If the NCAA used a Promotion/Relegation sytstem

[AmishBengalFan]

I did this already for the NFL (linky: [url="http://forum.go-bengals.com/index.php?showtopic=58215"]http://forum.go-bengals.com/index.php?showtopic=58215[/url]) and some folks wanted to know how it would apply to the NCAA. I'll not bore y'all with the details of what promotion/relegation is - see the NFL thread on this topic for a discussion of that.

Here were my assumptions for the NCAA listings:
1. All teams start even going into the 1998 season, which is the first season where the BCS reared its ugly head and fucked everything up.
2. Teams are ranked solely on W-L record. This includes regular season games, conference championship games (if applicable), and bowl games (if applicable).
3. If teams tie on W-L record, the first ONLY tiebreak is the record of the teams in question in the previous season. If that's tied, go back another year, and so on. If you get all the way back to 1998 and you're still tied - suck it up, it's a tie. (Don't worry, it only takes about 3 seasons to break all of the teams apart so there are no chances of a tie after things get rolling along).
4. During the first 4 years of this, we start with a single pool including all teams, then split them into two, then split into three, and so on. The goal is a 5-tier system with an approximately equal # of teams in each tier. Once we achieve that state, 4 teams promote/relegate between tiers each season.

In 1998 there were 112 schools playing Div I-A ball, so the first split would be to place the top 56 teams in Tier 1 for 1999. Since two new schools joined Div I-A in 1999, they're automatically placed in Tier 2 and the #s are adjusted so that 57 of the original 112 go into Tier 1, with 55 (+ the two new schools) go into Tier 2. It turns out that the breakpoint for the 1998 season is a 6-6 record... there were exactly 57 schools with a 6-6 or better record.

After tha 1999 season, the two tiers are split into three. Repeat for 2000 and 2001, so that heading into the 2002 season we have achieved our goal of 5 tiers. There were 117 schools slated to play in 2002, so the # of teams in each tier were 24-24-23-23-23. The tiers were comprised of:

2002 Tier I: (24 schools)
1: Miami (FL)
2: Oregon
4: Oklahoma
5: Nebraska
6: Texas
7: Louisville
8: Tennessee
9: Marshall
10: Toledo
11: Florida
12: Illinois
15: Fresno State
16: LSU
17: Syracuse
20: Stanford
25: Virginia Tech
26: Washington
27: Florida $tate
28: Boise State
29: Michigan
30: Georgia
31: Texas A&M
32: Boston College
33: Utah

2002 Tier II: (24 schools)
3: BYU
13: Maryland
18: Colorado
19: South Carolina
21: Hawaii
22: South Florida
23: Middle Tenn St
35: Old Miss
38: Georgia Tech
40: Colorado St
41: Clemson
42: Iowa State
43: Auburn
44: Ohio State
45: NC State
46: Pittsburgh
48: Miami
50: Arkansas
55: Southern Miss
62: TCU
63: Kansas State
64: Air Force
65: East Carolina
68: Oregon State

2002 Tier III: (23 schools)
14: Washington St
24: Bowling Green
34: Rice
36: UCLA
37: Troy
39: North Carolina
47: Cincinnati
49: Texas Tech
51: Michigan State
52: Alabama
53: Iowa
54: Louisiana Tech
56: UAB
58: Northern Illinois
61: Kent State
66: Purdue
67: USC
69: Western Mich
70: Notre Dame
73: Penn State
76: Wisconsin
90: Mississippi St
111: Ohio

2002 Tier IV: (23 schools)
57: UCF
59: New Mexico
60: Wake Forest
71: Arizona
72: Ball State
74: Memphis
75: Indiana
77: Virginia
78: New Mexico St
79: North Texas
80: Northwestern
82: Akron
83: Minnesota
84: Arizona State
86: Temple
88: Missouri
89: SMU
93: San Diego St
94: Central Mich
95: Baylor
100: San Jose State
102: UTEP
115: Houston

2002 Tier V: (23 schools)
81: UNLV
85: Utah State
87: Oklahoma State
91: West Virginia
92: Kansas
96: Buffalo
97: Nevada
98: Army
99: Lousiana-Lafayette
101: Tulane
103: Vanderbilt
104: Eastern Mich
105: Rutgers
106: Connecticut
107: Wyoming
108: Arkansas State
109: Kentucky
110: Lousiana-Monroe
112: Idaho
113: Tulsa
114: California
116: Navy
117: Duke

Note, the #s before each school is that school's tiebreaker number, based on their record the previous year(s). They're used to determine the final order of finish within each tier for teams that have the same final record, with lower #s ranked ahead of higher #s. The #s are re-calculated each season.

I don't know if people care a whit about how we get from 2002 to the present, but let me give y'all the final standings for the last two seasons:

2009:

2009 Tier I:
1: Boise State (14-0) [4] - National Champion
2: Alabama (14-0) [7]
3: Florida (13-1) [2]
4: Texas (13-1) [5]
5: TCU (12-1) [11]
6: Penn State (11-2) [9]
7: Ohio State (11-2) [14]
8: BYU (11-2) [15]
9: Utah (10-3) [1]
10: Oregon (10-3) [17]
11: Virginia Tech (10-3) [20]
12: Wisconsin (10-3) [51]
13: USC (9-4) [3]
14: Texas Tech (9-4) [10]
15: West Virginia (9-4) [21]
16: LSU (9-4) [38]
17: Oklahoma (8-5) [6]
18: Georgia (8-5) [16]
19: Missouri (8-5) [19]
20: Oregon State (8-5) [22]
----those below here relegate----
21: Boston College (8-5) [35]
22: Florida $tate (7-6) [25]
23: Hawaii (6-7) [63]
24: Tulsa (5-7) [13]

