  Akron                 15.34   16.62   -.557
 128      31.41  -0.23  Coastal Carolina      17.60   13.82   -.446
 129      31.24  -0.14  Middle Tennessee      15.52   15.64   -.736
 130      29.69  +0.11  Kent State            18.05   11.74   -.443
 131      29.32  -0.17  Ball State            12.11   17.21   -.625
 132   +1 28.48  +0.24  Charlotte             11.85   16.44   -.801
 133   -1 28.45  -0.01  Georgia State         14.84   13.53   -.811
 134      25.38  +0.05  UL Monroe             10.39   14.87   -.688
 135      24.35  +0.06  Sam Houston           13.11   11.15   -.793
 136      12.36  -0.29  Massachusetts         5.50    6.99    -.927

Schedule Strength

There are two different measures of schedule strength in this table. The first two columns measure the difficulty a team’s past and future schedules would pose for a team that would be 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS mean. The columns are the team’s expected losing percentage against that schedule, meaning that higher numbers indicate a stronger schedule. This should be somewhat similar to the schedule strength from ESPN’s FPI ratings.

The last two columns are also the past and future schedules, but they’re just the average of the opponents’ predictive ratings with an adjustment for the site of the game. Schedule strength is a factor in deciding which teams belong in the college football playoff, and these two columns aren’t always representative of the schedule strength for a team near the top of the ratings. These ratings should be closer to the schedule strength in Jeff Sagarin’s ratings, which are the rating a team would need to be expected to win exactly 50% of games against that team’s schedule.

