College Football Rankings
Go straight to the content.
The College Football Rankings never fail to incite passionate reactions from fan bases.
At present, there exist three primary ranking systems in college football. These systems evaluate and rank the top 25 teams in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) throughout the season. Moreover, they play a crucial role in determining the four teams that ultimately compete for the esteemed College Football Playoff National Championship.
There exist three ranking systems, namely:
- The ranking of the top 25 teams by the Associated Press.
- The AFCA Coaches Poll, as published by USA Today.
- College Football Playoff rankings
Although the rankings themselves may not directly influence College Football odds, they can serve as a valuable resource for Michigan sports bettors in making informed decisions for their weekly or future wagers.
Every poll is assessed by a distinct set of individuals considered suitable to express their opinions on the subject. However, this does not imply that the polls always align with each other. In fact, quite the opposite can be true.
Now, we will examine all three polls and determine the current rankings for the 2024 college football season.
College Football Rankings Polls
All three polls involve the ranking of teams by “experts,” who consider various criteria such as recent performance, current win-loss records, the caliber of opponents, and outcomes against shared opponents.
Associated Press top 25 poll
Since 1936, the AP Poll has been in existence.
The AP Top 25 rankings are compiled by a group of 63 sports writers and broadcasters. Each individual in the panel provides a top-25 ranking, assigning 25 points for a first-place team, 24 points for second place, and so on. These points are then aggregated to determine the rankings, and the voter’s ballots are disclosed to the public.
In 1950, the AP initiated the Top 25 college football preseason poll. Since then, this preseason poll has become an annual tradition, released in mid-August. Additionally, the AP conducts a weekly AP Poll every Sunday during the regular season.
USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll
Since 1950, the AFCA Coaches poll has relied on a group of NCAA head coaches to assess and rank the leading college football teams nationwide. Beginning in 2005, USA Today became the exclusive publisher of this esteemed poll.
The poll is currently performed once in August, prior to the regular season, and on a weekly basis throughout the regular season. It involves a group of 66 head coaches from FBS schools who assess and rank the leading college football teams in the nation.
Similar to the AP Poll, the Coaches Poll also follows a system where each coach on the panel assigns points to teams in their top 25 ranking. The team ranked first receives 25 points, second receives 24 points, and so forth. These points are collectively calculated to determine the final Coaches Poll rankings.
The coaches panel is assembled by randomly selecting coaches from a pool of willing participants.
Starting from 1974, the Coaches Poll has undergone a change in its schedule. Previously, the final poll was released at the end of the regular season, with the team at the top receiving the AFCA National Championship Trophy. However, since then, the Coaches Poll has shifted to conducting its final poll in January, subsequent to the bowl season.
College Football Playoff Rankings
The College Football Playoff selection committee is comprised of a rotating panel of 13 individuals, primarily consisting of NCAA athletic directors, former coaches, and former players. Their main responsibility is to determine the teams that will receive invitations to participate in the highly anticipated College Football Playoff, a four-team postseason tournament, offering them a shot at competing for the prestigious national championship.
The inaugural College Football Playoff was conducted in 2014 to determine the national champion of Division 1 FBS. Four teams were chosen for participation based on their rankings in the College Football Playoff.
In the CFP National Championship game, the top four teams compete in two semifinal bowl games (1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3). The victorious teams from the semis then proceed to battle it out for the National Championship.
The committee convenes face-to-face during the month of November and formulates interim top 25 rankings commencing from Week 10. Every week leading up to the conclusion of conference championship week, the committee unveils new rankings. Subsequently, on selection day, the committee gathers to decide the four teams that will participate in the CFP semifinal bowl games.
Although the Coaches Poll and AP Poll are no longer utilized as official factors in determining the teams for the CFP National Championship, there is a possibility that these polls may still hold sway over the decisions made by certain committee members, as their choices can sometimes coincide with those of the selection committee.
Current College Football rankings
At this stage of the 2024 season, let’s take a look at the current College Football rankings.
| AP Top 25 | AFCA Coaches Poll | CFB Playoff Rankings |
| 1. Georgia | 1. Georgia | 1. Georgia |
| 2. Michigan | 2. Michigan | 2. Michigan |
| 3. TCU | 3. Ohio State | 3. TCU |
| 4. Ohio State | 4. TCU | 4. Ohio State |
| 5. Alabama | 5. Alabama | 5. Alabama |
| 6. Tennessee | 6. Tennessee | 6. Tennessee |
| 7. Clemson | 7. Penn State | 7. Clemson |
| 8. Utah | 8. USC | 8. Utah |
| 9. Kansas State | 9. Kansas State | 9. Kansas State |
| 10. USC | 10. Utah | 10. USC |
| 11. Penn State | 11. Clemson | 11. Penn State |
| 12. Washington | 12. Washington | 12. Washington |
| 13. Florida State | 13. Florida State | 13. Florida State |
| 14. Oregon State | 14. Oregon | 14. Oregon State |
| 15. Oregon | 15. LSU | 15. Oregon |
| 16. Tulane | 16. Oregon State | 16. Tulane |
| 17. LSU | 17. Tulane | 17. LSU |
| 18. UCLA | 18. UCLA | 18. UCLA |
| 19. South Carolina | 19. South Carolina | 19. South Carolina |
| 20. Texas | 20. Notre Dame | 20. Texas |
| 21. Notre Dame | 21. Texas | 21. Notre Dame |
| 22. Mississippi State | 22. UTSA | 22. Mississippi State |
| 23. N.C. State | 23. Mississippi State | 23. N.C. State |
| 24. Troy | 24. Troy | 24. Troy |
| 25. UTSA | 25. North Carolina | 25. UTSA |
How rankings impact College Football odds
Oddsmakers have their unique formula to calculate odds, whereas college football betting patterns also play a role in the process.
