2008 Gridiron Power Index (GPI) Debuts with James Madison as No. 1

[CSN-info]

http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php?blog=5&title=2008-gridiron-power-index-gpi-debuts-wit-1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection debuts for the 2008 season with James Madison in the top spot.

The Colonial Athletic Association, the largest league in the FCS has seven teams in the top 25, the Missouri Valley Football and the Southern Conferences have five each, the Big Sky and the Southland Conferences have three each, and the Big South, Great West Football and the Ohio Valley Conferences placed one each. (Games through 10/4/08)

10/6/2008 GPI Top 25
Rank, Team, Total
1. James Madison (1.00)
2. New Hampshire (4.13)
3. Appalachian St (4.50)
4. McNeese St (4.88)
5. Richmond (5.25)
6. Cal Poly (6.75)
7. Villanova (7.13)
8. Montana (9.13)
9T. Massachusetts (10.50)
9T. Wofford (10.50)
11. Elon (10.88)
12. Northern Iowa (12.75)
13. Jacksonville St (13.63)
14. Weber St (14.25)
15. Furman (15.75)
16. N Arizona (16.13)
17. Cent Arkansas (17.75)
18. W Illinois (20.00)
19. S Illinois (20.38)
20. Delaware (20.50)
21. N Dakota St (20.88)
22. Liberty (21.63)
23. S Dakota St (23.38)
24T. Northeastern (24.88)
24T. Sam Houston St (24.88)
24T. Ga Southern (24.88)

Conference Ranking:
Rank, League, Total Average
1. Colonial Athletic Association (22.78)
2. Southern Conference (27.97)
3. Great West Football Conference (32.38)
4. Big Sky Conference (32.59)
5. Missouri Valley Football Conference (34.41)
6. Southland Conference (34.46)
7. Ivy League (45.77)
8. Ohio Valley Conference (49.79)
9. Patriot League (51.91)
10. Big South Conference (51.93)
11. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (61.94)
12. Northeast Conference (65.00)
13. Southwestern Athletic Conference (70.50)
14. Pioneer Football League (75.28)
15. Independents (80.15)

[Grizzaholic]

Well it is out, and about as much as I expected.

[th0m]

Looks pretty good to me.

[WrenFGun]

UNH is surprisingly high...figured they'd be a bit lower.

[UNHWildCats]

UNH is surprisingly high...figured they'd be a bit lower.
i forget what is used with the GPI but UNH does well in several rankings

http://www.mratings.com/cf/compare1aa.htm

[LehighFan11]

Jeeze thats terrible

[Thundar]

I'm not sure how this gets figured out, But as an example the MVFC places 5 teams in the top 25, but as a conference get ranked behind the GWFC, which only has 1 team Cal-poly in the t-25, and only 3 teams elegible for playoffs, does it have anything to do with the number of teams in the conference or what?xconfusedx

[UNHWildCats]

I'm not sure how this gets figured out, But as an example the MVFC places 5 teams in the top 25, but as a conference get ranked behind the GWFC, which only has 1 team Cal-poly in the t-25, and only 3 teams elegible for playoffs, does it have anything to do with the number of teams in the conference or what?xconfusedx
add each ttoal for each team and divide by total teams in conference and thats the conf rating i wiould assume

[Syntax Error]

I'm not sure how this gets figured out, But as an example the MVFC places 5 teams in the top 25, but as a conference get ranked behind the GWFC, which only has 1 team Cal-poly in the t-25, and only 3 teams elegible for playoffs, does it have anything to do with the number of teams in the conference or what?xconfusedxIt's the average rating of the teams in the conference:

3. Great West Football Conference (32.38)
6. Cal Poly (6.75)
33T. UC Davis (32.13)
41. North Dakota (35.13)
43. Southern Utah (35.75)
68. South Dakota (52.13)

5. Missouri Valley Football Conference (34.41)
12. Northern Iowa (12.75)
18. W Illinois (20.00)
19. S Illinois (20.38)
21. N Dakota St (20.88)
23. S Dakota St (23.38)
46. Illinois St (39.38)
54T. Youngstown St (44.00)
63. Missouri St (48.38)
112. Indiana St (80.50) xeekx

[Thundar]

add each ttoal for each team and divide by total teams in conference and thats the conf rating i wiould assume


It's the average rating of the teams in the conference:

3. Great West Football Conference (32.38)
6. Cal Poly (6.75)
33T. UC Davis (32.13)
41. North Dakota (35.13)
43. Southern Utah (35.75)
68. South Dakota (52.13)

5. Missouri Valley Football Conference (34.41)
12. Northern Iowa (12.75)
18. W Illinois (20.00)
19. S Illinois (20.38)
21. N Dakota St (20.88)
23. S Dakota St (23.38)
46. Illinois St (39.38)
54T. Youngstown St (44.00)
63. Missouri St (48.38)
112. Indiana St (80.50) xeekx

Thats kind of what I thought but wasn't sure thx!!