Past and Future Schedule Strength
Home advantage: 1.79 points
Mean score: 26.83 points
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
   1 Indiana               .240 (17)  ---      58.70 (17)  ---      
   2 Ohio State            .231 (21)  ---      58.10 (25)  ---      
   3 Oregon                .261 (8)   ---      61.19 (5)   ---      
   4 Texas Tech            .157 (50)  ---      50.45 (65)  ---      
   5 Notre Dame            .167 (45)  ---      57.77 (30)  ---      
   6 Utah                  .145 (55)  ---      55.59 (41)  ---      
   7 Miami                 .172 (43)  ---      55.59 (40)  ---      
   8 USC                   .247 (13)  ---      60.48 (8)   ---      
   9 Alabama               .253 (12)  ---      59.39 (13)  ---      
  10 Georgia               .199 (34)  ---      58.25 (24)  ---      
  11 Washington            .211 (28)  ---      58.59 (19)  ---      
  12 Vanderbilt            .175 (42)  ---      55.37 (45)  ---      
  13 Iowa                  .267 (7)   ---      57.04 (33)  ---      
  14 BYU                   .241 (16)  ---      58.64 (18)  ---      
  15 Texas A&M             .199 (35)  ---      57.58 (32)  ---      
  16 Oklahoma              .217 (25)  ---      59.34 (14)  ---      
  17 Ole Miss              .151 (54)  ---      54.64 (48)  ---      
  18 Penn State            .282 (5)   ---      60.41 (10)  ---      
  19 Michigan              .231 (22)  ---      61.02 (6)   ---      
  20 South Florida         .109 (65)  .067 (2) 48.36 (77)  55.58 (2)
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
  21 Texas                 .258 (10)  ---      58.55 (20)  ---      
  22 Missouri              .199 (33)  ---      54.26 (51)  ---      
  23 Tennessee             .186 (40)  ---      55.06 (47)  ---      
  24 Arizona               .106 (68)  ---      53.06 (56)  ---      
  25 Florida State         .152 (52)  ---      53.78 (52)  ---      
  26 Illinois              .259 (9)   ---      59.51 (12)  ---      
  27 LSU                   .236 (18)  ---      60.51 (7)   ---      
  28 North Texas           .041 (107) ---      44.99 (91)  ---      
  29 Auburn                .234 (19)  ---      57.74 (31)  ---      
  30 Pittsburgh            .159 (48)  ---      53.43 (53)  ---      
  31 Iowa State            .135 (58)  ---      55.56 (43)  ---      
  32 Louisville            .124 (61)  ---      53.14 (55)  ---      
  33 James Madison         .026 (121) ---      41.01 (111) ---      
  34 Florida               .287 (4)   ---      63.00 (4)   ---      
  35 SMU                   .094 (72)  ---      50.30 (66)  ---      
  36 Virginia              .068 (85)  ---      50.00 (69)  ---      
  37 TCU                   .115 (63)  ---      55.49 (44)  ---      
  38 Nebraska              .165 (46)  ---      54.28 (50)  ---      
  39 Kansas State          .187 (39)  ---      58.07 (26)  ---      
  40 South Carolina        .243 (15)  ---      59.10 (15)  ---      
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
  41 Georgia Tech          .092 (74)  ---      51.37 (61)  ---      
  42 Arizona State         .189 (38)  ---      57.94 (27)  ---      
  43 Cincinnati            .160 (47)  ---      52.42 (59)  ---      
  44 Clemson               .093 (73)  ---      51.34 (62)  ---      
  45 Houston               .111 (64)  ---      51.96 (60)  ---      
  46 East Carolina         .063 (88)  ---      45.12 (89)  ---      
  47 Toledo                .020 (129) ---      38.13 (131) ---      
  48 NC State              .194 (36)  ---      56.80 (35)  ---      
  49 Northwestern          .232 (20)  ---      56.63 (37)  ---      
  50 Arkansas              .256 (11)  ---      58.90 (16)  ---      
  51 Mississippi State     .209 (30)  ---      56.21 (38)  ---      
  52 Wisconsin             .385 (1)   ---      66.39 (2)   ---      
  53 Duke                  .077 (80)  ---      52.65 (58)  ---      
  54 Kentucky              .227 (23)  ---      60.28 (11)  ---      
  55 Boise State           .107 (67)  ---      49.17 (72)  ---      
  56 Tulane                .081 (77)  ---      50.18 (68)  ---      
  57 Kansas                .210 (29)  ---      55.63 (39)  ---      
  58 Memphis               .046 (104) ---      44.00 (94)  ---      
  59 Old Dominion          .097 (71)  .315 (1) 41.91 (106) 68.33 (1)
  60 San Diego State       .022 (128) ---      42.84 (101) ---      
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
  61 Wake Forest           .078 (79)  ---      49.94 (70)  ---      
  62 Michigan State        .245 (14)  ---      60.46 (9)   ---      
  63 Rutgers               .278 (6)   ---      58.48 (22)  ---      
  64 Washington State      .139 (57)  ---      53.38 (54)  ---      
  65 Minnesota             .218 (24)  ---      54.45 (49)  ---      
  66 Baylor                .156 (51)  ---      55.20 (46)  ---      
  67 UTSA                  .107 (66)  ---      48.90 (75)  ---      
