Overview

• The first of six rankings will be released Nov. 4 on ESPN, followed by Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, with Selection Day on Dec. 7.
• The strength-of-schedule calculation will apply more weight to games against stronger opponents.
• A new "record strength" metric assesses performance against a team’s schedule, emphasizing victories over high-quality foes and minimizing penalties for losses to them while devaluing wins over lower-quality opponents.
• A partial-recusal policy now lets members stay for discussions involving affiliated schools but bars them from voting in those rounds.
• The updates follow a six-month analytics and membership review, with new-member orientation moved to October and a reaffirmation that final-week movement must be evidence-based.