The College Football Pyramid

Updated: September 5, 2018
Originally Published: August 27, 2014
By Erik Pitzer
with foreword by James Irwin

Introduction | Regions | Simulated Standings

2017-2018 Simulated Standings

Editor's note: These are simulated standings from the 2017-2018 season. The standings from the prevoius seasons, including the 2013-2014 season that reflects the orignal region maps, are still available here:

2018-2019 Standings
2016-2017 Standings
2015-2016 Standings
2014-2015 Standings
2013-2014 Standings

Using Ken Massey's comphrensive ratings system, we're able to simulate results and standings across NCAA Divisions I and II. All Tier 1 standings are formulated by a "Projected Conference Standings" column which uses actual head-to-head results from the 2017-2018 season where possible, and Massey Ratings elsewhere. For simplicity's sake, all other tier standings are ranked solely on their Massey Rating number.

Check back in 2019 for updated simulated standings to follow teams' promotion dreams and relegation nightmares!

Frontier Sky Region

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Washington 9-0 10-3 20
2. North Dakota St. 8-1 14-1 23
3. Washington St. 7-2 9-4 41
4. Boise St. 6-3 11-3 36
5. Oregon 5-4 7-6 59
6. Utah 4-5 7-6 45
7. Minnesota 3-6 5-7 69
8. Nebraska 2-7 4-8 73
9. Colorado 1-8 5-7 83
10. BYU 0-9 4-9 120

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. South Dakota St. 11-3 56
2. Wyoming 8-5 81
3. Southern Utah 9-3 86
4. Colorado St. 7-6 97
5. E. Washington 7-4 99
6. Air Force 5-7 102
7. Utah St. 6-7 112
8. Montana 7-4 138
9. Idaho 4-8 139
10. Oregon St. 1-11 173
 

Tier Four - North

  Team AOR MR
1. C. Washington 11-1 156
2. Idaho St. 4-7 214
3. Portland St. 0-11 307
4. W. Oregon 3-8 363
5. South Dakota Mines 5-6 436
6. Black Hills St. 4-6 492
7. Minot St. 3-8 597
8. Simon Fraser 0-10 625
9. Mary (ND) 1-10 744

Tier Four - South

  Team AOR MR
1. N. Colorado 3-7 228
2. Colorado Mesa 9-2 253
3. Colorado Mines 7-4 320
4. Nebraska-Kearney 3-8 329
5. Chadron St. 6-5 390
6. Dixie St. 5-6 407
7. Fort Lewis 5-6 445
8. Adams St. 4-7 514
9. Western St. Colorado 1-10 641

Tier Four - East

  Team AOR MR
1. Winona St. 10-2 209
2. Wayne St. (NE) 6-5 394
3. Northern St. 6-5 431
4. St. Cloud St. 6-5 442
5. Minnesota St.-Moorhead 5-6 499
6. Concordia (MN) 8-2 527
7. SW Minnesota St. 2-9 573
8. Minnesota-Crookston 0-11 813
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Pacific Mesa Region

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. USC 9-0 11-3 19
2. Stanford 7-2 9-5 32
3. Texas Tech 7-2 6-7 47
4. San Diego St. 7-2 10-3 58
5. Arizona St. 4-5 7-6 55
6. Arizona 4-5 7-6 68
7. UCLA 4-5 6-7 70
8. California 2-7 5-7 71
9. Nevada 1-8 3-9 143
10. New Mexico 0-9 3-9 159

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Fresno St. 10-4 48
2. New Mexico St. 7-6 106
3. UNLV 5-7 129
4. Northern Arizona 7-5 141
5. San Diego 10-3 142
6. Hawaii 3-9 177
7. San Jose St. 2-11 202
8. Cal Poly 1-10 262
9. UTEP 0-12 288
10. West Texas A&M 3-8 420
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Heartland