  68 New Mexico            .059 (97)  ---      47.23 (81)  ---      
  69 Maryland              .191 (37)  ---      55.58 (42)  ---      
  70 UNLV                  .026 (124) ---      45.23 (87)  ---      
  71 UCLA                  .341 (3)   ---      67.11 (1)   ---      
  72 UCF                   .151 (53)  ---      50.66 (63)  ---      
  73 Purdue                .355 (2)   ---      64.47 (3)   ---      
  74 Utah State            .102 (70)  ---      47.49 (80)  ---      
  75 Navy                  .130 (60)  .024 (4) 45.68 (86)  49.65 (4)
  76 Army                  .062 (91)  .030 (3) 49.06 (73)  50.74 (3)
  77 UConn                 .009 (135) ---      37.92 (133) ---      
  78 Virginia Tech         .168 (44)  ---      57.79 (29)  ---      
  79 Colorado              .177 (41)  ---      58.39 (23)  ---      
  80 West Virginia         .208 (31)  ---      56.95 (34)  ---      
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
  81 Stanford              .216 (26)  ---      58.54 (21)  ---      
  82 Western Michigan      .051 (100) ---      42.90 (99)  ---      
  83 Hawai’i               .040 (109) .010 (6) 42.63 (103) 45.18 (6)
  84 Louisiana Tech        .031 (117) ---      41.08 (110) ---      
  85 California            .061 (94)  .023 (5) 48.84 (76)  49.46 (5)
  86 Fresno State          .026 (123) ---      40.87 (112) ---      
  87 Texas State           .030 (118) ---      40.68 (115) ---      
  88 Western Kentucky      .035 (114) ---      39.38 (124) ---      
  89 Ohio                  .083 (75)  ---      40.35 (117) ---      
  90 Miami (OH)            .027 (120) ---      42.10 (105) ---      
  91 Kennesaw State        .080 (78)  ---      41.79 (107) ---      
  92 Boston College        .132 (59)  ---      52.68 (57)  ---      
  93 Temple                .083 (76)  ---      45.91 (85)  ---      
  94 Air Force             .025 (125) ---      44.36 (93)  ---      
  95 North Carolina        .057 (98)  ---      48.96 (74)  ---      
  96 Syracuse              .201 (32)  ---      56.72 (36)  ---      
  97 Marshall              .061 (93)  ---      42.11 (104) ---      
  98 Troy                  .040 (110) ---      41.66 (108) ---      
  99 Wyoming               .064 (87)  ---      45.07 (90)  ---      
 100 Southern Miss         .010 (133) ---      38.09 (132) ---      
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
 101 Florida International .043 (105) ---      39.17 (127) ---      
 102 Missouri State        .060 (95)  .001 (8) 42.95 (98)  37.11 (8)
 103 Jacksonville State    .007 (136) ---      37.31 (134) ---      
 104 Liberty               .022 (127) ---      40.75 (114) ---      
 105 Central Michigan      .063 (89)  ---      38.69 (130) ---      
 106 Tulsa                 .029 (119) ---      44.81 (92)  ---      
 107 Oregon State          .158 (49)  ---      50.20 (67)  ---      
 108 Oklahoma State        .213 (27)  ---      57.80 (28)  ---      
 109 Florida Atlantic      .060 (96)  ---      45.20 (88)  ---      
 110 Nevada                .061 (92)  ---      48.11 (78)  ---      
 111 Colorado State        .076 (82)  ---      49.70 (71)  ---      
 112 Louisiana             .047 (103) ---      40.30 (118) ---      
 113 Arkansas State        .024 (126) .003 (7) 40.08 (120) 40.43 (7)
 114 Georgia Southern      .070 (84)  ---      42.85 (100) ---      
 115 Bowling Green         .038 (111) ---      39.20 (125) ---      
 116 San José State        .048 (102) ---      46.98 (82)  ---      
 117 Delaware              .013 (132) ---      39.18 (126) ---      
 118 UAB                   .077 (81)  ---      47.84 (79)  ---      
 119 South Alabama         .050 (101) ---      39.95 (121) ---      
 120 App State             .034 (115) ---      39.79 (123) ---      
Rank Team                  SOS        Future   OppRtg      Future   
 121 Buffalo               .010 (134) ---      34.33 (136) ---      
 122 Rice                  .067 (86)  ---      46.40 (83)  ---      
 123 New Mexico State      .037 (112) ---      39.93 (122) ---      
 124 Northern Illinois     .032 (116) ---      40.61 (116) ---      
 125 Eastern Michigan      .014 (130) ---      39.09 (129) ---      
 126 UTEP                  .037 (113) ---      39.16 (128) ---      
 127 Akron                 .026 (122) ---      36.60 (135) ---      
 128 Coastal Carolina      .054 (99)  ---      43.23 (97)  ---      
 129 Middle Tennessee      .014 (131) ---      40.20 (119) ---      
 130 Kent State            .141 (56)  ---      42.75 (102) ---      
 131 Ball State            .042 (106) ---      43.29 (96)  ---      
 132 Charlotte             .115 (62)  ---      50.63 (64)  ---      
 133 Georgia State         .106 (69)  ---      46.34 (84)  ---      
 134 UL Monroe             .062 (90)  ---      40.82 (113) ---      
 135 Sam Houston           .040 (108) ---      43.94 (95)  ---      
 136 Massachusetts         .073 (83)  ---      41.36 (109) ---      

