First Gridiron Power Index is out and NDSU #1

[BisonNeil]

No surprise here, but the first GPI got published today, and NDSU is #1.

Six MVFC teams in the top 25. GPI is a pretty good indicator of which teams may get at-large bids, so the Valley is in good shape midway through the season.

Somewhat surprising for me is that the Big Sky holds three of the top five GPI spots, yet the MVFC holds the #1 conference spot over the BSC. Just goes to show you how bad the bottom feeders are in that conference compared to the Valley.

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?822-2012-Gridiron-Power-Index-(GPI)-Debuts-With-the-Reigning-Champ-as-No.-1

[HandoEX]

Interesting to see UNI at #20 without a DI win. I guess I always thought these types of ratings were affected more by statistics (wins/losses, strength of schedule, etc). Does this take last season's final games into consideration?

[EndZoneQB]

Is the #1 team always ranked with a "1.00" rating? That is quite a big separation from MSU...

[Bisonguy]

Is the #1 team always ranked with a "1.00" rating? That is quite a big separation from MSU...

No, the #1 does not necessarily start with a 1.00. That just means NDSU is a unanimous #1. There have been other gpi's where the #1 had a 1.35 or around that.

[CAS4127]

All of these different rating systems/polls that us different number-sets for ranking teams reminds me of all the different-sized cellphone charger ends. I mean, SRSLY, can't there just be universal ones for chrissakes!!!???

[EndZoneQB]

All of these different rating systems/polls that us different number-sets for ranking teams reminds me of all the different-sized cellphone charger ends. I mean, SRSLY, can't there just be universal ones for chrissakes!!!???

This is pretty much the only one that matters in FCS football. It's like the BCS for playoff seedings....

[BisonNation11]

All of these different rating systems/polls that us different number-sets for ranking teams reminds me of all the different-sized cellphone charger ends. I mean, SRSLY, can't there just be universal ones for chrissakes!!!???

I like the ranking diversity. Just helps prove that the rankings aren't biased in anyway. Cell phone chargers on the other hand... :mad:

[Bisonguy]

This is pretty much the only one that matters in FCS football. It's like the BCS for playoff seedings....

People give too much weight to the GPI. The version that's actually used isn't the one that's usually published, which is a composite of the two major polls and I believe seven computer rankings.

Here's the at-large selection criteria, and notice where the "modified" GPI is mentioned and under which section of the criteria.


Selection Criteria[Reference: Bylaws 31.01.2, 31.01.3 and 31.3 in the NCAA Manual.]
At-large teams shall be selected by the Division I football committee, assisted by four
regional advisory committees that serve in an advisory capacity only.
The following principles shall apply when selecting at-large teams:
1. The committee shall select the best teams available on a national at-large basis to
complete the bracket. Per NCAA Bylaw 31, the basic criteria used in the selection
of at-large participants are (1) won-lost record, (2) strength-of-schedule, and (3)
eligibility and availability of student-athletes for the NCAA championship;
2. There is no limit to the number of teams the committee may select from one conference;
3. The won-lost record of a team will be scrutinized to determine a team’s strength of
schedule; however, less than seven Division I wins may place a team in jeopardy of
not being selected;
4. The committee may give more consideration to those teams that have played all
Division I opponents; and
5. If the team of a committee member is under consideration, the member may not vote
for the team being considered and will not be in the room when a vote is taken.
6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,
a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference
champion team meets all of the following conditions:
a. Team wins a minimum of eight Division I games during the season;
b. Team wins a minimum of two non-conference games against Division I teams
representing a conference that has earned an automatic qualification in that year;
and
c. Team finishes the season ranked 20 or higher in an average of the last regularseason
media, coaches and/or computer polls (which will be determined by
the committee on an annual basis). For 2011, the media poll will be the Sports
Network Poll, the coaches poll will be the FCS Coaches poll and the computer
poll will be a variation of the Gridiron Power Index – using only the following
computer rankings: The Massey Ratings, Wolfe Rankings, Ashburn Rankings,
Self Rankings and the Laz Index.
[See Appendix B (page 43) for a map of the geographical regions.]

[CAS4127]

"For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,"

Say what??!?!?!?!?

[HandoEX]

"For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,"

Say what??!?!?!?!?
For example, the Ivy Leage teams choose not to participate in postseason play. They could, but they choose not to.

[Hammerhead]

The playoff selections for the at-large basis are confusing and I'd bet the use some sort of "fudge factor" during the voting to get some teams in. I hope we don't have to worry about that this year. :)

[CAS4127]

For example, the Ivy Leage teams choose not to participate in postseason play. They could, but they choose not to.

I still don't understand! If you qualify for automatic qualification, how do you not receive "it" (does not "it" refer to AQ?).

HELP!!!!!!-->AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

[TransAmBison]

I still don't understand!Just put this in your sig line...

[EndZoneQB]

"For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,"

Say what??!?!?!?!?


It means teams that are in AQ conferences but they did not get the AQ. They are then an at-large bid...


For example, the Ivy Leage teams choose not to participate in postseason play. They could, but they choose not to.

Wrong.