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Wisconsin 9-0 13-1 4
2. Oklahoma 8-1 12-2 5
3. Oklahoma St. 6-3 10-3 11
4. Northwestern 6-3 10-3 15
5. Iowa 5-4 8-5 17
6. Kansas St. 5-4 8-5 31
7. Memphis 3-6 10-3 37
8. Arkansas 2-7 4-8 76
9. Tulsa 1-8 2-10 118
10. NW Missouri St. 0-9 9-3 140

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Iowa St. 8-5 22
2. Missouri 7-6 51
3. Western Illinois 8-4 79
4. Northern Iowa 8-5 80
5. Northern Illinois 8-5 82
6. Arkansas St. 7-5 100
7. Illinois St. 6-5 113
8. Central Arkansas 10-2 123
9. Illinois 2-10 146
10. Central Missouri 9-3 165
 

Tier Four - Northeast

  Team AOR MR
1. Washburn 7-5 200
2. Lindenwood 4-7 264
3. Drake 7-4 294
4. McKendree 7-4 327
5. Truman St. 5-6 347
6. Upper Iowa 6-5 416
7. William Jewell 2-9 543
8. Quincy 3-8 630
9. Lincoln (MO) 1-9 745

Tier Four - west

  Team AOR MR
1. Central Oklahoma 8-4 176
2. SE Oklahoma St. 7-4 247
3. NW Oklahoma St. 5-6 280
4. Southern Nazarene 4-7 319
5. SW Oklahoma St. 3-8 360
6. East Central 2-9 376
7. Northeastern St. 1-10 481
8. Missouri Southern 0-11 498
9. Oklahoma Panhandle St. 7-3 658

Tier Four - Southeast

  Team AOR MR
1. Ouachita Baptist 9-3 183
2. Missouri St. 3-8 201
3. Arkansas Tech 8-4 203
4. Southern Arkansas 7-4 217
5. Henderson St. 6-5 256
6. Arkansas-Monticello 5-6 290
7. Missouri S&T 7-4 317
8. Southwest Baptist 5-5 372
9. Lane 2-8 732
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Texas Delta

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. TCU 9-0 8-4 8
2. Mississippi St. 7-2 6-7 53
3. LSU 7-2 5-7 48
4. Texas 6-3 8-5 37
5. Texas A&M 5-4 6-7 52
6. Ole Miss 5-4 7-6 47
7. Houston 3-6 5-7 62
8. Louisiana Tech 2-7 9-4 57
9. SMU 1-8 9-5 64
10. Baylor 0-9 12-1 87

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. North Texas 9-5 91
2. Sam Houston St. 12-2 98
3. UTSA 6-5 127
4. Louisiana-Monroe 4-8 145
5. Louisiana-Lafayette 5-7 155
6. McNeese St. 9-2 171
7. Midwestern St. 10-1 185
8. SE Louisiana 6-5 199
9. Texas St. 2-10 212
10. Rice 1-11 229
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Dixie Coast

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Alabama 8-1 14-1 2
2. Georgia 8-1 10-3 3
3. Auburn 8-1 9-4 11
4. Miami (FL) 6-3 9-4 14
5. Florida St. 5-4 9-4 18
6. South Florida 4-5 8-5 21
7. Georgia Tech 3-6 11-2 31
8. Troy 2-7 8-5 34
9. Florida 1-8 5-7 97
10. Georgia Southern 0-9 3-9 167

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Central Florida 13-0 8
2. Florida Atlantic 11-3 43
3. Tulane 5-7 90
4. Southern Miss 8-5 107
5. Florida International 8-5 111
6. Georgia St. 7-5 124
7. Jacksonville St. 10-2 128
8. Samford 8-4 148
9. South Alabama 4-8 157
10. North Alabama 5-5 221
 

Tier Four

  Team AOR MR
1. Kennesaw St.* 12-2 109
2. UAB 8-5 130
3. West Florida 11-4 166
4. Savannah St. 3-8 348
5. Albany St. 6-4 378
6. Miles 6-4 457
7. Fort Valley St. 5-5 506
8. Clark Atlanta 4-6 556
9. Morehouse 4-6 579
10. Shorter 0-11 608
 
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

*Editor's Note: Kennesaw State was mistakenly omitted when they added football in 2015, and was not added until this 2017 season.