Conference Ratings

To rate the overall quality of conferences, I calculate the expected outcome if each team in a conference were to play every FBS team at a neutral site. The Win% column is the average probability of winning for all of the possible games and for all the teams in the conference. It’s similar to the average rating of all the teams in the conference, but it should be less skewed by outliers.

However, the idea of the “best” conference is subjective, and another way to judge the quality of a conference is to consider how many of its teams are among the best in the FBS. What if instead of playing every team in the FBS, each conference opponent just plays a hypothetical opponent with a rating that’s 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS mean? In this case, the quality of a conference is determined by how its teams would be expected to perform against a hypothetical opponent ranked somewhere around #10 to #15 in the FBS. This is what I’ve done with the HighWin% column. It’s analogous to how I calculate strength of record, and each conference’s rating is impacted more when the conference has more highly rated teams.

Conference Ratings
Rank Win% Conference        HighWin%  Rating Offense Defense OffDef    
   1 .755 SEC               .283 (3)  66.35  32.86   33.48   -0.62 (7) 
   2 .717 Big Ten           .308 (2)  65.80  31.94   33.84   -1.90 (9) 
   3 .688 FBS Independents  .379 (1)  65.64  35.59   30.00   5.60 (1)  
   4 .634 Big 12            .192 (4)  59.95  29.96   29.92   0.04 (5)  
   5 .575 ACC               .119 (5)  56.22  28.01   28.15   -0.15 (6) 
   6 .436 American Athletic .064 (6)  48.43  25.37   23.02   2.35 (2)  
   7 .402 Pac-12            .030 (7)  46.84  19.56   27.22   -7.67 (11)
   8 .396 Mountain West     .025 (8)  46.55  22.46   24.08   -1.62 (8) 
   9 .280 Sun Belt          .019 (9)  39.71  20.73   18.93   1.80 (3)  
  10 .249 Conference USA    .004 (11) 38.11  19.20   18.88   0.32 (4)  
  11 .244 Mid-American      .011 (10) 36.73  16.69   20.04   -3.36 (10)

Playoff Ratings

Here are the four components of the playoff ratings:

  1. The cumulative distribution function of the team’s strength of record for a hypothetical team 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS average. (SOR; 55%)

  2. The cumulative distribution function of the team’s predictive rating (Fwd; 30%)

  3. The team’s winning percentage (Win%; 10%)

  4. The cumulative distribution function of the team’s strength of schedule for a hypothetical team 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS average. (SOS; 5%)

Unlike my predictive ratings, these are based heavily on strength of record, meaning that they give more weight to a team’s past accomplishments than what they’re expected to do in the future.