2009 Tier II:
1: Cincinnati (12-1) [12] - Tier II Champion
2: Iowa (11-2) [28]
3: Georgia Tech (11-3) [24]
4: Nebraska (10-4) [30]
----those above here promote----
5: Navy (10-4) [45]
6: Oklahoma State (9-4) [26]
7: Miami (FL) (9-4) [58]
8: Clemson (9-5) [52]
9: California (8-5) [23]
10: South Florida (8-5) [40]
11: Fresno State (8-5) [53]
12: Auburn (8-5) [74]
13: Southern Miss (7-6) [55]
14: Bowling Green (7-6) [65]
15: Northern Illinois (7-6) [71]
16: Tennessee (7-6) [73]
17: Notre Dame (6-6) [60]
18: Michigan State (6-7) [27]
19: Western Mich (5-7) [31]
20: Wake Forest (5-7) [39]
----those below here relegate----
21: Michigan (5-7) [102]
22: Arizona State (4-8) [72]
23: Louisville (4-8) [78]
24: Maryland (2-10) [47]

2009 Tier III:
1: Central Mich (12-2) [46] - Tier III Champion
2: Pittsburgh (10-3) [32]
3: Houston (10-4) [43]
4: Troy (9-4) [34]
----those above here promote----
5: Rutgers (9-4) [44]
6: East Carolina (9-5) [36]
7: Northwestern (8-5) [29]
8: Connecticut (8-5) [41]
9: Air Force (8-5) [42]
10: Arkansas (8-5) [77]
11: UCF (8-5) [88]
12: South Carolina (7-6) [56]
13: UCLA (7-6) [95]
14: Kansas State (6-6) [80]
15: Minnesota (6-7) [62]
16: Texas A&M (6-7) [92]
17: Kansas (5-7) [37]
18: NC State (5-7) [70]
19: Virginia (3-9) [75]
20: Colorado (3-9) [79]
----those below here relegate----
21: Rice (2-10) [18]
22: Memphis (2-10) [69]
23: Ball State (2-12) [8]
24: Miami (1-11) [110]

2009 Tier IV:
1: Middle Tenn St (10-3) [81] - Tier IV Champion
2: Old Miss (9-4) [33]
3: Ohio (9-5) [93]
4: Arizona (8-5) [48]
----those above here promote----
5: Nevada (8-5) [57]
6: Kentucky (7-6) [54]
7: Wyoming (7-6) [96]
8: Marshall (7-6) [98]
9: Lousiana-Lafayette (6-6) [68]
10: Buffalo (5-7) [50]
11: Florida Atlantic (5-7) [64]
12: Purdue (5-7) [90]
13: Mississippi St (5-7) [91]
14: Toledo (5-7) [104]
15: Louisiana Tech (4-8) [49]
16: Arkansas State (4-8) [67]
17: UTEP (4-8) [82]
18: Colorado St (3-9) [61]
19: Illinois (3-9) [76]
20: Akron (3-9) [83]
----those below here relegate----
21: Vanderbilt (2-10) [59]
22: San Jose State (2-10) [66]
23: New Mexico (1-11) [89]
24: Washington St (1-11) [116]

2009 Tier V:
1: Temple (9-4) [85] - Tier V Champion
2: Stanford (8-5) [84]
3: Idaho (8-5) [114]
4: SMU (8-5) [118]
----those above here promote----
5: Iowa State (7-6) [113]
6: Lousiana-Monroe (6-6) [94]
7: UNLV (5-7) [86]
8: Kent State (5-7) [97]
9: UAB (5-7) [100]
10: Duke (5-7) [101]
11: Army (5-7) [107]
12: Washington (5-7) [120]
13: Baylor (4-8) [99]
14: Indiana (4-8) [103]
15: Syracuse (4-8) [108]
16: Utah State (4-8) [109]
17: San Diego St (4-8) [112]
18: FIU (3-9) [87]
19: Tulane (3-9) [111]
20: New Mexico St (3-10) [106]
21: North Texas (2-10) [117]
22: Eastern Mich (0-12) [105]
23: Western Ky (0-12) [115]
24: North Carolina (0-5) [119] - Dead Last

North Carolina had to vacate a bunch of games for the 2009 season. Their final 0-5 official record, coupled with their 119th place finish (out of 120) the previous season, locked them in for dead last in spite of having a record no worse than Eastern Michigan and Western Ky,

For 2010, the Big Ten schools would be assigned:
I: Iowa(+),Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
II: Michigan State
III: Michigan(-), Minnesota, Northwestern
IV: Illinois, Purdue
V: Indiana
(+)-promoted from 2009
(-)-relegated from 2009

Here are the 2010 numbers:

2010 Tier I:
1: TCU (13-0) [5] - National Champion
2: Boise State (12-1) [1]
3: Ohio State (12-1) [9]
4: Oregon (12-1) [14]
5: Oklahoma (12-2) [35]
6: Wisconsin (11-2) [17]
7: LSU (11-2) [28]
8: Virginia Tech (11-3) [15]
9: Alabama (10-3) [2]
10: Utah (10-3) [13]
11: Missouri (10-3) [37]
12: Nebraska (10-4) [19]
13: West Virginia (9-4) [24]
14: Florida (8-5) [3]
15: Iowa (8-5) [11]
16: USC (8-5) [22]
17: Texas Tech (8-5) [23]
18: Penn State (7-6) [8]
19: BYU (7-6) [10]
20: Georgia Tech (6-7) [12]
----those below here relegate----
21: Georgia (6-7) [36]
22: Texas (5-7) [4]
23: Oregon State (5-7) [38]
24: Cincinnati (4-8) [6]

