NCAAF Standings

NCAA Football Standings Explained

College football standings are a way to keep track of the performance and ncaa football rankings of various college football teams throughout the season. They play a crucial role in determining which teams will participate in postseason bowl games and, ultimately, the national championship.

College football teams generally play a 13-game regular season, culminating in a bowl game (provided they qualify). Then, the four best teams, as selected by a voting panel, participate in the College Football Playoff (CFP), akin to semifinals.

Those college football games produce winners who oppose one another for the national title. Football teams involved in the CFP are usually unbeaten or one-loss conference champions from the marquee conferences (Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern). These teams are also usually leaders in NCAA Football standings.

The others will compete in their own bowl games, important in their own right. In short, the top teams in each conference are likely to play extra games at the end of the season.

College Football Rankings & Format

It’s important to note that NCAA standings as well as the College Football Rankings can be dynamic and change weekly based on the outcomes of games, so fans and teams closely monitor the football standings throughout the season to see how their favorite teams are faring in the race for conference titles, bowl game invitations, and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff.

Conferences:

College football teams are organized into conferences based on their geographical locations or other affiliations. Each conference consists of a group of teams that compete against each other during the regular season. You can check the updated list of your favorite conference such as Big 10 standings with all the teams. 

The number of conferences can vary depending on the level of college football (e.g., Division I Football Bowl Subdivision – FBS, Division I Football Championship Subdivision – FCS, etc.).

Regular Season:

The NCAA football season typically consists of several games played during the fall. Teams within a conference face each other in conference games, while they may also have non-conference games against teams from other conferences.

Win-Loss Records:

The fundamental basis for college football standings is the win-loss record of each team. After each game, a team is credited with a win if they emerged victorious or a loss if they were defeated.

Ties are rare in modern college football due to overtime rules, but they were more common in the past.

Conference Standings:

Within each conference, teams are ranked based on the number of conference wins they have. If two or more teams have the same number of conference wins, tiebreakers, such as head-to-head results or a series of predetermined criteria, are used to determine their order in the football standings.

Ranking Systems:

In addition to conference standings, various ncaa football ranking systems are used to assess the overall performance of college football teams across all conferences.

Some of the popular ranking systems include the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. These rankings are determined by a panel of sports media members (AP Poll) or a selection committee (CFP) and consider a team’s win-loss record, strength of schedule, and other performance metrics.

College Football Bowl Standings & CFB Rankings

At the end of the regular season, teams with impressive records and ncaa football rankings are invited to participate in postseason bowl games. The specific college bowl games a team qualifies for depends on their performance and the bowl selection process. The highest-ranked teams often compete in prestigious bowl games, while others participate in various other bowl games.

The CFP is a system used to determine the national champion of college football at the FBS level. It involves a four-team playoff, where the top four ranked teams in the CFP rankings face off in semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the national championship game.

The CFP rankings are determined by a selection committee consisting of 13 members, including former coaches, players, athletic directors, and administrators. This committee is responsible for evaluating teams and ranking them based on their performance, strength of schedule, and other relevant factors.

There’s a ranking criteria for the College Football Bowls games that considers several factors when ranking teams, such as: Win-Loss Records, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, common opponents, conference championships, performance against ranked teams and game control.

The season culminates in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, where the two semifinal winners compete for the title of the national champion.

NCAA Standings FAQs

Do the NCAAF standings impact a team’s chances of qualifying for the National Championship game?

Yes, the NCAAF standings significantly impact a team’s chances of qualifying for the National Championship game. The top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, which are influenced by the standings, get the opportunity to compete in the semifinals for a chance to play in the National Championship game.

How are the NCAAF standings used to determine which teams participate in postseason bowl games?

The NCAAF standings, along with various other selection criteria, help determine which teams receive invitations to postseason bowl games. Higher-ranked teams are often given priority for major bowl game selections.

Can the NCAAF standings change significantly based on the outcome of a single game?

Yes, the NCAAF standings can experience significant changes based on the outcome of a single game, especially if highly-ranked teams suffer unexpected losses or lower-ranked teams secure impressive victories.

What tiebreaker criteria are used to determine conference standings in NCAAF?

Tiebreaker criteria in NCAAF conference standings may vary by conference but commonly include head-to-head results between tied teams, divisional record, overall record, strength of schedule, and sometimes even a random draw.
Back to top button

pointspreads

WHO WILL WIN?

NHL
carolina hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
New York Islanders
New York Islanders
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
50%
50%
NHL
tampa bay lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
50%
50%
NBA
nuggets
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Timberwolves
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
50%
50%
NBA
76ers
76ers
Suns
Suns
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
50%
50%
NBA
bucks
Bucks
Celtics
Celtics
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
50%
50%
NHL
arizona coyotes
Arizona Coyotes
Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
50%
50%
NHL
toronto maple leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
50%
50%
CONCACAF Nations League
usa
USA
Jamaica
Jamaica
Thursday, March 21, 2024
50%
50%
CONCACAF Nations League
panama
Panama
Mexico
Mexico
Thursday, March 21, 2024
50%
50%
Submit your vote and view the results
Hey Again

vote all you can

pointspreads

PS-email

PS-email

pointspreads

pointspreads-email

Bet like a PRO!

pointspreads-email

Subscribe now and get Weekly Expert Free Picks