Playoff Ratings
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
   1      .9891  +.0099 Indiana               .991  .907  1.000  .995
   2      .9755  +.0001 Oregon                .983  .940  .917   .986
   3      .9723  -.0013 Ohio State            .979  .888  .923   .990
   4   +4 .9460  +.0135 Texas Tech            .958  .646  .923   .981
   5   +2 .9447  +.0114 Georgia               .971  .803  .923   .926
   6   -1 .9384  -.0014 Texas A&M             .970  .802  .917   .911
   7   -3 .9322  -.0086 BYU                   .961  .908  .846   .913
   8   +1 .9183  -.0028 Oklahoma              .946  .854  .833   .907
   9   +2 .9182  +.0023 Ole Miss              .953  .618  .917   .904
  10      .9172  +.0006 Notre Dame            .920  .686  .833   .979
  11   -5 .9151  -.0207 Alabama               .933  .930  .769   .929
  12      .9103  +.0007 Miami                 .923  .707  .833   .947
  13   +1 .9050  +.0011 USC                   .918  .919  .750   .931
  14   -1 .9037  -.0036 Vanderbilt            .924  .717  .833   .920
  15      .8994  +.0017 Utah                  .905  .592  .833   .962
  16      .8879  +.0021 Texas                 .924  .936  .750   .859
  17      .8827  +.0008 Michigan              .907  .888  .750   .881
  18      .8673  +.0019 Iowa                  .871  .948  .667   .914
  19   +1 .8348  +.0018 Washington            .816  .839  .667   .924
  20   +1 .8345  +.0024 Illinois              .864  .939  .667   .818
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
  21   +2 .8092  +.0005 James Madison         .884  .132  .923   .747
  22      .8025  -.0067 Missouri              .803  .804  .667   .846
  23   +1 .7923  -.0027 South Florida         .795  .429  .750   .862
  24   +1 .7911  -.0016 Tennessee             .788  .758  .667   .845
  25   -6 .7869  -.0487 North Texas           .827  .171  .846   .797
  26   +1 .7811  -.0006 Arizona               .791  .415  .750   .834
  27   +6 .7617  +.0309 Tulane                .865  .309  .846   .620
  28      .7529  -.0037 LSU                   .746  .898  .583   .799
  29      .7498  +.0028 Penn State            .695  .964  .500   .898
  30      .7480  +.0019 Pittsburgh            .755  .655  .667   .779
  31      .7450  +.0075 Arizona State         .791  .769  .667   .683
  32   -6 .7338  -.0499 Virginia              .769  .259  .769   .737
  33   +1 .7332  +.0051 Houston               .798  .440  .750   .658
  34   -2 .7309  -.0044 Navy                  .883  .524  .818   .458
  35   +1 .7251  +.0053 Georgia Tech          .775  .355  .750   .688
  36   -1 .7246  +.0034 Iowa State            .723  .549  .667   .777
  37      .7082  -.0011 Louisville            .708  .500  .667   .758
  38      .7000  -.0012 Old Dominion          .781  .378  .750   .588
  39      .6897  +.0009 TCU                   .695  .459  .667   .727
  40   +5 .6730  +.0202 Boise State           .719  .421  .692   .624
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
  41   +1 .6721  +.0022 SMU                   .664  .366  .667   .740
  42   -1 .6713  +.0013 NC State              .688  .788  .583   .650
  43      .6663  +.0029 Minnesota             .721  .857  .583   .561
  44      .6633  +.0020 Nebraska              .645  .680  .583   .721
  45   +1 .6469  -.0014 Cincinnati            .638  .660  .583   .683
  46   +1 .6442  +.0039 New Mexico            .732  .227  .750   .517
  47   +2 .6298  +.0076 Northwestern          .620  .891  .500   .647
  48      .6282  +.0016 San Diego State       .680  .120  .750   .578
  49   -9 .6263  -.0480 UNLV                  .713  .130  .769   .502
  50   +1 .6162  +.0080 Kennesaw State        .783  .305  .769   .311
  51   -1 .6130  +.0008 East Carolina         .616  .242  .667   .651
  52      .6051  -.0009 Wake Forest           .639  .296  .667   .575
  53      .6032  -.0023 Wisconsin             .598  .999  .333   .637
  54   +1 .6014  +.0071 Kansas State          .548  .763  .500   .707
  55   -1 .5932  -.0059 Auburn                .489  .895  .417   .793
  56      .5818  +.0042 Memphis               .590  .187  .667   .605
  57      .5725  +.0025 Clemson               .530  .360  .583   .681
  58   +7 .5721  +.0468 Duke                  .557  .296  .615   .631
  59   +1 .5690  +.0032 Rutgers               .560  .960  .417   .572
  60   -2 .5689  +.0006 Toledo                .547  .117  .667   .651
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
  61   -2 .5661  -.0001 UConn                 .660  .093  .750   .411
  62   -1 .5468  +.0035 Florida               .440  .969  .333   .743
  63   +1 .5467  +.0210 Western Michigan      .637  .200  .692   .391
  64   -2 .5393  -.0000 Ohio                  .648  .320  .667   .335
  65   -2 .5362  +.0022 Kentucky              .477  .879  .417   .627
  66   +1 .5234  +.0033 Mississippi State     .448  .833  .417   .646
  67   -1 .5159  -.0052 Florida State         .358  .624  .417   .821
  68   +1 .5159  +.0056 Kansas                .449  .835  .417   .618