2010 Tier II:
1: Auburn (14-0) [48] - Tier II Champions
2: Oklahoma State (11-2) [25]
3: Michigan State (11-2) [69]
4: Northern Illinois (11-3) [59]
----those above here promote----
5: Tulsa (10-3) [73]
6: Florida $tate (10-4) [54]
7: Hawaii (10-4) [71]
8: Navy (9-4) [21]
9: Pittsburgh (8-5) [16]
10: Troy (8-5) [27]
11: South Florida (8-5) [42]
12: Fresno State (8-5) [46]
13: Southern Miss (8-5) [56]
14: Notre Dame (8-5) [65]
15: Miami (FL) (7-6) [30]
16: Boston College (7-6) [41]
17: Western Mich (6-6) [74]
18: Clemson (6-7) [33]
19: Tennessee (6-7) [60]
20: Houston (5-7) [20]
----those below here relegate----
21: California (5-7) [39]
22: Central Mich (3-9) [7]
23: Wake Forest (3-9) [76]
24: Bowling Green (2-10) [58]

2010 Tier III:
1: UCF (11-3) [51] - Tier III Champions
2: Arkansas (10-3) [49]
3: Air Force (9-4) [44]
4: Texas A&M (9-4) [72]
----those above here promote----
5: NC State (9-4) [79]
6: Maryland (9-4) [109]
7: South Carolina (9-5) [57]
8: Ohio (8-5) [34]
9: Connecticut (8-5) [43]
10: Northwestern (7-6) [40]
11: Arizona (7-6) [45]
12: Kansas State (7-6) [67]
13: Michigan (7-6) [86]
14: Louisville (7-6) [93]
15: Arizona State (6-6) [92]
16: Middle Tenn St (6-7) [18]
17: East Carolina (6-7) [32]
18: Colorado (5-7) [103]
19: Old Miss (4-8) [26]
20: Rutgers (4-8) [29]
----those below here relegate----
21: UCLA (4-8) [61]
22: Virginia (4-8) [101]
23: Minnesota (3-9) [70]
24: Kansas (3-9) [75]

2010 Tier IV:
1: Nevada (13-1) [47] - Tier IV Champions
2: Stanford (12-1) [50]
3: Miami (10-4) [116]
4: Mississippi St (9-4) [82]
----those above here promote----
5: Temple (8-4) [31]
6: Toledo (8-5) [87]
7: Illinois (7-6) [102]
8: SMU (7-7) [53]
9: Idaho (6-7) [52]
10: Kentucky (6-7) [55]
11: UTEP (6-7) [94]
12: Marshall (5-7) [63]
13: Louisiana Tech (5-7) [90]
14: Florida Atlantic (4-8) [78]
15: Purdue (4-8) [81]
16: Arkansas State (4-8) [91]
17: Rice (4-8) [108]
18: Ball State (4-8) [114]
19: Wyoming (3-9) [62]
20: Lousiana-Lafayette (3-9) [66]
----those below here relegate----
21: Colorado St (3-9) [100]
22: Buffalo (2-10) [77]
23: Akron (1-11) [104]
24: Memphis (1-11) [112]

2010 Tier V:
1: San Diego St (9-4) [99] - Tier V Champions
2: Syracuse (8-5) [97]
3: North Carolina (8-5) [120]
4: Army (7-6) [88]
----those above here promote----
5: Washington (7-6) [89]
6: Baylor (7-6) [95]
7: FIU (7-6) [105]
8: Iowa State (5-7) [64]
9: Lousiana-Monroe (5-7) [68]
10: Kent State (5-7) [83]
11: Indiana (5-7) [96]
12: UAB (4-8) [84]
13: Utah State (4-8) [98]
14: Tulane (4-8) [106]
15: Duke (3-9) [85]
16: North Texas (3-9) [113]
17: New Mexico St (2-10) [107]
18: Vanderbilt (2-10) [110]
19: Washington St (2-10) [117]
20: Eastern Mich (2-10) [118]
21: Western Ky (2-10) [119]
22: UNLV (2-11) [80]
23: New Mexico (1-11) [115]
24: San Jose State (1-12) [111] - Dead Last

For 2011, the Big Ten schools would be assigned:
I: Iowa, Michigan State(+), *Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
II: -none-
III: Michigan, Northwestern
IV: Illinois, Minnesota(-), Purdue
V: Indiana
(+)-promoted from 2010
(-)-relegated from 2010

[AmishBengalFan]

Here's what the current standings in each tier would look like right now - note, this is at the end of the regular season and conference championships, but there are still bowl games to play. Teams with a bowl game left are marked with an (*).