[PantherRob82]

Jeeze thats terrible

any reason why?

[Syntax Error]

All playoff eligible teams in the top 25

[JohnStOnge]

All playoff eligible teams in the top 25

Central Arkansas is not eligible. Kind of sad, as Nathan Brown is a senior.

[Syntax Error]

Central Arkansas is not eligible. Kind of sad, as Nathan Brown is a senior.Oops! :o

[PantherRob82]

Oops! :o

you having an oops is VERY rare

[kirkblitz]

WOOHOO 44 in the nation, here we come playoffs !!!!!!!!!!!!

[pbr1893]

it's not how you drive but how you arrive! So. Con is on top historically!
PS...new hampshire? Play a complete conference schedule and then talk to me!

[UNHWildCats]

it's not how you drive but how you arrive! So. Con is on top historically!
PS...new hampshire? Play a complete conference schedule and then talk to me!
stop the whining... Unlike UMass UNH has proven it can earn a playoff spot even when it plays the tougher teams from the south, layoff.

[Chi Panther]

It's the average rating of the teams in the conference:



But in comparison to the Great West
3. Great West Football Conference (32.38)
6. Cal Poly (6.75)
33T. UC Davis (32.13)
41. North Dakota (35.13)
43. Southern Utah (35.75)
68. South Dakota (52.13)

5. Missouri Valley Football Conference (34.41)
12. Northern Iowa (12.75)
18. W Illinois (20.00)
19. S Illinois (20.38)
21. N Dakota St (20.88)
23. S Dakota St (23.38)
46. Illinois St (39.38)
54T. Youngstown St (44.00)
63. Missouri St (48.38)
112. Indiana St (80.50) xeekx

I will be first to admit the MVFC is down this year.

But this formula is a little suspect. I would have to think that having 5 teams rated higher (MVFC) than the 2nd place team in the GWFC, would out weigh one game against #112 Indiana State. But that is just me.

Thoughts?

[FargoBison]

I will be first to admit the MVFC is down this year.

But this formula is a little suspect. I would have to think that having 5 teams rated higher (MVFC) than the 2nd place team in the GWFC, would out weigh one game against #112 Indiana State. But that is just me.

Thoughts?

I think with only 3 DI teams the GWFC's rating is a little suspect. Their rating will mean more next year when USD and UND put together real schedules.

[UNI Pike]

Move Indiana State to the PFL and make both conferences more competitive - that moves MVFC to 28.64.

[UNHWildCats]

Move Indiana State to the PFL and make both conferences more competitive
xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[dbackjon]

Move Indiana State to the PFL and make both conferences more competitive - that moves MVFC to 28.64.
And then there goes your guaranteed win a year...

[WileECoyote06]

hmm. . . FAMU beats TSU and SCSU beats FAMU on the road; yet TSU is ahead of SCSU even though their schedule has been tougher. Can you explain how they arrived at that conclusion?

[PantherRob82]

And then there goes your guaranteed win a year...

oh well.

[Syntax Error]

I think with only 3 DI teams the GWFC's rating is a little suspect. Their rating will mean more next year when USD and UND put together real schedules.Weak schedules count against teams. The conference rating is just an average of the teams. Simple math.

[Syntax Error]

Can you explain how they arrived at that conclusion?http://www.collegesportingnews.com/stats/writer/GPI/20081006gpi.html

Tennessee State
Sat 10/04/08 at TN Martin 4 2 W 30 27 ot
Sat 09/27/08 vs Florida A&M 3 2 L 21 28
Sat 09/20/08 E Kentucky 3 3 W 34 20
Sat 09/13/08 vs Jackson St 1 4 W 41 18
Sat 09/06/08 Southern Univ 3 2 W 34 32
Sat 08/30/08 at Alabama A&M 2 4 W 34 13

South Carolina State
Sat 10/04/08 at Florida A&M 3 2 W 28 21
Sat 09/27/08 at W Salem St 1 4 W 43 17
Sat 09/20/08 at Clemson 3 2 L 0 54
Sat 09/13/08 vs Bethune-Cookman 4 1 W 28 19
Sat 09/06/08 Benedict 3 3 W 42 3
Sat 08/30/08 at UCF 2 3 L 0 17

[FargoBison]

Weak schedules count against teams. The conference rating is just an average of the teams. Simple math.

