The article also delves into the history of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, which used a combination of polls and computer-based rankings. The BCS system was criticized for its lack of transparency and results that often clashed with human perception. The future role of AI in college football rankings is discussed, suggesting that AI could be used to simulate game outcomes or audit past rankings. The article concludes by suggesting that it might be time for the college football world to reintegrate computer-based decision-making.
Key takeaways:
- The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its first set of rankings for the 2024 season, with Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami (FL), and Texas rounding out the top 5. The selection process remains in the hands of thirteen human beings, not algorithms or machines.
- For the first time, the College Football Playoff will feature 12 teams, with the top four highest-ranked conference champions earning first-round byes. The next highest ranked conference champion plus the top seven highest ranked teams will all play in the first round as seeds 5 through 12.
- The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) from 1998 to 2013 used a combination of polls and computer-based rankings to determine the top two teams. The computer-based rankings, which often clashed with human perception, were a contentious element and led to the BCS system's downfall.
- Despite the criticism of AI and computer-based rankings in the past, the future role of AI in college football rankings could be complementary to human judgment, offering predictive insights into potential matchups and auditing past rankings to identify overlooked factors.