2011 Tier I:
1: (*)LSU (13-0) [11] - Have clinched national championship
2: (*)Boise State (11-1) [4] - safe
3: (*)Oklahoma State (11-1) [10] - safe
4: (*)Alabama (11-1) [16] - safe
5: (*)Oregon (11-2) [6] - safe
6: (*)Wisconsin (11-2) [9] - safe
7: (*)Virginia Tech (11-2) [13] - safe
8: (*)TCU (10-2) [1] - safe
9: USC (10-2) [38] - safe
10: (*)Michigan State (10-3) [12] - safe
11: (*)Northern Illinois (10-3) [15] - safe
12: (*)Oklahoma (9-3) [8] - safe
13: (*)Nebraska (9-3) [21] - safe
14: (*)West Virginia (9-3) [26] - safe
15: (*)Penn State (9-3) [50] - safe
16: (*)BYU (9-3) [51] - safe
17: (*)Georgia Tech (8-4) [67] - relegates with loss (vs Utah) and wins by Auburn (vs Virginia), Missouri (vs North Carolina) and Iowa (vs Oklahoma)
18: (*)Auburn (7-5) [2] - relegates with loss (vs Virginia) and wins by Utah (vs Georgia Tech), Missouri (vs North Carolina) and Iowa (vs Oklahoma)
19: (*)Utah (7-5) [17] - relegates with loss (vs Georgia Tech) and win by Missouri and Ohio State (vs Florida)
20: (*)Missouri (7-5) [18] - relegates with loss (vs North Carolina) and Ohio State win (vs Florida)
----relegation zone----
21: (*)Iowa (7-5) [36] - avoids relegation with win (vs Rutgers) (guarantees a finish ahead of Georgia Tech-Utah loser)
22: (*)Ohio State (6-6) [5] - avoids relegation with win (vs Florida) and losses by two of: Utah (vs Georgia Tech), Missouri (vs North Carolina) and Iowa (vs Oklahoma)
23: (*)Florida (6-6) [35] - will relegate (even with win and Iowa loss, cannot win tiebreak vs Auburn, Utah or Missouri)
24: Texas Tech (5-7) [39] - will relegate

2011 Tier II:
1: (*)Houston (12-1) [77] - will promote, clinches T-II championship with win (vs Penn State) or Southern Miss loss (vs Nevada)
2: (*)Southern Miss (11-2) [45] - will promote, clinched T-II championship with win (vs Nevada) and Houston loss (vs Penn State)
3: (*)Arkansas (10-2) [19] - will promote with win (vs Kansas State), loss by Clemson (vs West Virginia), or loss by Georgia (vs Michigan St)
4: (*)Clemson (10-3) [70] - will promote with win (vs West Virginia) or losses by Georgia (vs Michigan St) and Cincinnati (vs Vanderbilt)
----promotion zone----
5: (*)Georgia (10-3) [71] - will promote with win (vs Michigan St) and loss by Arkansas (vs Kansas St) or Clemson (vs West Virginia)
6: (*)Cincinnati (9-3) [87] - will promote with win (vs Vanderbilt) and losses by Clemson (vs West Virginina) and Georgia (vs Michigan St)
7: (*)Tulsa (8-4) [20]
8: (*)Florida $tate (8-4) [22]
9: (*)Notre Dame (8-4) [46]
10: (*)Air Force (7-5) [27]
11: (*)Western Mich (7-5) [65]
12: (*)Texas (7-5) [76]
13: (*)Texas A&M (6-6) [28]
14: (*)Pittsburgh (6-6) [37]
15: Miami (FL) (6-6) [52]
16: Hawaii (6-7) [23]
17: UCF (5-7) [14]
18: Navy (5-7) [25]
19: South Florida (5-7) [42]
20: Tennessee (5-7) [74]
----relegation zone----
21: Boston College (4-8) [54] - Relegated
22: Fresno State (4-9) [44] - Relegated
23: Troy (3-9) [40] - Relegated
24: Oregon State (3-9) [78] - Relegated

2011 Tier III:
1: (*)Stanford (11-1) [7] - will promote at T-III champion
2: (*)South Carolina (10-2) [34] - Promoted
3: (*)Kansas State (10-2) [56] - Promoted
4: (*)Michigan (10-2) [57] - Promoted
----promotion zone----
5: (*)Ohio (9-4) [41]
6: (*)Rutgers (8-4) [89]
7: (*)Nevada (7-5) [3]
8: (*)NC State (7-5) [29]
9: (*)Louisville (7-5) [60]
10: (*)California (7-5) [79]
11: (*)Mississippi St (6-6) [30]
12: (*)Northwestern (6-6) [53]
13: (*)Arizona State (6-6) [66]
14: (*)Wake Forest (6-6) [105]
15: Connecticut (5-7) [43]
16: East Carolina (5-7) [69]
17: Bowling Green (5-7) [109]
18: Miami (4-8) [24]
19: Arizona (4-8) [55]
20: Central Mich (3-9) [100]
----relegation zone----
21: Colorado (3-10) [86] - Relegated
22: Maryland (2-10) [32] - Relegated
23: Middle Tenn St (2-10) [68] - Relegated
24: Old Miss (2-10) [88] - Relegated