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Piedmont Ridge

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Clemson 9-0 12-2 7
2. South Carlina 8-1 9-4 24
3. North Carolina St. 7-2 9-4 16
4. Virginia Tech 6-3 9-4 24
5. James Madison 5-4 14-1 35
6. Duke 4-5 7-6 39
7. Appalachian St. 3-6 9-4 63
8. Vanderbilt 2-7 5-7 74
9. North Carolina 1-8 3-9 77
10. Tennessee 0-9 4-8 85

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Wake Forest 8-5 26
2. Virginia 6-7 67
3. Middle Tennessee St. 7-6 94
4. East Carolina 3-9 122
5. Richmond 6-5 126
6. Old Dominion 5-7 152
7. Coastal Carolina 3-9 172
8. Liberty 6-5 220
9. The Citadel 5-6 235
10. Chattanooga 3-8 241
 

Tier Four - West

  Team AOR MR
1. Austin Peay 8-4 191
2. Carson-Newman 8-3 310
3. North Greenville 4-6 313
4. Presbyterian 4-7 321
5. Tusculum 5-5 409
6. Mars Hill 3-7 484
7. UVA-Wise 5-6 513
8. Brevard 4-6 805

Tier Four - South

  Team AOR MR
1. Elon 8-4 153
2. Catawba 9-2 298
3. Wingate 9-2 315
4. South Carolina St. 3-7 358
5. Newberry 5-6 392
6. Lenoir-Rhyne 3-7 432
7. Benedict 7-2 462
8. Davidson 2-9 606

Tier Four - north

  Team AOR MR
1. Hampton 6-5 300
2. Virginia St. 10-1 331
3. Norfolk St. 4-7 334
4. Virginia Union 6-4 435
5. VMI 0-11 503
6. Winston-Salem St. 6-4 535
7. Chowan 4-6 582
8. Elizabeth City St. 4-6 672
 

Tier Four - East

  Team AOR MR
1. North Carolina Central 7-4 254
2. Campbell 6-5 398
3. Fayetteville St. 6-5 559
4. UNC-Pembroke 2-8 567
5. St. Augustine's 5-5 587
6. Shaw 3-7 685
7. Johnson C. Smith 2-8 714
8. Livingstone 0-10 802
 
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Great Lakes

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Ohio St. 9-0 12-2 3
2. Notre Dame 8-1 10-3 10
3. Michigan St. 7-2 10-3 13
4. Michigan 6-3 8-5 28
5. Louisville 5-4 8-5 29
6. Indiana 4-5 5-7 57
7. Toledo 3-6 11-3 67
8. Western Michigan 2-7 6-6 103
9. Cincinnati 1-8 4-8 125
10. Western Kentucky 0-9 6-7 158

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Purdue 7-6 38
2. Kentucky 7-6 53
3. Ohio 9-4 75
4. Youngstown St. 6-5 92
5. Central Michigan 8-5 96
6. Eastern Michigan 5-7 108
7. Akron 7-7 114
8. Miami (OH) 5-7 132
9. Bowling Green 2-10 169
10. Ball St. 2-10 233
 

Tier Four - North

  Team AOR MR
1. Findlay 10-3 227
2. Northwood 7-4 248
3. Tiffin 6-5 278
4. Saginaw Valley St. 5-6 308
5. Hillsdale 7-4 332
6. Michigan Tech 4-7 333
7. Valparaiso 6-5 368
8. Northern Michigan 1-9 406
9. Davenport 1-10 454
10. Urbana 5-6 508

