New Mathematical Index Aims to Eliminate Bias in College Football Rankings

The college football landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of the MacQuarrie Strength of Schedule (SoS) Index, a mathematical system designed to eliminate human bias from team rankings. Developed by historian and author Mike MacQuarrie, this innovative approach addresses long-standing concerns about fairness in how college football teams are evaluated for playoff consideration.

The current system relies on human voters in the Coaches Poll and AP rankings, which often introduce bias—whether intentional or not. Coaches frequently protect their own programs, while sports writers juggle deadlines and narratives that can influence their voting decisions. This has resulted in teams with weaker schedules sometimes leapfrogging more deserving opponents in the rankings.

The MacQuarrie Index represents a fundamental shift from this subjective approach. By ranking the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven best-performing teams based strictly on mathematical calculations, the system ensures that the National Championship Playoff always includes the best 12 teams rather than just the most famous programs. The index evaluates team schedules without bias or pre-season hype, with rankings updating weekly throughout the 2025 college football season based on actual results and the strength of opponents faced.

MacQuarrie's inspiration for creating a bias-free system stems from his Scottish heritage and the principles of Clan MacQuarrie, one of Scotland's oldest Highland clans. In Scotland's Highland Games tradition, bias was unthinkable—strength, endurance, and skill spoke louder than opinion. MacQuarrie brings this same principle to college football, insisting that performance rather than politics should determine rankings.

Beyond the weekly rankings, the MacQuarrie Index aims to enrich the overall fan experience by highlighting the traditions and culture that make college football unique. The platform will feature Player of the Week and Coach of the Year selections determined by an advisory council of former players and coaches. Additional content will include lists of the toughest stadiums, largest crowds, and most storied rivalries, along with insights into mascots, marching bands, tailgates, and the traditions that define fall Saturdays.

The introduction of this mathematical ranking system could have substantial implications for college football programs nationwide. Teams from smaller conferences or those traditionally overlooked by human voters may now receive fairer consideration based on their actual performance rather than reputation or media coverage. This shift toward objective measurement could fundamentally change how teams schedule opponents and how conferences structure their seasons.

For fans, the MacQuarrie Index promises a more transparent and equitable way to follow the sport, providing mathematical justification for rankings that were previously subject to human interpretation and potential bias. The system's weekly updates throughout the season will allow for real-time tracking of team performance based on concrete data rather than subjective opinions.