2011 Tier IV:
1: (*)Arkansas State (10-2) [94] - will promote at T-IV champion
2: (*)San Diego St (8-4) [31] - will promote with win (vs La-Lafayette) or losses by all of Toledo (vs Air Force), Lousiana Tech (vs TCU) and Virginia (vs Auburn)
3: (*)Temple (8-4) [33] - will promote with win (vs Wyoming) or losses by all of Toledo (vs Air Force), Louisiana Tech (vs TCU), Virginia (vs Auburn) and La-Lafayette (vs San Diego St)
4: (*)Toledo (8-4) [47] - will promote with win (vs Air Force) or losses by all of Louisiana Tech (vs TCU), Virginia (vs Auburn), Wyoming (vs Temple) and La-Lafayette (vs San Diego St)
----promotion zone----
5: (*)Louisiana Tech (8-4) [84] - will promote with win (vs San Diego St)
6: (*)Virginia (8-4) [96] - will promote with win (vs Auburn) and loss by Temple (vs Wyoming) or Toledo (vs Air Force)
7: (*)Wyoming (8-4) [101] - will promote with win (vs Temple) and loss by Toledo (vs Air Force) or Virginia (vs Auburn)
8: (*)Lousiana-Lafayette (8-4) [102] - will promote with win (vs San Diego St) and losses by two of Toledo (vs Air Force), Louisiana Tech (vs TCU) and Virginia (vs Auburn)
9: (*)North Carolina (7-5) [49]
10: (*)SMU (7-5) [64]
11: (*)Illinois (6-6) [62]
12: (*)Marshall (6-6) [80]
13: (*)Purdue (6-6) [92]
14: Ball State (6-6) [99]
15: (*)UCLA (6-7) [90]
16: Syracuse (5-7) [48]
17: Kentucky (5-7) [73]
18: UTEP (5-7) [75]
19: Rice (4-8) [98]
20: Army (3-9) [58]
----relegation zone----
21: Minnesota (3-9) [103] - Relegated
22: Idaho (2-10) [72] - Relegated
23: Kansas (2-10) [104] - Relegated
24: Florida Atlantic (1-11) [91] - Relegated

2011 Tier V:
1: (*)Baylor (9-3) [61] - Will promote at T-V champion
2: (*)FIU (8-4) [63] - will promote
3: (*)Washington (7-5) [59] - will promote with win (vs Baylor) or loss by Utah State (vs Ohio)
4: (*)Utah State (7-5) [95] - will promote with win (vs Ohio)
----promotion zone----
5: Western Ky (7-5) [115] - will promote with losses by Washington (vs Baylor) and Utah State (vs Ohio)
6: (*)Iowa State (6-6) [81]
7: (*)Vanderbilt (6-6) [112]
8: Eastern Mich (6-6) [114]
9: Kent State (5-7) [83]
10: North Texas (5-7) [108]
11: San Jose State (5-7) [120]
12: Lousiana-Monroe (4-8) [82]
13: Washington St (4-8) [113]
14: New Mexico St (4-9) [111]
15: UAB (3-9) [93]
16: Duke (3-9) [106]
17: Colorado St (3-9) [107]
18: Buffalo (3-9) [110]
19: Tulane (2-10) [97]
20: UNLV (2-10) [116]
21: Memphis (2-10) [118]
22: Indiana (1-11) [85]
23: Akron (1-11) [117]
24: New Mexico (1-11) [119] - Dead Last

[AmishBengalFan]

FWIW.....

Tier I Champions:
1998: Tennessee (13-0), Tulane (12-0) - Co-champions
1999: Marshall (13-0)
2000: Oklahoma (13-0)
2001: Miami (FL) (12-0)
2002: Georgia (13-1)
2003: Boise State (13-1)
2004: USC (11-0)
2005: Texas (13-0)
2006: Boise State (13-0)
2007: Hawaii (12-1)
2008: Utah (13-0)
2009: Boise State (14-0)
2010: TCU (13-0)
2011: LSU (13-0) +1 game to play

Dead Last (last place school from the lowest tier):
1999: Buffalo (0-11)
2000: Duke (0-11)
2001: Duke (0-11)
2002: Tulsa (1-11)
2003: Army (0-13)
2004: Army (2-9)
2005: Temple (0-11)
2006: Duke (0-12)
2007: Duke (1-11)
2008: North Carolina (0-5)
2009: North Carolina (0-5)
2010: San Jose State (1-12)
2011: New Mexico (1-11)

Other Tier Champions:
1999: II-Hawaii (9-4)
2000: II-Washington (11-1); III-[b]Toledo (10-1)[/b]
2001: II-[b]Toledo (10-2)[/b]; III-BYU (12-2); IV-Washington St (10-2)
2002: II-Ohio State (14-0); III-Iowa (11-2); IV-Virginia (9-5); V-West Virginia (9-4)
2003: II-Miami (OH) (13-1); III-Northern Illinois (10-2); IV- Oklahoma St (9-4); V-Connecticut (9-3)
2004: II-Auburn (13-0); III-Wisconsin (9-3); IV-Navy (10-2); V-Florida Atlantic (9-3)
2005: II-West Virginia (11-1); III-UCLA (10-2); IV-Penn State (11-1); V-Nevada (9-3)
2006: II-Florida (13-1); III-[b]BYU (11-2)[/b]; IV-Rutgers (11-2); V-San Jose State (9-4)
2007: II-[b]BYU (11-2)[/b]; III-Missouri (12-2); IV-Kansas (12-1); V-Illinois (9-4)
2008: II-Alabama (12-2); III-[b]Cincinnati (11-3)[/b]; IV-Ball State (12-2); V-Old Miss (9-4)
2009: II-[b]Cincinnati (12-1)[/b]; III-Central Mich (12-2); IV-Middle Tenn St (10-3); V-Temple (9-4)
2010: II-Auburn (14-0); III-UCF (11-3); IV-Nevada (13-1); V-San Diego St (9-4)
2011: II-Houston (12-1) or Southern Miss (11-2); III-Stanford (11-1); IV-Arkansas State (10-2); V-Baylor (9-3) <--- All teams with +1 game to play