Your telling me DII and NAIA games count against schools. I know in a few rankings they just act like the games never happened.

[Syntax Error]

Your telling me DII and NAIA games count against schools. I know in a few rankings they just act like the games never happened.I think Sagarin is the only one that uses a generic ranking for teams not in D-I. I think the others used in the GPI all rate every opponent.

[FargoBison]

I think Sagarin is the only one that uses a generic ranking for teams not in D-I. I think the others used in the GPI all rate every opponent.

I knew Sagarin didn't but was unsure of the other polls. Should be interesting to see what happens with the UXD's ratings as the season moves on and how that affects the GWFC.

[UNI Pike]

And then there goes your guaranteed win a year...

Fine. I would rather schedule up than down. That is not intended as smack on ISU, they are just really having problems with that program. I would much rather schedule home & homes with tough CAA & Southern teams and take the loss than play ISU or DII schools, etc with a almost certain win.

Fresno State has my respect - anyone, anytime, anyplace. As a fan (or a player), how do you argue with that?

[ASU]

I knew Sagarin didn't but was unsure of the other polls. Should be interesting to see what happens with the UXD's ratings as the season moves on and how that affects the GWFC.

Garbage Poll that is evidently Colonial Conference biased. Same OLD crap every year.....no matter what they call it from year to year.

[UNHWildCats]

Garbage Poll that is evidently Colonial Conference biased. Same OLD crap every year.....no matter what they call it from year to year.
xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx xblahblahx

[TheValleyRaider]

Well, with the release of the GPI will soon come the return of Bracketology :)

At least 1 more week should be enough time to see some shaking out occur

Somethings it would be really neat for me to have so that I can run this as best as possible
-the official tiebreaker procedures for each of the autobid conferences (Big Sky, CAA, MEAC, MVFC, OVC, PL, SoCon, SLC) and the conditional autobid conferences (NEC, Big South)
-the list of conditions for the NEC and Big South to get an autobid, including what polls are being looked at regarding their inclusion
Consider this a request from your humble resident bracketologist (sounds like a nice user title for when I hit 7,000....in 2010). Thanks all! xthumbsupx

[UNHWILDCATS05]

Well, with the release of the GPI will soon come the return of Bracketology :)

At least 1 more week should be enough time to see some shaking out occur

Somethings it would be really neat for me to have so that I can run this as best as possible
-the official tiebreaker procedures for each of the autobid conferences (Big Sky, CAA, MEAC, MVFC, OVC, PL, SoCon, SLC) and the conditional autobid conferences (NEC, Big South)
-the list of conditions for the NEC and Big South to get an autobid, including what polls are being looked at regarding their inclusion
Consider this a request from your humble resident bracketologist (sounds like a nice user title for when I hit 7,000....in 2010). Thanks all! xthumbsupx

Looking forward to it!

[Syntax Error]

Well, with the release of the GPI will soon come the return of Bracketology :)

At least 1 more week should be enough time to see some shaking out occur

Somethings it would be really neat for me to have so that I can run this as best as possible
-the official tiebreaker procedures for each of the autobid conferences (Big Sky, CAA, MEAC, MVFC, OVC, PL, SoCon, SLC) and the conditional autobid conferences (NEC, Big South)
-the list of conditions for the NEC and Big South to get an autobid, including what polls are being looked at regarding their inclusion
Consider this a request from your humble resident bracketologist (sounds like a nice user title for when I hit 7,000....in 2010). Thanks all! xthumbsupxThe NEC is the only conference involved in the "bridge" AQ this year and next. No team in the NEC can meet the conditions this year.

[TheValleyRaider]

The NEC is the only conference involved in the "bridge" AQ this year and next.

Good to know, thanks


No team in the NEC can meet the conditions this year.

Too bad for them, I suppose. Maybe an at-large isn't out of the question though...

Could I have the list of requirements anyway? Thanks xthumbsupx

[Syntax Error]

Good to know, thanks
Too bad for them, I suppose. Maybe an at-large isn't out of the question though...
Could I have the list of requirements anyway? Thanks
... achieve eight Division I wins, two wins over schools in autobid conferences (or an FBS win), and an average ranking of at least #16 in the GPI, Sports Network and Coaches polls. The average rankings begin after the 10/25 games.

