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The promotion & relegation experiment

College football,
run like the Premier League.

136 clubs. Two tiers, seven divisions. Promotion, relegation, and a 24-team playoff — and no safe seats. Finish last in your division and you're on Relegation Watch. Win the second tier and you go up.

70 in the Premier League24-team playoff66 in the Championship

The table as it stands — every club ranked by its placement score, the way the season would shake out today.

The table, right now

Glory & the guillotine

Favorites

Premier League · title race

Lifting the trophy

Ohio State

5% title share · 75.4 pts — top of the table

Promoted

Promotion · going up

Up to the Premier

Boise State

Championship · 49.4 pts

Tulane

Championship · 48.6 pts

Proj. down

Relegation Watch · the drop

Down they go

Oregon St

Premier · 37.8 pts

Mississippi St

Premier · 45.3 pts

Clinging on (last safe)

Oregon St37.8

Banging on the door (first out)

Boise State49.4

11.6

pts above the drop

The 7 divisions

Division standings

Wins the division → playoff auto-bid Last place → Relegation Watch
West10 clubs
1OregonAuto-bid74.0
2USC63.4
3Washington58.6
4Arizona52.8
5UCLA52.5
6Arizona State52.1
7California48.6
8Stanford48.5
9Washington St41.7
10Oregon StProj. down37.8
Southwest10 clubs
1TexasAuto-bid70.9
2Texas A&M63.4
3Texas Tech62.9
4Oklahoma62.7
5Houston55.1
6SMU54.4
7Baylor49.9
8TCU49.2
9Oklahoma State48.7
10ArkansasWatch48.3
Plains10 clubs
1BYUAuto-bid60.5
2Utah55.7
3Iowa54.9
4Kansas State52.0
5Nebraska51.2
6Wisconsin50.9
7Minnesota50.3
8Iowa State48.9
9Colorado48.7
10KansasWatch48.6
Midwest10 clubs
1Ohio StateAuto-bid75.4
2Indiana70.4
3Michigan63.7
4Illinois52.9
5Louisville52.0
6Missouri51.6
7Northwestern50.0
8Michigan State48.7
9Cincinnati48.6
10PurdueWatch48.5
Northeast10 clubs
1Notre DameAuto-bid70.4
2Penn State60.5
3Pittsburgh49.8
4Virginia48.9
5Maryland48.7
6West Virginia48.6
7Rutgers48.5
8Virginia Tech48.5
9Boston College48.5
10SyracuseWatch48.5
Southeast10 clubs
1MiamiAuto-bid66.5
2South Carolina52.6
3Clemson52.3
4Florida51.5
5Florida State50.9
6NC State48.7
7Duke48.6
8North Carolina48.6
9Georgia Tech48.6
10Wake ForestWatch48.5
South10 clubs
1GeorgiaAuto-bid68.3
2LSU63.2
3Ole Miss62.4
4Alabama61.7
5Tennessee51.3
6Auburn51.1
7UCF48.6
8Kentucky48.3
9Vanderbilt48.3
10Mississippi StProj. down45.3

How relegation works: finish last in your division and you enter Relegation Watch — seven clubs in danger. Before Week 1, the Board score projects the two Watch clubs most likely to go down (two Championship clubs come up to replace them). Once games begin, the Relegation Table takes over and it's decided on the field — win %, then point differential, with the model only as the tiebreaker. Only division cellar clubs can be relegated — a low-ranked team can survive by staying out of last place in its division.

The season

How the schedule works

Built for fairness and drama — a 12-game season, 6 home and 6 away.

9Division games

Play all nine other clubs in your 10-team division — a full round-robin every year.

2Matched crossovers

Two games against same-place finishers from other divisions — winners draw winners, last-place draws last-place.

1Protected rivalry

One fixed cross-division grudge match that runs back every season.

Same-place matching is the whole trick. Because your crossover opponents finished where you did the year before, a division winner's reward is a brutal next-year slate against other winners, while a cellar club draws other strugglers — a fairer path back, and apples-to-apples résumés for the Relegation Table. Over a three-year cycle the matched games rotate you through all six outside divisions, so no schedule feels rigged.