Tier Last-Place Finishers:
1999: I-Nevada (3-8)
2000: I-La-Monroe (1-10); II-Arkansas State (1-10)
2001: I-Ohio (1-10); II-Houston (0-11); III-Idaho (1-10)
2002: I-Stanford (2-9); II-[b]East Carolina (4-8)[/b]; III-Mississippi St (3-9); IV-UTEP (2-10)
2003: I-Texas A&M (4-8); II-Illinois (1-11); III-[b]East Carolina (1-11)[/b]; IV-Temple (1-11)
2004: I-South Florida (4-7); II-[b]Washington (1-10)[/b]; III-Western Mich (1-10); IV-UCF (0-11)
2005: I-USC (0-1); II-Syracuse (1-10); III-[b]Washington (2-9)[/b]; IV-New Mexico St (0-12)
2006: I-Miami (OH) (2-10); II-Colorado (2-10); III-Louisiana Tech (3-10); IV-Stanford (1-11)
2007: I-Northern Illinois (2-10); II-Minnesota (1-11); III-Colorado St (3-9); IV-North Texas (2-10)
2008: I-Michigan (3-9); II-[b]Miami (OH) (2-10)[/b]; III-[b]Washington St (2-11)[/b]; IV-Washington (0-12)
2009: I-Tulsa (5-7); II-Maryland (2-10); III-[b]Miami (OH) (1-11)[/b]; IV-[b]Washington St (1-11)[/b]
2010: I-Cincinnati (4-8); II-Bowling Green (2-10); III-Kansas (3-9); IV-Memphis (1-11)
2011: I-Texas Tech (5-7); II-Oregon State (3-9); III-Old Miss (2-10); IV-Florida Atlantic (1-11)

[AmishBengalFan]

If we want to pick a pair of teams to track from 1998 to present, let's use Ohio State and Michigan:

1998: One big tier
Ohio State (11-1) - tied for 6th overall, top 57 remain in Tier I so OSU is safe
Michigan (10-3) - 16th overall, safe

1999: Two tiers
Ohio State (T1) (6-6) - 44th place in Tier I, finishes in bottom-third, relegates to Tier III
Michigan (T1) (10-2) - 7th place in Tier I, safe

2000: Three tiers
Ohio State (T3) (8-4) - in 5-way tie with NC State, LSU, Northwestern and South Carolina for 3rd place. Wins tiebreak against everyone, promotes to Tier II
Michigan (T1) 9-3) - 11th place in Tier I, safe

2001: Four tiers
Ohio State (T2) (7-5) - 11th place in Tier II, remains
Michigan (T1) (8-4) - 14th place in Tier I, safe

2002: Five tiers
Ohio State (T2) (14-0) - Tier II Champion, promotes
Michigan (T1) (10-3) - 7th place in Tier I, safe

2003:
Ohio State (T1) (11-2) - 4th place in Tier I, safe
Michigan (T1) (10-3) - 9th place in Tier I, safe

2004:
Ohio State (T1) (8-4) - 18th place in Tier I, safe but barely
Michigan (T1) (9-3) - 13th place in Tier I

2005:
Ohio State (T1) (10-2) - 4th place in Tier I, safe
Michigan (T1) (7-5) - 19th place in tier I, safe by one place

2006:
Ohio State (T1) (12-1) - 2nd place (behind 13-0 Boise State), safe
Michigan (T1) (11-2) - 9th place, safe

2007:
Ohio State (T1) (11-2) - 3rd place (behind 12-1 Hawaii and 12-2 LSU), safe
Michigan (T1) (9-5) - 15th place, safe

2008:
Ohio State (T1) (10-3) - 9th place, safe
Michigan (T1) (3-9) - last place, relegates to Tier II

2009:
Ohio State (T1) (11-2) - 7th place, safe
Michigan (T2) (5-7) - 21st place, relegates to Tier III

2010:
Ohio State (T1) (12-1) - 3rd place (behind 13-0 TCU and 12-1 Boise State), safe
Michigan (T3) (7-6) - 13th place, remains

2011:
Ohio State (T1) (6-6) - currently 22nd of 24th and in relegation zone. Must win and get help to avoid relegating to Tier II
Michigan (T3) (10-2) - currently 4th and will promote to Tier II

[sois]

It looks like you need to be in my dynasty.

[sois]

Thanks for getting us demoted, Tubs.

[Cricket]

There is either a lull in orders for the Heat Surge Furnace...or a huge backlog.

[MichaelWeston]

Love this stuff and it would make things so much more exciting in college football. The reality is that it would not happen for the very scenario that played out here. OSU and teams like them don't like a system where they don't win. You would have to make some obscure rule to keep them in for them to play at all.

A perfect world sees a balanced 6 home game 6 away game schedule. 10 conferences of 12(ish Umass enters next year) teams based off these tiers and regions and you play the teams in your conference. Imagine if Toledo ended up in the Big Ten and had to play a big ten schedule to stay up there. Imagine if Duke was relegated and got to play a Sun Belt schedule to move back up. For teams like Toledo and even teams like Duke, this could be a program builder. You bring 4 Big Ten teams in your conference home games and that's a season full of sell outs and a program builder. For Duke they get a whole bunch more wins.

Here is an alternative look at how I would do the relegation with respect to moving up and down amongst the conferences. With all due respect to yours I think this one makes some sense as well. I think the big thing that you could do in either system, and an absolute must would be that if you win your conference you get promoted. An automatic bid to a bigger conference.

