NOVATHREAD SPORTS
ON-FIELD 25
Earned on the field.
A data-driven college football ranking based on what teams have earned on the field.
CURRENT TOP 25
HOW THE ON-FIELD 25 WORKS
The On-Field 25 ranks teams by what they have actually accomplished this season. Results, opponent quality, game location, efficiency, dominance, and consistency all matter. Conference affiliation, preseason rankings, recruiting rankings, and program reputation receive no direct weight.
What Counts
Wins & Losses — Results matter.
Opponent Quality — Beating stronger teams counts more.
Game Location — Road, neutral, and home performance are evaluated.
Efficiency — How well you perform matters, not just whether you win.
Game Dominance — Margins and control matter.
Consistency — Sustained performance over time matters.
What Earns Zero Points
Conference Affiliation — Your conference does not earn ranking points.
Preseason Rankings — Where you started the season does not matter.
Recruiting Rankings — Talent rankings do not influence your position.
Program History — Past success does not earn current points.
Brand Recognition — Helmet prestige does not move you up.
NTPI WEIGHTING
55% Resume — Wins, losses, opponent quality, and game location.
40% Opponent-Adjusted Performance — Efficiency, dominance, and how well a team performs relative to its opposition.
5% Consistency — Rewards teams that repeatedly perform at a high level.
TRANSPARENCY
The On-Field 25 is data-driven and AI-assisted, but AI does not manually move teams up or down the rankings. The same published methodology is applied to every team, and rankings are based on the results and performance data available at the time of release.
MODEL STATUS
The inaugural On-Field 25 uses the initial version of the NovaThread Performance Index. As more games are played and more reliable opponent-adjusted data becomes available, the methodology may be refined. Any material changes to the model will be documented before they are used in future rankings.
DATA & SOURCES
Game results and standard statistical checks use NCAA data. Advanced efficiency and performance metrics use CollegeFootballData. AP rankings may be shown for comparison, but they are never used as an input in the NovaThread Performance Index.
WHEN THE RANKINGS UPDATE
The On-Field 25 is recalculated each Sunday using all completed games through Saturday. Rankings may also be updated when corrected or newly available data materially affects the results.
FOLLOW THE ON-FIELD 25