BCS Standings Explained

Since the 2000 regular season, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings have been officially compiled by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. These standings were designed to objectively rank college football’s top teams and determine who would compete in the national championship game, while also guiding automatic and at-large bowl selections.

How the BCS Standings Were Calculated

Each team’s overall BCS score was determined by combining three equally weighted components:

  1. USA Today Coaches Poll
  2. Harris Interactive College Football Poll
  3. Average of Six Computer Rankings

Each component counted for one-third of a team’s total BCS score. When combined and averaged, the team with the highest overall percentage ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings. For a deeper look at how these calculations were made, see our guide to ranking calculations & formula.

Purpose of the BCS Standings

The standings served three main functions within the postseason structure:

  1. Select the national championship matchup between the top two teams.
  2. Determine automatic qualifiers from major conferences.
  3. Establish the pool of at-large teams eligible for selection to the BCS bowls.

Poll Components

Harris Interactive College Football Poll

  • Comprised of former coaches, players, administrators, and media members.
  • Each week, panelists ranked the top 25 teams.
  • A team’s Harris score = (team’s total points) ÷ (maximum possible points).
    • For example: if there were 114 voters, the maximum possible score was 2,850 (114 × 25).

USA Today Coaches Poll

  • Followed the same formula as the Harris Poll.
  • The maximum total possible points were based on the number of active coaches voting that week (e.g., 63 × 25 = 1,575).
  • Weekly percentages were recalculated to reflect any changes in the number of voters.

Computer Rankings

To balance human opinion, six independent computer models were used:

  • Jeff Sagarin
  • Anderson & Hester
  • Richard Billingsley
  • Colley Matrix
  • Kenneth Massey
  • Dr. Peter Wolfe

Process:

  • Each computer ranked teams from 1 to 25.
  • Rankings were converted into point values in reverse order (No. 1 = 25 points, No. 25 = 1 point).
  • The highest and lowest of the six rankings were discarded.
  • The remaining four were averaged and converted into a percentage out of 100.

This method ensured a consistent, statistically neutral approach across human and algorithmic evaluations.

Why the Formula Mattered

The BCS system aimed to balance subjective opinion with objective data, rewarding consistent performance throughout the regular season. By merging human judgment with computer analytics, the BCS sought to ensure the most deserving teams earned a place in the most prestigious bowl games. For additional common questions about how the system worked, visit our FAQ about the BCS.