[MichaelWeston]

So here is where it starts 2010 information

[xml]North A
1 Illinois 7.6
2 Indiana 5.7
3 Louisville 7.6
4 Michigan 7.6
5 Michigan St 11.2
6 Minnesota 3.9
7 Northwestern 7.6
8 Notre Dame 8.5
9 OSU 12.1
10 Pittsburgh 8.5
11 Purdue 4.8
12 Wisconsin 11.2
North B
1 Akron 1.11
2 Ball St 4.8
3 Bowling Green 2.10
4 C Michigan 3.9
5 Cincinnati 4.8
6 E Michigan 2.10
7 Kent St 5.7
8 Miami 10.4
9 Ohio 8.5
10 Toledo 8.5
11 W Kentucky 2.10
12 W Michigan 6.6
East A
1 BC 7.6
2 Clemson 6.7
3 Ga 6.7
4 Ga Tech 6.7
5 Kentucky 6.7
6 Maryland 9.4
7 NC State 9.4
8 Penn St 7.6
9 Va Tech 11.3
10 Virginia 4.8
11 Wake Forest 3.9
12 West Virginia 9.4
East B
1 Army 7.6
2 Buffalo 2.10
3 Duke 3.9
4 East Carolina 6.7
5 Marshall 5.7
6 Memphis 1.11
7 Navy 9.4
8 Rutgers 4.8
9 Syracuse 8.5
10 Temple 8.4
11 Uconn 8.5
12 Vanderbilt 2.10
South A
1 Alabama 10.3
2 Arkansas 10.3
3 Auburn 14.0
4 Florida 8.5
5 Florida St. 10.4
6 LSU 11.2
7 Miami 7.6
8 Miss St 9.4
9 Ole Miss 4.8
10 S Florida 8.5
11 SC 9.5
12 Tennessee 6.7
South B
1 FIU 7.6
2 Fl Atlantic 4.8
3 La Lafayette 3.9
4 La Monroe 5.7
5 La Tech 5.7
6 Mid Tenn St 6.7
7 NC 8.5
8 Sourthern Miss 8.5
9 Troy 8.5
10 Tulane 4.8
11 UAB 4.8
12 UCF 11.3
West A
1 Stanford 12.1
2 UCLA 4.8
3 Oregon St 5.7
4 Oregon 12.1
5 Colorado 5.7
6 Utah 10.3
7 Washington 7.6
8 California 5.7
9 Arizona 7.6
10 Washington St. 2.10
11 USC 8.5
12 Arizona St 6.6
West B
1 Air Force 9.4
2 Boise St 12.1
3 BYU 7.6
4 Fresno St 8.5
5 Hawaii 10.4
6 Idaho 6.7
7 Nevada 13.1
8 S Jose St 1.12
9 SD St 9.4
10 UNLV 2.11
11 Utah St 4.8
12 Wyoming 3.9
Flyover A
1 Baylor 7.6
2 Iowa 8.5
3 Kansas 3.9
4 Kansas St 7.6
5 Missouri 10.3
6 Nebraska 10.3
7 Oklahoma 12.2
8 Oklahoma St. 11.2
9 TCU 13.0
10 Texas 5.7
11 Texas AnM 9.4
12 Texas Tech 8.5
Flyover B
1 Arkansas St 4.8
2 Colorado St 3.9
3 Houston 5.7
4 Iowa St 5.7
5 N Texas 3.9
6 New Mexico 1.11
7 NM state 2.10
8 Northern Illinois 11.3
9 Rice 4.8
10 SMU 7.7
11 Tulsa 10.3
12 UTEP 6.7

[/xml]

[MichaelWeston]

Amish I like yours, I think mine is more practical in that it uses the conferences and regions. Would love your input

The NFL has proven that the more legitimate teams and the greater the parity the more fans and the more money. College Football should go the same way. There are a few things that I think are necessary to level the playing field somewhat and drastically increase the number of legitimate teams and important games.[list=1]
[*]Play an even amount of home games and away games. It’s crazy that some teams have 8 home games and 4 away games and most of these teams happen to be the better ones. The major level teams need to be willing to give up some home games and the minor level teams need to be willing to give up a payday. In the end it benefits competitive balance tremendously. 75% of home teams win. It also helps teams build programs by building fan bases.
[*]Playoffs. IMO it should consist of every single champion in a league as well as now 5, but under my new system 6 at large bids. Under the new system an 8 team playoff that allowed bids to the 5 major conference champions and left the other three as at large would be allowable because it would increase the importance of promotion.
[*]Have a relegation/promotion system. Each region has a first and second tier. The champion from the tier 2 and the team with best record that is not the champion are promoted up. 2 teams with the lowest records in the first tier go down. Tie breakers are done based on record from previous season. If those are tied then go to the following years.
[list=1]
[*]Teams would be linked to specific first tier and second tier areas. 5 major conferences would keep their names while the lower conferences would be renamed whatever.
[/list]
[/list]
[center][b]Big Ten[/b]
[/center][center]11.2 Wisconsin
[/center][center]10.2 Michigan
[/center][center]10.3 Michigan St
[/center][center]9.3 Penn St
[/center][center]8.4 Notre Dame
[/center][center]7.5 Louisville
[/center][center]6.6 Illinois
[/center][center]6.6 Northwestern
[/center][center]6.6 OSU
[/center][center]6.6 Pittsburgh
[/center][center]6.6 Purdue Relegate
[/center][center]1.11 Indiana Relegate



[/center][center][b]Great Lakes[/b]
[/center][center]10.3 N Illinois Promote
[/center][center]9.3 Cincinnati Promote
[/center][center]9.4 Ohio
[/center][center]8.4 Toledo
[/center][center]7.5 W Michigan
[/center][center]6.6 E Michigan
[/center][center]6.6 Ball St
[/center][center]5.7 Kent State
[/center][center]5.7 Bowling Green
[/center][center]4.8 Miami
[/center][center]3.9 C Michigan
[/center][center]1.11 Akron


