Simulated BCS Rankings Show Miami Ahead of Ohio State

A simulation of the retired Bowl Championship Series formula places Miami at the top of the college football rankings.

The hypothetical list was calculated using data from the current season. The BCS system operated from 1998 until 2013. It combined the Harris Interactive Poll, the Coaches Poll, and computer rankings into a single score. The AP poll replaced the Harris Interactive Poll in 2004. The four-team playoff began in 2014. The current 12-team bracket started in 2024.

Miami holds the top spot with a simulated BCS score of 0.9837. Quarterback Darian Mensah is setting efficiency records. Wide receiver Malachi Toney is producing high statistical output as a sophomore. The Hurricanes defeated Pittsburgh recently. Their best win on the schedule is against Wake Forest. That team is ranked No. 21 in the Sagarin top 25.

Ohio State ranks second with a score of 0.9576. The Buckeyes are currently first in the Massey Ratings and Sagarin polls. Quarterback Julian Sayin is out for the season. Freshman Luke Fahey will take over the starting role. Ohio State plays USC and Northwestern in the next three weeks. The computer ratings do not adjust for injuries until a team plays a new game.

Indiana is third with a score of 0.8408. The Hoosiers are the reigning national champions. They have won three of their last four games by a single possession. They beat Michigan in overtime on the weekend. That was the first time a team coached by Curt Cignetti completed only one pass in the second half. Indiana plays Minnesota in Bloomington on Saturday.

Georgia sits in fourth with a score of 0.8364. The Bulldogs are one of eight SEC teams in the top 17 of the simulated list. They lost to Auburn earlier this month while favored by three touchdowns. They have a win over Alabama. The SEC has the five toughest schedules in the sport this season.

Notre Dame is fifth with a score of 0.8043. The Fighting Irish lost to BYU in the final seconds. That loss did not lower their simulated value significantly. Marcus Freeman's team plays Miami and SMU in November. A win over Wisconsin in the first week helped their resume. They make the playoff if they finish 10-2. They are out if they finish 9-3.

UCLA is sixth with a score of 0.7944. The Bruins are one of three undefeated teams in college football. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out for the season. They beat Wisconsin on October 17. They beat Oregon the week before. USC is their only remaining ranked opponent. Bob Chesney's team can secure a top-four seed by winning out.

Utah is seventh with a score of 0.7730. The Utes received a first-place vote in the AP poll this week. Their strength of schedule is the worst among the top ten teams. They have one win against a top-25 team. Miami and Ohio State also have one such win. Utah and BYU are the primary threats from the Big 12.

Kentucky is eighth with a score of 0.7091. Will Stein's Wildcats lead the SEC after Week 8. They have won six straight games since losing to Alabama. They beat LSU in overtime. They play Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri in their final three games. Those opponents are all currently ranked in this simulated top 25.

BYU is ninth with a score of 0.6017. The Cougars beat Notre Dame earlier this month. They lost to UCF on the weekend. That loss lowered their score. They play Utah on November 7. Texas Tech, Houston, and Arizona are also ranked in the Big 12.

Alabama is tenth with a score of 0.6313. The Crimson Tide have two losses. They play LSU on November 7 and Auburn on November 28. Their only ranked win is over Kentucky. The win over Mississippi State did not improve their standing. Texas is ranked 11th despite having three top-25 wins. The computers rate Alabama higher than Texas. Massey ranks Texas first in strength of schedule nationally. Alabama is second and Ole Miss is third. Boise State is the only Group of Six team in the top 25. They are 6-0 since losing to Oregon in the season opener. Wisconsin entered the AP poll this week after beating USC. USC hosts Ohio State this weekend, plays Indiana in Week 11, and faces UCLA in the regular season finale.