  69   +1 .5065  +.0016 Hawai’i               .579  .167  .667   .376
  70   -2 .5054  -.0070 Washington State      .470  .567  .500   .562
  71   +1 .4921  +.0010 Western Kentucky      .572  .154  .667   .344
  72   -1 .4894  -.0059 South Carolina        .370  .912  .333   .691
  73      .4869  +.0027 Fresno State          .557  .131  .667   .357
  74      .4598  -.0017 UTSA                  .419  .423  .500   .528
  75      .4562  +.0034 Michigan State        .373  .917  .333   .573
  76   +1 .4403  +.0013 California            .478  .234  .583   .358
  77   +3 .4361  +.0051 UCLA                  .392  .993  .250   .486
  78      .4346  -.0026 Utah State            .410  .400  .500   .464
  79      .4330  +.0011 Baylor                .364  .643  .417   .529
  80   +1 .4251  -.0008 Army                  .419  .238  .545   .428
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
  81   +2 .4145  +.0024 UCF                   .357  .621  .417   .486
  82   +2 .4125  +.0012 Louisiana Tech        .430  .144  .583   .369
  83   -7 .4103  -.0312 Troy                  .496  .167  .615   .226
  84   +2 .3954  +.0025 Missouri State        .477  .233  .583   .210
  85   +2 .3937  +.0010 Central Michigan      .481  .240  .583   .196
  86   +2 .3859  +.0000 Maryland              .292  .776  .333   .510
  87   +2 .3778  -.0003 Florida International .449  .176  .583   .213
  88   +2 .3737  -.0022 Stanford              .328  .851  .333   .391
  89   -7 .3706  -.0515 Jacksonville State    .442  .089  .615   .205
  90   +1 .3690  +.0039 Purdue                .289  .996  .167   .478
  91   +1 .3674  +.0028 West Virginia         .317  .830  .333   .395
  92   +1 .3495  +.0001 Arkansas              .168  .933  .167   .647
  93   -8 .3488  -.0490 Miami (OH)            .353  .133  .538   .315
  94      .3447  +.0012 Southern Miss         .396  .095  .583   .213
  95      .3267  +.0028 Texas State           .301  .140  .500   .348
  96      .3061  +.0011 Georgia Southern      .360  .267  .500   .150
  97      .2878  -.0008 Temple                .259  .319  .417   .292
  98      .2836  -.0006 Louisiana             .325  .189  .500   .151
  99   +2 .2764  +.0031 Kent State            .341  .574  .417   .062
 100   -1 .2761  -.0018 Colorado              .172  .724  .250   .401
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
 101   -1 .2714  -.0029 Virginia Tech         .163  .692  .250   .407
 102      .2679  -.0023 Coastal Carolina      .335  .209  .500   .078
 103      .2619  +.0030 Arkansas State        .292  .125  .500   .151
 104      .2574  +.0041 Marshall              .230  .234  .417   .258
 105      .2523  +.0016 Syracuse              .199  .809  .250   .259
 106      .2475  +.0011 Delaware              .277  .102  .500   .133
 107      .2183  -.0034 Rice                  .238  .255  .417   .111
 108      .2033  +.0006 North Carolina        .137  .221  .333   .279
 109      .1942  +.0009 App State             .198  .151  .417   .120
 110      .1890  +.0002 Wyoming               .143  .245  .333   .215
 111      .1848  +.0011 Air Force             .110  .127  .333   .282
 112      .1778  +.0003 Akron                 .190  .131  .417   .084
 113   +2 .1763  +.0007 Buffalo               .172  .095  .417   .118
 114      .1744  -.0012 Boston College        .071  .534  .167   .307
 115   -2 .1732  -.0029 UAB                   .156  .296  .333   .131
 116      .1717  +.0015 Florida Atlantic      .140  .232  .333   .167
 117      .1598  +.0013 Tulsa                 .113  .138  .333   .191
 118      .1589  +.0012 Liberty               .108  .121  .333   .201
 119      .1538  -.0017 South Alabama         .131  .199  .333   .128
 120      .1518  +.0010 Oregon State          .086  .650  .167   .184
Rank Move Rating Change Team                  SOR   SOS   Win%   Fwd 
 121      .1478  +.0002 Bowling Green         .120  .161  .333   .134
 122      .1409  +.0033 Oklahoma State        .070  .845  .083   .174
 123      .1373  -.0001 New Mexico State      .120  .160  .333   .100
 124   +1 .1280  +.0006 Nevada                .078  .235  .250   .161
 125   -1 .1278  -.0010 Ball State            .124  .174  .333   .059
 126      .1219  -.0003 Eastern Michigan      .102  .104  .333   .091
 127      .1135  +.0014 San José State        .071  .193  .250   .133
 128      .1018  +.0029 Colorado State        .045  .290  .167   .154
 129      .0955  -.0001 Northern Illinois     .062  .145  .250   .097
 130      .0901  -.0016 UL Monroe             .079  .239  .250   .033
 131      .0822  -.0002 Middle Tennessee      .053  .103  .250   .076
 132      .0679  +.0000 UTEP                  .031  .158  .167   .087
 133      .0636  +.0010 Charlotte             .030  .459  .083   .053
 134      .0599  -.0003 Georgia State         .027  .415  .083   .052
 135      .0514  +.0002 Sam Houston           .032  .167  .167   .029
 136      .0195  -.0004 Massachusetts         .008  .278  .000   .003