However, there is a key caveat to this criteria. Not only does the team need to meet these criteria, they need to be the champion of a conference that currently qualifies for an autobid but isn’t currently an autobid conference. They also need to ask for an AQ. Only if they meet those parameters they will receive an at-large bid to the playoffs in 2008.

Based on this criteria by the NCAA, only one conference could achieve an autobid: the winner of the Northeast conference, or NEC.http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php?blog=5&title=the-csn-way-how-many-teams&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[SuperJon]

The Big South was assumed to be able to get the earned access this year, but we were wrong. Since we are not an eligible conference yet, we don't meet the requirements. We have to rely on a strictly at-large bid.

[Syntax Error]

The PFL could ask for an AQ next year and qualify for the bridge AQ in 2009.

[grizband]

When applying the 25%-75% Inter Quartile Range (IQR), the conference rankings change slightly at the top. This ordering basically eliminates the best and worst teams from each conference, so the figures are not skewed one way or the other.

1. Colonial Athletic Association (21.043)
2. Southern Conference (24.052)
3. Missouri Valley Football Conference (29.604)
4. Big Sky Conference (30.078)
5. Great West Football Conference (34.337)
6. Southland Conference (37.065)
7. Ivy League (41.535)
8. Patriot League (49.752)
9. Ohio Valley Conference (51.176)
10. Big South Conference (55.152)
11. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (62.585)
12. Northeast Conference (66.565)
13. Southwestern Athletic Conference (72.858)
14. Pioneer Football League (77.378)
15. Independents (81.627)

[Hoyadestroya85]

i don't know whether i want Villanova to be very high or to be lurking in the shadows, this is very puzzling xchinscratchx
1997 We were the undisputed #1 in the regular season, but in 2002 we kinda snuck up on some people before being robbed against McNeese St. (2002 is why i'll always harbor resentment towards Tony Romo because he stole Brett Gordon's Payton Award).
regardless.. 7 is good!
Go Nova!

[Syntax Error]

When applying the 25%-75% Inter Quartile Range (IQR), the conference rankings change slightly at the top. This ordering basically eliminates the best and worst teams from each conference, so the figures are not skewed one way or the other...The reason quartiles are not used by major rating systems is because they eliminate the easy wins/bad opponents/best-worst conference members and factors that teams ACTUALLY have, skewing the ACTUAL results. Therefore it is a false reading. The GPI stopped using quartiles years ago. xtwocentsx

[JohnStOnge]

i1997 We were the undisputed #1 in the regular season, but in 2002 we kinda snuck up on some people before being robbed against McNeese St. (2002 is why i'll always harbor resentment towards Tony Romo because he stole Brett Gordon's Payton Award).
regardless.. 7 is good!
Go Nova!

Sigh. Every time this comes up I feel obligated to correct a misconception. The correct call was made on that play. I posted the rule when it happened. The idea that the whistle has to blow for the play to be dead...the one so emphasized by one of the two guys making the TV call...is a misconception. The play is dead if the whistle blows. But the whistle doesn't have to blow for a play to be dead.

In this case the forward progress rule was invoked, and correctly so. The guy's forward progress was clearly stopped. If forward progress is stopped, the play is dead whether the whistle blows then, later, or never. Villanova was not robbed.

And, as far as the Payton thing goes: Do you not think that at this point it's become very clear that Romo was indeed the better player?

[KAUMASS]

stop the whining... Unlike UMass UNH has proven it can earn a playoff spot even when it plays the tougher teams from the south, layoff.


Whining? Whining? Have some cheese with your whining about UMass...Beat UMass during the regular season and advance past the quarterfinals in the same year , then you can chirp about UMass. Oh shucks, you havn't, ever. xnonox

[Dukie95]

I thought there used to be a link to past year's GPI's. I can't seem to find it, am I just missing it somewhere?

[danefan]

Is this the full GPI or the NCAA GPI?

I thought there would be two different columns, but I don't see them.

[Khan4Cats]

And then there goes your guaranteed win a year...

No, we still play Youngstown. Farley's never lost to them.

[bandl]

How do the student-athlete's GPA's play into this?

[dbackjon]

No, we still play Youngstown. Farley's never lost to them.


And probably won't this year.

