Colley Matrix

It is one of more than 40 polls, rankings, and formulas recognized by the NCAA in its list of national champion selectors in college football.

[1] In his initial paper at Princeton University, Colley states, "The method is based on very simple statistical principles, and uses only Div.

[6] Unlike most of the NCAA's major selectors, the Colley Matrix does not award a trophy to its national champion.

[3] Dr. Ed Feng, a mathematician at Stanford University, criticized the system because it does not consider specific game results, stating that "[t]he method does not care who a team loses to in ranking them.

The error was a result of Colley failing to input an FCS playoff game (Appalachian State vs. Western Illinois) correctly, a mistake that affected an order that helped determine bowl pairings that season.

[44][45] Central Florida later proclaimed themselves as co-national champions because of the ranking, becoming the only school to claim a national championship based solely on the Colley Matrix.

"[49] Since its creation, the four instances in which the Colley Matrix has chosen a different national champion from the BCS/CFP winner are the most of any NCAA recognized selector in that timeframe.