In terms of rankings, they serve as a tool and reference for viewers to gauge which teams are considered among the top in the country.
Having a solid understanding of the three crucial college football rankings is an integral part of the most effective college football betting strategies. Thorough research forms the foundation for these strategies.
Although these college football rankings do not determine a team’s ability to cover the spread or ensure a win, they can enhance your understanding of college football odds. Analyzing the teams listed in these rankings can provide valuable insights for key games of the week.
The college football rankings hold significance in the futures betting markets. Preseason polls play a role in determining a team’s chances of winning the national championship, securing a conference title, qualifying for the playoffs, or achieving their projected number of regular season wins.
Usually, teams that are initially ranked high will have the lowest odds in futures markets. However, history has shown us that unexpected teams can make their way into the College Football Playoffs. In 2015, Michigan State surprised everyone, and in 2021, Cincinnati caught many by surprise.
Michigan’s College Football rankings history
The college football program in Michigan boasts a glorious legacy of achievements.
With almost 1,000 victories to its name, the Wolverines have proudly secured 11 national championships since 1901.
The most memorable national title in college football rankings is the last one they achieved.
In 1997, the Wolverines, led by Lloyd Carr, achieved a perfect 12-0 record and were awarded the AP National Championship. However, despite their undefeated status, the Coaches Poll crowned Nebraska as the national title holder. This marked one of the 11 instances where the two polls disagreed on the season’s champion. Consequently, the NCAA made the decision to transition to the Bowl Championship Series rankings in the aftermath of that season.
Since the inception of the AP poll in 1936, Michigan has made a total of 62 appearances in the final rankings.
Michigan was not considered a significant contender in the College Football Playoff rankings until 2021. However, in that year, the Wolverines emerged as a force to be reckoned with by winning the Big Ten and securing the No. 2 spot in the final CFP rankings.
Michigan secured a place in the Orange Bowl against Georgia, who held the No. 3 position. With football odds set at +7.5 for the semifinal, the Wolverines unfortunately succumbed to a 34-11 defeat against the eventual champions.
Michigan secured the fifth spot in the initial 2024 CFP rankings.
Michigan State’s College Football rankings history
Although Michigan State’s football history may not be as extensive as Michigan’s, it still boasts a commendable level of success.
In their historical record, the Spartans boast more than 720 victories and lay claim to six national championships, with their most recent title secured in 1966.
Similar to Michigan, MSU also achieved a divided national championship in the polls. At the conclusion of the 1965 season, the Spartans were deemed No. 1 by the Coaches poll. Conversely, the AP poll awarded Alabama with the highest ranking.
In total, Michigan State has concluded 28 seasons in the final AP rankings.
In terms of the College Football Playoff rankings, Michigan State holds the upper hand over Michigan. Their achievement came in 2015, as the Spartans secured a spot in the playoffs by winning the Big Ten and earning the esteemed No. 3 seed.
Nevertheless, the outcome would mirror that of Michigan, as the Spartans found themselves pitted against No. 2 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.
Michigan State’s football odds for the semifinal game were in the double digits. However, they suffered a crushing 38-0 defeat at the hands of the Crimson Tide, who ultimately emerged victorious and claimed the championship title.
BCS, CFP Rankings history
The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) was established by the NCAA in 1997 in order to designate an official NCAA Football National Champion. This was accomplished by utilizing the Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, and a computer-based poll to generate BCS rankings. These rankings served as the basis for selecting the two teams that would compete in the highly anticipated BCS National Championship Game.
A contract was established between the NCAA and the Coaches Poll, guaranteeing that the victor of the BCS National Championship Game would be recognized as the leading team in the final Coaches Poll of the season. Additionally, they would receive the AFCA National Championship Trophy during a ceremony following the game.
The inception of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system took place in 2014, introducing a four-team postseason tournament aimed at determining a national champion.
Although the Coaches Poll is no longer officially utilized to decide the teams competing for the national title, it is no longer under any contractual obligation to present its championship trophy to the playoff victor. Nonetheless, ever since the establishment of the CFP, the team winning the CFP National Championship Game has consistently secured the leading position on the final Coaches Poll.