The table

Premier League

Playoff places Last in division (watch) Projected to drop
Pos
Club
Pts
1
Ohio StateLeaders
75.4
2
Oregon
74.0
3
Texas
70.9
4
Notre Dame
70.4
5
Indiana
70.4
6
Georgia
68.3
7
Miami
66.5
8
Michigan
63.7
9
USC
63.4
10
Texas A&M
63.4
11
LSU
63.2
12
Texas Tech
62.9
13
Oklahoma
62.7
14
Ole Miss
62.4
15
Alabama
61.7
16
BYU
60.5
17
Penn State
60.5
18
Washington
58.6
19
Utah
55.7
20
Houston
55.1
21
Iowa
54.9
22
SMU
54.4
23
Illinois
52.9
24
Arizona
52.8
25
South Carolina
52.6
26
UCLA
52.5
27
Clemson
52.3
28
Arizona State
52.1
29
Louisville
52.0
30
Kansas State
52.0
31
Missouri
51.6
32
Florida
51.5
33
Tennessee
51.3
34
Nebraska
51.2
35
Auburn
51.1
36
Wisconsin
50.9
37
Florida State
50.9
38
Minnesota
50.3
39
Northwestern
50.0
40
Baylor
49.9
41
Pittsburgh
49.8
42
TCU
49.2
43
Iowa State
48.9
44
Virginia
48.9
45
NC State
48.7
46
Colorado
48.7
47
Michigan State
48.7
48
Maryland
48.7
49
Oklahoma State
48.7
50
Duke
48.6
51
Cincinnati
48.6
52
North Carolina
48.6
53
UCF
48.6
54
Georgia Tech
48.6
55
West Virginia
48.6
56
KansasWatch
48.6
57
California
48.6
58
Rutgers
48.5
59
PurdueWatch
48.5
60
Virginia Tech
48.5
61
Stanford
48.5
62
Boston College
48.5
63
SyracuseWatch
48.5
64
Wake ForestWatch
48.5
65
Kentucky
48.3
66
Vanderbilt
48.3
67
ArkansasWatch
48.3
68
Mississippi StProj. down
45.3
69
Washington St
41.7
70
Oregon StProj. down
37.8

Position by placement score (Pts). The top of the table claims the 24-team playoff places. Each division's last-place club is on Relegation Watch; as projected today the two lowest go down — final relegation is decided on the field.

The playoff

Premier League playoff

24 clubs · 8 byes · 8 openers · winner takes the crown

Higher seed is highlighted · Bye = seeds 1–8

Byes 1–8

Bye#1
Ohio State
Bye#2
Oregon
Bye#3
Texas
Bye#4
Notre Dame
Bye#5
Indiana
Bye#6
Georgia
Bye#7
Miami
Bye#8
BYU

First round

#9Michigan
#24Arizona
#10USC
#23Illinois
#11Texas A&M
#22SMU
#12LSU
#21Iowa
#13Texas Tech
#20Houston
#14Oklahoma
#19Utah
#15Ole Miss
#18Washington
#16Alabama
#17Penn State
How the bracket is built

Seven division winners and one at-large get first-round byes; remaining seeds 9–24 pair 9v24 through 16v17. Byes re-enter as the tree advances. No game simulation — current table scores only.

Movement (if table held)

Paired by score — who moves today.

Down from Premier

Up to Premier

Down from Championship

Championship — leaders

Cut line & queue

Last projected down: Oregon St (37.8)First projected up: Boise State (49.4)
Swap gap: 11.6 pts

Tightest gap: #54 UCF trails #53 North Carolina by 0.0 pts

Relegation Watch

Seven on watch. Two go down.

The last-place club in each of the 7 divisions is on watch. As projected today, the two weakest go down — once the season begins, the Relegation Table takes over.

Earned on the field

The Relegation Table

What actually decides it: the 7 Watch clubs ranked by their real season — win %, then point differential (each game capped at ±28), with the model as the final tiebreaker. The bottom two go down.

