Start with OV Rating
A rating of +10 means the team is modeled ten points better than the FBS average on a neutral field. The number is solved from de-vigged preseason win totals and each team’s actual schedule.
Ratings primer
How to read the Ratings
The table is a market-derived map of team strength—not a poll, power ranking, or promise about the next game.
Use rank as a shortcut
Rank orders the same OV Rating. It is convenient for scanning, but the point distance between teams matters more than the number of places between them.
Treat offense and defense as a split
The two components divide the overall rating using prior per-play performance and continuity information. They are useful descriptions, but they do not change the total OV Rating.
Do not manufacture a spread
A ratings gap plus ordinary home field gets you close, but the matchup model also corrects the compression created by capping extreme margins during calibration. Use the OV Line shown on the matchup page.