Tier Four - South

  Team AOR MR
1. Indianapolis 11-1 196
2. Butler 6-5 351
3. Notre Dame College 8-3 357
4. Morehead St. 4-7 504
5. Walsh 4-7 537
6. Kentucky St. 3-8 612
7. Lake Erie 2-8 715
8. Malone 1-9 733
9. Central St. 1-9 735
10. Kentucky Wesleyan 2-8 753
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

« 2016-2017 Simulated Standings
« 2015-2016 Simulated Standings
« 2014-2015 Simulated Standings
« 2013-2014 Simulated Standings
« Return to Main Article

Atlantic Penn

Tier One

  Team Proj. Conf. Record Actual Overall Record Massey Rating
1. Penn St. 9-0 11-2 6
2. Boston College 8-1 7-6 34
3. West Virginia 7-2 7-6 44
4. Army 6-3 10-3 46
5. Syracuse 4-5 4-8 62
6. Pitt 4-5 5-7 49
7. Navy 3-6 7-6 54
8. Temple 2-7 7-6 66
9. Rutgers 1-8 4-8 89
10. Maryland 1-8 4-8 65

Tier Two

  Team AOR MR
1. Marshall 8-5 87
2. Buffalo 6-6 101
3. Delaware 7-4 117
4. Massachusetts 4-8 121
5. New Hampshire 9-5 133
6. Connecticut 3-9 135
7. Villanova 5-6 168
8. Colgate 7-4 180
9. Lehigh 5-7 251
10. Fordham 4-7 291
 

Tier Four - Appalachian

  Team AOR MR
1. St. Francis (PA) 5-6 292
2. Fairmont St. 8-3 380
3. West Virginia St. 6-5 446
4. WV Wesleyan 5-6 488
5. Charleston (WV) 4-6 490
6. Glenville St. 4-7 521
7. West Liberty 3-8 550
8. Alderson-Broaddus 3-8 648
9. Concord (WV) 2-9 657

Tier Four - West

  Team AOR MR
1. Indiana (PA) 13-1 163
2. Duquesne 7-4 234
3. California (PA) 9-3 265
4. Slippery Rock 8-3 289
5. Gannon 5-6 326
6. Edinboro 7-4 336
7. Mercyhurst 5-6 370
8. Robert Morris 2-9 455
9. Clarion 1-10 485
10. Seton Hill 0-11 585

Tier Four - Central

  Team AOR MR
1. West Chester 9-4 252
2. Shippensburg 10-2 255
3. Kutztown 8-3 270
4. Lafayette 3-8 339
5. Bloomsburg 7-4 354
6. Millersville 4-7 466
7. East Stroudsburg 3-8 469
8. Lock Haven 2-9 541
9. Cheyney 1-10 782
10. Lincoln (PA) 0-10 886
 

Tier Four - East

  Team AOR MR
1. Bowie St. 7-4 153
2. Wagner 6-5 250
3. LIU-Post 12-1 329
4. Georgetown 3-8 350
5. Marist 5-6 359
6. Morgan St. 3-8 441
7. Howard 2-9 456
8. Delaware St. 0-11 568
9. Pace 0-11 812

Tier Four - Northeast

  Team AOR MR
1. Rhode Island 2-9 267
2. Assumption 9-3 353
3. Central Connecticut St. 2-9 362
4. New Haven 7-4 444
5. S. Connecticut St. 6-5 514
6. Bentley 5-6 560
7. Stonehill 5-6 564
8. American International 4-7 597
9. St. Anselm 2-9 672
10. Merrimack 3-8 695
 
Green Key Promoted Red Key Relegated Yellow Key Made Playoffs Striped Key Made Promotion Playoffs

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Introduction | Regions | Simulated Standings

About the Authors

Erik Pitzer resides in the Atlantic Penn region and is the resident bracketologist at NoBowls.com. Follow him mixing business and pleasure @pitz2.