Standings begin Week 1

Once games are played, this table ranks the danger clubs on what they actually do on the field — and can override the preseason projection above. For now, the projected order is in Relegation Watch.

Second flight

Championship

Everyone outside Premier. Green rail: promotion four.

Promotion playoff

Going up

The Championship's top four play for a place in the Premier League next season.

1Boise State
4Memphis
2Tulane
3UTSA

Debate board

Quick studio takes from the table.

  • The Premier “door” is only 11.6 points from swinging — keep an eye on Oregon St vs. Boise State.
  • Playoff 1-seed Ohio State is the model’s bracket favorite, but 24 teams still have a path on paper.
  • Boise State paces the Championship — the promotion race starts with them.
  • Smallest margin in the table: only 0.0 pts between #53 and #54.
Full FBS table · 136 teams

Global order by placement score.

#TeamLeagueDivisionScore
1Ohio StateTop LeagueMidwest75.4
2OregonTop LeagueWest74.0
3TexasTop LeagueSouthwest70.9
4Notre DameTop LeagueNortheast70.4
5IndianaTop LeagueMidwest70.4
6GeorgiaTop LeagueSouth68.3
7MiamiTop LeagueSoutheast66.5
8MichiganTop LeagueMidwest63.7
9USCTop LeagueWest63.4
10Texas A&MTop LeagueSouthwest63.4
11LSUTop LeagueSouth63.2
12Texas TechTop LeagueSouthwest62.9
13OklahomaTop LeagueSouthwest62.7
14Ole MissTop LeagueSouth62.4
15AlabamaTop LeagueSouth61.7
16BYUTop LeaguePlains60.5
17Penn StateTop LeagueNortheast60.5
18WashingtonTop LeagueWest58.6
19UtahTop LeaguePlains55.7
20HoustonTop LeagueSouthwest55.1
21IowaTop LeaguePlains54.9
22SMUTop LeagueSouthwest54.4
23IllinoisTop LeagueMidwest52.9
24ArizonaTop LeagueWest52.8
25South CarolinaTop LeagueSoutheast52.6
26UCLATop LeagueWest52.5
27ClemsonTop LeagueSoutheast52.3
28Arizona StateTop LeagueWest52.1
29LouisvilleTop LeagueMidwest52.0
30Kansas StateTop LeaguePlains52.0
31MissouriTop LeagueMidwest51.6
32FloridaTop LeagueSoutheast51.5
33TennesseeTop LeagueSouth51.3
34NebraskaTop LeaguePlains51.2
35AuburnTop LeagueSouth51.1
36WisconsinTop LeaguePlains50.9
37Florida StateTop LeagueSoutheast50.9
38MinnesotaTop LeaguePlains50.3
39NorthwesternTop LeagueMidwest50.0
40BaylorTop LeagueSouthwest49.9
41PittsburghTop LeagueNortheast49.8
42Boise StateUnder League—49.4
43TCUTop LeagueSouthwest49.2
44Iowa StateTop LeaguePlains48.9
45VirginiaTop LeagueNortheast48.9
46NC StateTop LeagueSoutheast48.7
47ColoradoTop LeaguePlains48.7
48Michigan StateTop LeagueMidwest48.7
49MarylandTop LeagueNortheast48.7
50Oklahoma StateTop LeagueSouthwest48.7
51DukeTop LeagueSoutheast48.6
52CincinnatiTop LeagueMidwest48.6
53North CarolinaTop LeagueSoutheast48.6
54UCFTop LeagueSouth48.6
55Georgia TechTop LeagueSoutheast48.6
56West VirginiaTop LeagueNortheast48.6
57KansasTop LeaguePlains48.6
58CaliforniaTop LeagueWest48.6
59TulaneUnder League—48.6
60RutgersTop LeagueNortheast48.5
61PurdueTop LeagueMidwest48.5
62Virginia TechTop LeagueNortheast48.5
63StanfordTop LeagueWest48.5
64Boston CollegeTop LeagueNortheast48.5
65SyracuseTop LeagueNortheast48.5
66Wake ForestTop LeagueSoutheast48.5
67KentuckyTop LeagueSouth48.3
68VanderbiltTop LeagueSouth48.3
69ArkansasTop LeagueSouthwest48.3
70UTSAUnder League—47.1
71MemphisUnder League—47.1
72North TexasUnder League—46.8
73James MadisonUnder League—46.5
74South FloridaUnder League—46.2
75Fresno StateUnder League—45.3