[CAS4127]

It means teams that are in AQ conferences but they did not get the AQ. They are then an at-large bid...


Well, FFS, if that is what it means, why not just say that??!!

[tony]

T-shirt idea #88 for bisonville.com

http://rlv.zcache.com/you_were_not_brought_upon_this_world_to_get_it_tsh irt-ra943515050a24ab29cbdf686d4af66e8_f0cz4_512.jpg

I myself have no clue what #6 in the rules means (see Bisonguy's post) or the quote below

" For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,"

What the hell? What did they do, write the rule in English, then google translate it to Russian, then Farsi, then back to English?

[EndZoneQB]

Well, FFS, if that is what it means, why not just say that??!!

It's the NCAA...? lol

[Bisonguy]

"For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,"

Say what??!?!?!?!?


Automatic Qualifiers[Reference: Bylaws 31.3.4 and 31.3.5 in the NCAA Manual.]
The following ten conferences have been granted automatic-qualification privileges for
the 2011 championship:
Big Sky Conference
Big South Conference
Colonial Athletic Association
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Missouri Valley Football Conference
Northeast Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
Patriot League
Southern Conference
Southland Conference

The Big South and Northeast conference received an autobid beginning in 2010 when the playoffs were expanded to 20 teams, but were previously eligible under the "conferences that are eligible for automatic qualification but do not receive it" criteria. Note the Ivy, Pioneer, and SWAC conferences are absent from the list. The Ivies choose not to participate in the playoffs, and the SWAC has their big "Classics" that prevent any "decent" SWAC team from participating in the playoffs. The Pioneer Football League still falls under the "conferences that are eligible for automatic qualification but do not receive it" criteria but have never received a playoff berth due to being non-scholarship and their teams generally sucking pretty bad. Fast forward to 2013 and the PFL will have an autobid due to the playoffs expanding to 24 teams.

And if you're wondering why they didn't just add autobids without expanding the playoffs, the playoff field must be comprised of at least 50% at-large teams.


The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet policy stipulates that for the
Division I Football Championship at least 50 percent of the bracket shall be reserved for atlarge
selections, and no more than 50 percent of the bracket shall be available for automatic
qualification of eligible conferences.

[CAS4127]

It means teams that are in AQ conferences but they did not get the AQ. They are then an at-large bid...


Wait, that can't be what it means (see bold):

6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,
a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference
champion team meets all of the following conditions"

We need to know how a team "qualifies" for an AQ before we know what the hell this actually means. I mean, 8 D1 wins (one of the criteria) should guarantee an at large bid.

Edit: We got the info from bisonguy-->knew there had to be more to it.

As a footnote, I was not even able to get my "Tailgater" stereo to work properly at YSU tailgate (radio "didn't work" and not very loud). Consequently, I forthright returned it and purchased an even bigger unit (Shockrocket or something), so be prepared.

[Bisonguy]

Wait, that can't be what it means (see bold):

6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,
a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference
champion team meets all of the following conditions"

We need to know how a team "qualifies" for an AQ before we know what the hell this actually means. I mean, 8 D1 wins (one of the criteria) should guarantee an at large bid.


It's the conferences that qualify for an autobid, not the teams.


Automatic Qualification Criteria/ProcessThe Division I Football Championship Committee will annually make the determination
of which eligible conferences will receive automatic qualification. The following criteria
are used when determining which conferences shall receive annual automatic qualification
for the NCAA Division I Football Championship:
1. Non-conference records;
2. Strength of non-conference opponents;
3. Recent postseason history; and
4. Competition against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet policy stipulates that for the
Division I Football Championship at least 50 percent of the bracket shall be reserved for atlarge
selections, and no more than 50 percent of the bracket shall be available for automatic
qualification of eligible conferences.

[NorthernBison]

Wait, that can't be what it means (see bold):

6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it,
a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference
champion team meets all of the following conditions"

We need to know how a team "qualifies" for an AQ before we know what the hell this actually means. I mean, 8 D1 wins (one of the criteria) should guarantee an at large bid.

Edit: We got the info from bisonguy-->knew there had to be more to it.

As a footnote, I was not even able to get my "Tailgater" stereo to work properly at YSU tailgate (radio "didn't work" and not very loud). Consequently, I forthright returned it and purchased an even bigger unit (Shockrocket or something), so be prepared.

This was a bigger issue when the field was 16 teams. Because NCAA rules require half the field to be at-large, there could only be 8 AQ conferences. The committee had to determine which 8 of the 10 conferences would be AQ conferences. I think they had to decide this before the season started.

So any teams in the 2 conferences who didn't receive an AQ needed to:
1. Win 8 D1 games.
2. Two o fth ewins had to be against teams from AQ conferences
3. They had to finish in the top 20 in the final poll rankings as laid out in the rules.

Meet all 3 above and you got an automatic At-large spot in the playoffs.

[CAS4127]

It's the conferences that qualify for an autobid, not the teams.

Right, I understand now, it's the effing wording that was confusing me. The word " qualify" in #6 should be "eligible", which would then make the sentence read more easily. IOW,

"For those conferences "eligible" for an AQ (i.e., the conference has yet to be accepted as AQ conference), go through the criteria set forth below to see if they can get in as an at-large selection."

