MaxPreps Football Rankings FAQ
How are preseason ratings calculated?
Preseason ratings are based on a combination of results from past seasons and current team projections, such as returning athletes and their statistics. Teams should ensure rosters and stats are accurate each season as those can have an impact on preseason ratings. The MaxPreps Editorial Staff will contribute to preseason rankings by incorporating state-by-state research and key insights that our algorithm can’t detect - such as incoming transfers and emerging talent.
Will preseason ratings impact this year’s playoff seeding?
No, preseason ratings do not have any impact on state playoff seedings. They are only used in the early stages of the season.
How are ratings calculated?
Ratings are based on the thousands of scores entered in MaxPreps. Not only are a team’s own results and their opponent’s results used in creating ratings, but also those of each opponent’s opponents, and so on. Ratings for teams will move up and down on a larger scale at the beginning of the season as preseason ratings fade and more results are entered for the current season.
Is margin of victory a factor?
While margin of victory is a factor to an extent, the overall result of a game has a much higher impact.
There is a cap on the margin of victory. When the cap is reached, winning by any more points will have no impact on the ratings. Running up a score will not improve a team’s rating. Both the margin of victory and its weight in the formula are low enough that teams should never try to run up a score for the sake of their rating.Are forfeits counted?
No, forfeits are skipped in the ratings calculation. Records shown will include the results of forfeits, but they are not factored into the rating calculation.
If a score for a game is entered, and is later deemed a forfeit - the game will be removed from the rating calculation the next time rankings are updated. The Win/Loss for the teams will be reflected in the standings, but will no longer be included in the rating calculation.
Why is a team ranked lower than a team they beat?
Ratings are based on the aggregate results of all teams, not a single game. If a 9-0 team loses to a 3-6 team, the team that is now 4-6 would have their rating increased but almost certainly not enough to pass the now 9-1 team. Teams closer in record could also experience the same outcome since the ratings are looking at the entirety of the season’s data, not a single head-to-head game.
Why did a team’s rating go down after winning (or up after losing)?
There are a couple of reasons why this is possible. If a team has a much lower rating than an opponent, but loses in a close game - the losing team’s rating may increase while the winning team’s may decrease.
Ratings changes are also related to all other games, especially those of previous opponents and their results. As other games are played that do not directly involve the team in question, ratings will shift as more data to accurately rank a team is available