[b]Big Ten/Great Lakes Region:[/b] Northern Illinois and Cincinnati move up. Purdue and Indiana move down. Imagine how exciting this would be and what it would mean to build a program like N Illinois.
Why it’s awesome:[/center][list=1]
[*]With the 6 home 6 away rule and 4 conference home games they could host a random number of Michigan, Penn State, Louisville and Northwestern. That’s 4 sellout games and a program builder right there.
[*]Imagine the final game of the year with OSU 6-5 and Michigan 6-5. The winner gets to knock the other down to the tier 2!
[*]Imagine the final game of the year with Ohio 9-2 and Cincy 8-3. The winner gets to move up an entire level.
[*]Forces teams like Indiana to invest more in their football team.
[*]Is somewhat short term. If Minnesota has a down year and they do poorly they move down but can move back up the next year with a championship or great record. If Houston has a fluke year and moves up and can’t compete at the upper level they move down
[/list]
[b]ACC/Appalachian Region:[/b] Rutgers and Temple move up. BC and Maryland are relegated.


[center][b]ACC[/b]
[/center][center]11.2 Va Tech
[/center][center]10.3 Clemson
[/center][center]10.3 Georgia
[/center][center]9.3 West Virginia
[/center][center]8.4 Ga Tech
[/center][center]8.4 Va
[/center][center]7.5 NC State
[/center][center]7.5 NC
[/center][center]6.6 Wake Forest
[/center][center]5.7 Kentucky
[/center][center]3.9 BC Relegate
[/center][center]2.10 Maryland Relegate
[/center][center][b]Appalachian[/b]
[/center][center]8.4 Rutgers Promote
[/center][center]8.4 Temple Promote
[/center][center]7.5 W Kentucky
[/center][center]6.6 Marshall
[/center][center]5.7 East Carolina
[/center][center]5.7 Uconn
[/center][center]5.7 Navy
[/center][center]5.7 Syracuse
[/center][center]3.9 Army
[/center][center]3.9 Buffalo
[/center][center]3.9 Duke
[/center][center]2.10 Memphis



[b]SEC/Gulf Region:[/b] Southern Miss and FIU move up. Tennessee and Ole Miss are relegated. *Imagine what this would mean for an FIU program that now gets to host teams like Florida/Florida St and/or Miami.
[/center][center][b]SEC[/b]
[/center][center]13.0 LSU
[/center][center]11.1 Alabama
[/center][center]10.2 Arkansas
[/center][center]10.2 SC
[/center][center]8.4 Florida St
[/center][center]7.5 Auburn
[/center][center]6.6 Florida
[/center][center]6.6 Miami
[/center][center]6.6 Miss St
[/center][center]5.7 S Florida
[/center][center]5.7 Tennessee relegate
[/center][center]2.10 Ole Miss relegate
[b] Gulf [/b] [/center][center]11.2 Southern Miss Promote
[/center][center]8.4 FIU Promote
[/center][center]8.4 La Tech
[/center][center]8.4 La Lafayette
[/center][center]6.6 Vanderbilt
[/center][center]5.7 UCF
[/center][center]4.8 La Monroe
[/center][center]3.9 UAB
[/center][center]3.9 Troy
[/center][center]2.10 Tulane
[/center][center]2.10 Mid Tenn St
[/center][center]1.11 Fl Atlantic



[b]Pac 10/Rocky Region:[/b] Boise St and BYU promoted while Oregon St and Colorado are relegated.
[/center][center][b]PAC 10[/b][/center][center]11.1 Stanford
[/center][center]11.2 Oregon
[/center][center]10.2 USC
[/center][center]7.5 Utah
[/center][center]7.5 Washington
[/center][center]7.5 California
[/center][center]6.6 Arizona St
[/center][center]6.7 UCLA
[/center][center]4.8 Arizona
[/center][center]4.8 Washington St
[/center][center]3.9 Oregon State relegate
[/center][center]3.10 Colorado relegate

[b]Rocky [/b] [/center][center]11.1 Boise St promote
[/center][center]9.3 BYU promote
[/center][center]8.4 SD State
[/center][center]8.4 Wyoming
[/center][center]7.5 Utah State
[/center][center]7.5 Nevada
[/center][center]7.5 Air Force
[/center][center]6.7 Hawaii
[/center][center]5.7 San Jose St
[/center][center]4.9 Fresno St
[/center][center]2.10 UNLV
[/center][center]2.10 Idaho



[b]Big 12/Plains Region:[/b] Minnesota and Kansas are relegated. Houston and Arkansas St move up.
[/center][center][b]Big 12[/b][/center][center]11.1 Oklahoma St
[/center][center]10.2 TCU
[/center][center]10.2 Kansas St
[/center][center]9.3 Nebraska
[/center][center]9.3 Oklahoma
[/center][center]7.5 Iowa
[/center][center]7.5 Missouri
[/center][center]7.5 Texas
[/center][center]6.6 Texas AnM
[/center][center]5.7 Texas Tech
[/center][center]3.9 Minnesota relegate
[/center][center]2.10 Kansas relegate
[b] Plains[/b][/center][center]12.1 Houston promote
[/center][center]10.2 Arkansas St promote
[/center][center]9.3 Baylor
[/center][center]8.4 Tulsa
[/center][center]7.5 SMU
[/center][center]6.6 Iowa St
[/center][center]5.7 North Texas
[/center][center]5.7 UTEP
[/center][center]4.8 Rice
[/center][center]4.9 NM State
[/center][center]3.9 Colorado St
[/center][center]1.11 New Mexico

[/center]