76Mississippi StTop LeagueSouth45.3
77East CarolinaUnder League—45.0
78Old DominionUnder League—44.7
79NavyUnder League—44.6
80San Diego StateUnder League—44.1
81LibertyUnder League—43.4
82ArmyUnder League—43.3
83MarshallUnder League—43.2
84Western KentuckyUnder League—42.7
85W MichiganUnder League—42.6
86Texas StUnder League—42.5
87TroyUnder League—42.4
88UNLVUnder League—42.1
89FAUUnder League—42.0
90ToledoUnder League—41.9
91LouisianaUnder League—41.7
92Washington StTop LeagueWest41.7
93Miami (OH)Under League—41.6
94Appalachian StateUnder League—41.6
95New MexicoUnder League—41.4
96Utah StateUnder League—40.8
97TempleUnder League—40.8
98TulsaUnder League—40.7
99Hawai'iUnder League—40.4
100Air ForceUnder League—40.3
101Louisiana TechUnder League—40.0
102OhioUnder League—39.9
103Kennesaw StUnder League—39.5
104UConnUnder League—39.2
105Jax StateUnder League—39.2
106FIUUnder League—39.1
107South AlabamaUnder League—39.1
108C MichiganUnder League—39.0
109Coastal CarolinaUnder League—38.7
110GA SouthernUnder League—38.3
111Arkansas StUnder League—38.2
112Oregon StTop LeagueWest37.8
113Missouri StUnder League—37.8
114Southern MissUnder League—37.7
115DelawareUnder League—37.7
116BuffaloUnder League—37.5
117RiceUnder League—37.4
118San José StUnder League—37.2
119E MichiganUnder League—36.9
120Colorado StUnder League—36.9
121WyomingUnder League—36.5
122UABUnder League—36.3
123AkronUnder League—35.8
124Bowling GreenUnder League—35.6
125New Mexico StUnder League—35.4
126Georgia StUnder League—34.8
127NevadaUnder League—34.6
128Sam HoustonUnder League—34.0
129CharlotteUnder League—33.9
130Kent StateUnder League—33.7
131Middle TennesseeUnder League—33.6
132UL MonroeUnder League—33.6
133UTEPUnder League—33.5
134UMassUnder League—33.5
135N IllinoisUnder League—33.1
136Ball StateUnder League—32.8

Placement score: our 2026 projection model (Board score) — the same blended rating + season simulation that powers the rest of the site. Higher = stronger projected 2026 season. Updated 6/21/2026.

How the placement score works

Every club is placed by our 2026 Board score (0–100) — a blend of the preseason polls and our Monte Carlo season projection (market-anchored to Vegas win totals). It's the identical metric behind the national rankings, the playoff field, and the win totals elsewhere on the site, so the league table here stays consistent with everything else. Divisions are fixed by geography/rivalry; the model only sets each club's score and its order within its division. Forecast updated 6/21/2026.

League rules (full text)
  • 70 teams in the Top League; remaining FBS teams in the Under League (second tier).
  • 7 divisions × 10 teams: West, Southwest, Plains, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, South.
  • 24 teams: 7 division winners + 1 at-large first-round bye (8 byes, re-seeded 1–8) + 16 play-in (9–24), first round 9v24…16v17; later rounds not simulated in the UI (matchup-only, no sim).
  • Relegation: the last-place club in each of the 7 divisions enters Relegation Watch (7 clubs). The 2 lowest placement scores among them are projected to drop — final relegation is earned on the field as the season plays out (the Board score updates with real results).
  • Promotion: the 2 best Championship clubs by placement score are promoted to the Premier League.