What the ranking is trying to measure
The in-season CFB Top 25 is a résumé-oriented ranking. It evaluates what teams have accomplished through the selected stage, including results, opponent quality, schedule strength and game context. Every FBS team goes through the same scoring process, so the ranking can be revisited week by week without changing the rules to fit the latest result.
Early-season rankings naturally carry more uncertainty because teams have played fewer games and opponent résumés are still developing. As the schedule fills in, the model relies progressively more on observed results.
See how the points system works →