Playoff Cost/Benefit Opportunity

There are many ways to calculate schedule strength, and a difficult schedule for one team might be an easy schedule for another. The difficulty of the schedule depends on who is playing it. In this case, the FutureDiff column is the difficulty of the schedule for the team playing it. It is the team’s expected losing percentage against that schedule.

Strength of record is the biggest factor in the playoff ratings. It’s based on a team’s actual winning percentage compared to the expected winning percentage for a hypothetical FBS team with a predictive rating 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS mean. There are two characteristics of a team that is likely to improve their strength of record:

  1. They are expected to improve their winning percentage over the remainder of the season (DiffChg; negative values are more favorable)

  2. The expected winning percentage for a team 1.5 standard deviations above the FBS mean is lower over the remainder of the season (SOSChg; positive values are more favorable)

The Opportunity column is calculated by subtracting DiffChg from SOSChg, and it attempts to measure how likely a team is to improve their strength of record (positive is better). Because strength of record is the biggest component of the playoff ratings, the Opportunity column is a forward looking predictor of how a team might move up or down in the playoff ratings. I describe this as comparing the costs, the chance of losing additional games, to the benefits, the increased schedule strength.

This product will return in the 2026 college football regular season.

Upcoming Game Predictions

Upcoming games are ranked based on the projected quality. This factors in the overall strength of the two teams and the potential for a competitive game. Game quality ratings are not directly comparable between college football and the NFL. NFL games are typically decided by smaller margins than college games, the teams are more balanced in their quality, and there’s just not as much scoring in the NFL. Thresholds for close games and blowouts are also different between college and the NFL for the same reasons.

Beside each team, there are two numbers in parentheses. One is the predicted margin of victory (positive) or defeat (negative), the other is the probability of winning. These margins are sometimes larger than what’s indicated by the predicted score. That’s because there’s nothing in the math that prevents a prediction of negative points with a sufficiently lopsided matchup. This is, of course, impossible, so the score is set to zero in those instances. There’s no cap on how many points a team can be projected to score, though.

#1: Army (-1.09, 46.52%) vs. Navy (1.09, 53.48%)
Estimated score: 20.60 - 21.78, Total: 42.39
Quality: 94.03%, Team quality: 91.27%, Competitiveness: 99.80%
Blowout probability (margin >= 29.0 pts): 2.10%
Close game probability (margin <= 7.0 pts): 42.26%
High scoring probability (total >= 68.0 pts): 26.24%
Low scoring probability (total <= 39.0 pts): 46.65%