A team's ranking is determined by the Total Score (SCORE), which is composed of the Subscore (SUBSC) + Win Value (WINVAL) - Loss Value (LSVAL). The SUBSC is determined by taking the sum of the Game and Points Value Score (GPVS), Strength of Schedule Score (SOS), and the Power Score (PWR). In the event of a tie in the Total Score, the team with the higher Subscore is ranked higher.
(Note: There are no preseason values assigned in this system; everyone starts from scratch each year.)
GPVS (Game & Points Value Score)
The purpose of the Game and Points Value Score (GPVS) is really the combination of two values. The first is the Game Value Score, which is used to compare how a team has played against its opponents with other teams that have played those same opponents. It compares the number of points scored against each opponent with how many points that same opponent generally allows per game. In addition, it compares the number of points scored by each opponent with the number of points that same opponent generally scores in a game. The location of the game is not included in this part of the calculation. Games versus division 1-AA teams are weighted differently.
The Points Value Score is simply the number of points scored per game versus the number of opponents' points allowed per game.In other words, if a team has scored 250 points on the season but has allowed its opponents' to score 250 points combined, the value would equal .500.The average Poinst Value Score per game is calculated and then divided in half to generate the score. This score is the least influential of all the components. This value includes games versus division 1-AA opponents, which are not weighted differently.
These two values added together generate the Game and Points Value Score (GPVS).
SOS (Strength of Schedule)
The SOS is simply the strength of schedule value for a team. This is calculated by taking the average winning percentage of a team's opponents - not including the games in which they played each other, and adding it to its opponents' opponents' winning percentage (the winning percentage of a team's opponents is weighted nearly 3-times as much as their opponent's opponents' winning percentage.) In calculating this value, a win by Team A does not decrease its SOS score, and a loss by Team B does not increase its SOS score. Only games versus division 1-A opponents are used to calculate a team's SOS score.
PWR (Power Score)
The Power Score (PWR) looks at the location of each game played and the winning percentage of the opponent and weights this value accordingly.For instance, a game won on the road receives the highest possible value (with the value decreasing in succession from a road win to a home win, then to a road tie, a home tie, a road loss, and finally, a home loss). This value is also weighted according to the opponent's overall winning percentage (increased in relation to how much above .500 the opponent's winning percentage is, or decreased in relation to how far below .500 the opponent's winning percentage is). Wins versus division 1-AA opponents are of very little value, while losses to division 1-AA teams can greatly reduce this value.
WINVAL (Average Win Value)
A game receives a WINVAL only if the game is a win. It is calculated by taking the opponent's SUBSC and comparing it to the highest SUBSC among all Div 1-A teams. Victories against 1-AA opponents are not given a WINVAL score.The average WINVAL is then generated by dividing the each game's WINVAL by the number of games played against 1-A opponents.
LSVAL (Average Loss Value)
A game receives a LSVAL only if the game is a loss. It is calculated by taking the opponent's SUBSC and comparing it to the highest SUBSC among all Div 1-A teams. Thus, the higher the opponent's SUBSC, the lower the LSVAL (and vice-versa). Losses against 1-AA opponents are given the same value for all teams. The average LSVAL is generated by dividing the total LSVAL score by the number of games played against 1-A opponents (so, although a loss versus a division 1-AA team increases the total LSVAL score, the game is not included when calculating the average, thus increasing the average LSVAL).
