If you need answers, just click on the questions or submit your own.
How is scheduling determined?
Schedules begin with conference games, which are games against other conference teams. Conference games will also include non-conference games, or games against teams from another conference. Most conferences are game leagues—four at home, and four away. However, the Pac 12 plays nine conference games; some years you will get four at home, and others get five.
Who decides the non-conference games?
The colleges do. Therefore, tactical scheduling occurs to benefit 'conference' teams by providing a favorable fixture. In other words, tactical scheduling permits prominent teams to play at home which will influence their advantage.
What is College Football Playoff Rankings?
The College Football Playoff (CFP) system began with the 2014 season, replacing the former Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The CFP ranking system is the one that, ultimately, is the most meaningful. That's because CFP rankings are the ones that determine which teams will be invited to participate in the playoffs, and the playoffs determine which teams have a shot at winning a national championship.
CFP rankings are determined by a selection committee that consists of a mixture of people with expertise in football (such as athletic directors, former NCAA and conference representatives or former head coaches) serve on the committee.
What are non-conference games?
Non-conference games vary with some allowing teams a “non-conference weekend”, while others allow non-conference games whenever possible.
What are the names of the Conferences?
Conference Name |
Known as |
|
American Athletic Conference |
The American |
|
Atlantic Coast Conference |
ACC |
|
Big Ten Conference |
Big Ten |
|
Big 12 Conference |
Big 12 |
|
Conference USA |
C-USA |
|
Mid-American Conference |
MAC |
|
Mountain West Conference |
MW / MWC |
|
Pacific-12 Conference |
PAC-12 |
|
Southeastern Conference |
SEC |
|
Sun Belt Conference |
Sun Belt |
What is a conference?
Unlike the NFL, college football is set into three divisions – 1, 2 and 3. A division is split up into subcategories known as conferences. These conferences are usually determined by the general location of a college. Some teams may choose not to play in a conference and therefore become known as an independent college. A good example of an independent college would be Notre Dame.
How does scheduling affect the rankings?
The teams performing at the top of each conference does NOT guarantee they will enter the playoffs.
The conferences naturally have different strengths due to demand, resources, players etc. For instance, a team that has gone 10-2 in the Sun Belt Conference and finished top may have only got a record of 2-10 in the Big Ten conference.
Do these teams make up the top 10 in the ranking system?
The answer is simply, no.
How are the rankings decided?
Well, you ask a panel to do so. Some will say this is not the fairest way, some will say it is. That being said it’s the way the NCAA has decided to it and this format will be running until at least 2026 so we’d all better get used to it.