I think the NCAA should just hire me to do its writing.

[Bisonguy]

This was a bigger issue when the field was 16 teams. Because NCAA rules require half the field to be at-large, there could only be 8 AQ conferences. The committee had to determine which 8 of the 10 conferences would be AQ conferences. I think they had to decide this before the season started.

So any teams in the 2 conferences who didn't receive an AQ needed to:
1. Win 8 D1 games.
2. Two o fth ewins had to be against teams from AQ conferences
3. They had to finish in the top 20 in the final poll rankings as laid out in the rules.

Meet all 3 above and you got an automatic At-large spot in the playoffs.

Correct, but you're forgetting about the Pioneer. There's 13 FCS conferences. 2 choose not to participate in the playoffs due to "academics" or their "Classics". That leaves 11 conferences that are eligible for autobids, and why the playoff field will be expanding yet again to 24 in 2013 to have 11 autobids and 13 at-large spots. The playoffs will be able to award one more autobid if the SWAC or Ivies ever decide they want to participate in the playoffs.

[NorthernBison]

Correct, but you're forgetting about the Pioneer. There's 13 FCS conferences. 2 choose not to participate in the playoffs due to "academics" or their "Classics". That leaves 11 conferences that are eligible for autobids, and why the playoff field will be expanding yet again to 24 in 2013 to have 11 autobids and 13 at-large spots. The playoffs will be able to award one more autobid if the SWAC or Ivies ever decide they want to participate in the playoffs.

Thanks for the correction. I was just guessing when I said 10 so I'm shocked I was only 1 off.

I was also guessing regarding the timing of the awarding of the autobids. Is that decided before the current season starts?

[CAS4127]

Correct, but you're forgetting about the Pioneer. There's 13 FCS conferences. 2 choose not to participate in the playoffs due to "academics" or their "Classics". That leaves 11 conferences that are eligible for autobids, and why the playoff field will be expanding yet again to 24 in 2013 to have 11 autobids and 13 at-large spots. The playoffs will be able to award one more autobid if the SWAC or Ivies ever decide they want to participate in the playoffs.

Good, then the NCAA can delete at-large #6, and I can sleep better for knowing it did!!

Perfect!!

[NorthernBison]

Good, then the NCAA can delete at-large #6, and I can sleep better for knowing it did!!

Perfect!!

You know they won't.

[90BISON]

As a footnote, I was not even able to get my "Tailgater" stereo to work properly at YSU tailgate (radio "didn't work" and not very loud). Consequently, I forthright returned it and purchased an even bigger unit (Shockrocket or something), so be prepared.

Hate to completely derail this most worthy thread.......but am I the only one that thinks this is a word that would only be uttered by a male porn star?? :biggrin:

[Bisonguy]

Hate to completely derail this most worthy thread.......but am I the only one that thinks this is a word that would only be uttered by a male porn star?? :biggrin:

Or the fact that he had to purchase a bigger unit?

[CAS4127]

Should have never dropped that footnote :(


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tjbison]

For example, the Ivy Leage teams choose not to participate in postseason play. They could, but they choose not to.

Correct the Ivy League winner has declined it AQ to the playoffs due to its interference with academics in Dec. the conference only declines for football

[tony]

Correct the Ivy League winner has declined it AQ to the playoffs due to its interference with academics in Dec. the conference only declines for football

Coincidentally, the Harvard Crimson ran this story today:

http://www.thecrimson.com/column/e-b-write/article/2012/10/10/samuels-column-football-postseason/


The academic argument would be valid—except for the fact that every other varsity team on Harvard’s campus, and even some club teams, can participate in playoffs outside of the Ivies. And what the basketball program at Harvard has taught us is that there’s a very simple recipe for generating interest in a specific sport on campus: win, and compete nationally.

[1st&TennBison]

#1 ranked, It's good to be the king!!!!!

[Vitojr130]

No surprise here, but the first GPI got published today, and NDSU is #1.

Six MVFC teams in the top 25. GPI is a pretty good indicator of which teams may get at-large bids, so the Valley is in good shape midway through the season.

Somewhat surprising for me is that the Big Sky holds three of the top five GPI spots, yet the MVFC holds the #1 conference spot over the BSC. Just goes to show you how bad the bottom feeders are in that conference compared to the Valley.

http://www.collegesportingnews.com/content.php?822-2012-Gridiron-Power-Index-(GPI)-Debuts-With-the-Reigning-Champ-as-No.-1

I've never quite figured out just how the Pioneer League is sooooooo bad. Can they not recruit outside of the county they are located in or something? Are they a scholarship-free conference? How is it that they have the 3 lowest of the lows in the same conference??

[NorthernBison]

I've never quite figured out just how the Pioneer League is sooooooo bad. Can they not recruit outside of the county they are located in or something? Are they a scholarship-free conference? How is it that they have the 3 lowest of the lows in the same conference??

Non-scholarship league. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

[BisonNation11]

Non-scholarship league. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

That and it's like getting chased by a bear. You don't have to be the fastest, you just can't be the slowest.