[grizband]

The reason quartiles are not used by major rating systems is because they eliminate the easy wins/bad opponents/best-worst conference members and factors that teams ACTUALLY have, skewing the ACTUAL results. Therefore it is a false reading. The GPI stopped using quartiles years ago. xtwocentsx
I understand, just thought it was an interesting comparison to take only the middle 50% of GPIs (all of the wins are still included) to determine the conference ranking. Luckily, I'm not in a position of power, so my opinion on the matter of GPI won't change much. xlolx

[Syntax Error]

I understand, just thought it was an interesting comparison to take only the middle 50% of GPIs (all of the wins are still included) to determine the conference ranking. Luckily, I'm not in a position of power, so my opinion on the matter of GPI won't change much. xlolxYeah, I remember when the GPI first came out it was heavily based on Sagarin and his quartiles. xlolx

[grizband]

Yeah, I remember when the GPI first came out it was heavily based on Sagarin and his quartiles. xlolx
One question, though, my quartile did not skew the actual GPI scores, it simply eliminated the top and bottom scores from the conference rankings. How would this eliminate the actual results of games played (if the original GPI numbers are kept in tact)?

[Maroon&White]

Whining? Whining? Have some cheese with your whining about UMass...Beat UMass during the regular season and advance past the quarterfinals in the same year , then you can chirp about UMass. Oh shucks, you havn't, ever. xnonox

You know he's jealous of UMass when he brings them up for no reason xlolx xlolx :D

[wideright82]

Quartiles however are not a justification to just REMOVE teams from the conference (statistically), and i believe the quartile justification is being used incorrectly. The "skew" of the poll really is not determined by the IQR solely. Those numbers are only skewing the data to the point of nonuse if they are +/- 1.5*IQR from the 1st and 3rd quartiles. Therefore to just wipe away the maximum quartiles of data because they are outside of the middle 50% is a pretty incorrect statistical thing to do. Keep in mind i havent done any calculations so i dont know if it works out that way, but from just reading it appears the quartiles are being used incorrectly.

[WrenFGun]

Whining? Whining? Have some cheese with your whining about UMass...Beat UMass during the regular season and advance past the quarterfinals in the same year , then you can chirp about UMass. Oh shucks, you havn't, ever. xnonox

Goodness November 15th can't come soon enough. Can I still boo Brandon London? God I hate him.

[KAUMASS]

Not bad for the first week...it should get crisper as the weeks move on and more teams have played each other..

Team rankings on the GPI that I found interesting...

North Dakota St-#21
Eastern Washington-#28
Jacksonville St-#13
Weber St-#14
Northeastern-#24(tie)
Sam Houston-#24(tie)
Northern Arizona-#16

Honorary 2008 CAA member Albany came in at #37-Nice Job!!

[santosballnewhampshire]

Goodness November 15th can't come soon enough. Can I still boo Brandon London? God I hate him.

AGREED! xmadx

[Kymermosst]

Goodness November 15th can't come soon enough. Can I still boo Brandon London? God I hate him.

You can boo whoever you want. You can sit between Ball and Santos. If you're loud enough, maybe he'll hear you on his way to Houston.

[KAUMASS]

Goodness November 15th can't come soon enough. Can I still boo Brandon London? God I hate him.


I apoligize to any UNH poster that may take that post the wrong way or out of context..That post was specifically meant for UNHWILDCATS and no other UNH posters. Just about every other post with him has a diss against UMass.

London did play with a chip on his shoulder, you won't get any rebuttles from me on that one.

Congrats on the #2 ranking on the GPI .

[KAUMASS]

stop the whining... Unlike UMass UNH has proven it can earn a playoff spot even when it plays the tougher teams from the south, layoff.

Here is the actual quote...

[WrenFGun]

I apoligize to any UNH poster that may take that post the wrong way or out of context..That post was specifically meant for UNHWILDCATS and no other UNH posters. Just about every other post with him has a diss against UMass.

London did play with a chip on his shoulder, you won't get any rebuttles from me on that one.

Congrats on the #2 ranking on the GPI .

Oh, don't worry about it. Travis is crazy.

I just really want to beat you guys. It seems like it's been forever. Jason Hatchell and Brandon London are names I'll never forget, for good reasons. Hopefully Coen isn't another one.

[KAUMASS]

Oh, don't worry about it. Travis is crazy.

I just really want to beat you guys. It seems like it's been forever. Jason Hatchell and Brandon London are names I'll never forget, for good reasons. Hopefully Coen isn't another one.




I was at the 2005 game. It doesn't seem that long ago...It should be another epic battle on the 15th of November..good luck until then..I'd be more worried about 'Nova than us at the moment!!