A rank system?

Figuring out college football's formula will take all season

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Posted: Tuesday August 11, 1998 11:48 AM

It will be five full months until the next national champion is crowned in college football. And this is a good thing, because it will take me at least that long to figure out the new ranking system.

For the first time it is a mathematical certainty that the country's No. 1 and No. 2 teams will meet in the Fiesta Bowl to determine a true national champion.

But at what price, progress? Have you seen the four-part equation that will be used to rank the teams? Good god, this thing makes the tax code look like a coloring book.

Who's No.1 ? It will take awhile to figure this one out Brian Bahr/Allsport

How am I supposed to follow something with terms like maximum adjusted deviation and a category called quartiles?

Quartiles? I thought that was a college drinking game. Based on the new formula, Michigan would have beaten Nebraska for the 1997 national title, 4.17-5.31. The Wolverines would have also received engraved pocket protectors instead of championship rings.

Take a look at the final factor, strength of schedule. This is determined by your opponent's record and your opponents' opponents' record, using a simple 66.67% to 33.3% ratio.

In case of a tie the first team that can name one of their opponent's opponents' opponents will be declared the winner. Really, is there anything more confusing in the entire world of sports? Well, sure.

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