2004 season
118 teams across 5 tiers · ingest from CFBD regular season
- National champion
- USCfrom Premier
- Biggest riser (1999 tiers)
- Auburn▲ 1 tier
- Biggest faller
- Kansas State▼ 1 tier
Regular season champions
Tier winners — the top finisher in each tier on points, before any promotion playoff or main-playoff games.
Tier standings
Final regular-season standings within each tier. Promoted rows tinted green, relegated rows tinted red, survival winners tinted amber.
Premier24 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USC | 12 | 0 | 54 | 441 | 150 | +291 | |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 12 | 0 | 42 | 433 | 164 | +269 | |
| 3 | California | 10 | 1 | 41 | 410 | 147 | +263 | |
| 4 | Boise State | 11 | 0 | 32 | 547 | 264 | +283 | |
| 5 | Texas | 10 | 1 | 30 | 385 | 178 | +207 | |
| 6 | Michigan | 9 | 2 | 30 | 333 | 241 | +92 | |
| 7 | Virginia Tech | 10 | 2 | 29 | 387 | 151 | +236 | |
| 8 | Georgia | 9 | 2 | 29 | 311 | 177 | +134 | |
| 9 | Tennessee | 9 | 3 | 27 | 340 | 288 | +52 | |
| 10 | Miami (FL) | 8 | 3 | 26 | 353 | 194 | +159 | |
| 11 | Purdue | 7 | 4 | 25 | 358 | 179 | +179 | |
| 12 | Ohio State | 7 | 4 | 25 | 257 | 212 | +45 | |
| 13 | Notre Dame | 6 | 5 | 25 | 268 | 251 | +17 | |
| 14 | Oregon State | 6 | 5 | 25 | 282 | 273 | +9 | |
| 15 | UCLA | 6 | 5 | 23 | 340 | 285 | +55 | |
| 16 | Florida State | 8 | 3 | 22 | 272 | 151 | +121 | |
| 17 | Florida | 7 | 4 | 19 | 372 | 226 | +146 | |
| 18 | Oregon | 5 | 6 | 19 | 282 | 282 | 0 | |
| 19 | Washington State | 5 | 6 | 18 | 275 | 307 | -32 | |
| 20 | Arkansas | 5 | 6 | 12 | 328 | 270 | +58 | |
| 21 | Georgia Tech | 6 | 5 | 12 | 213 | 213 | 0 | Survived |
| 22 | Kansas State | 4 | 7 | 9 | 326 | 337 | -11 | Relegated |
| 23 | Nebraska | 5 | 6 | 8 | 275 | 298 | -23 | Relegated |
| 24 | Washington | 1 | 10 | 3 | 154 | 334 | -180 | Relegated |
Tier 224 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 12 | 0 | 39 | 401 | 134 | +267 | Promoted |
| 2 | Utah | 11 | 0 | 34 | 509 | 227 | +282 | Promoted |
| 3 | Arizona State | 8 | 3 | 31 | 331 | 271 | +60 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 4 | Iowa | 9 | 2 | 30 | 262 | 186 | +76 | |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 9 | 2 | 29 | 228 | 161 | +67 | |
| 6 | LSU | 9 | 2 | 27 | 319 | 175 | +144 | |
| 7 | Fresno State | 8 | 3 | 25 | 445 | 212 | +233 | |
| 8 | Colorado | 7 | 5 | 23 | 271 | 304 | -33 | |
| 9 | Virginia | 8 | 3 | 22 | 329 | 175 | +154 | |
| 10 | Texas A&M | 7 | 4 | 22 | 334 | 254 | +80 | |
| 11 | Texas Tech | 7 | 4 | 21 | 389 | 283 | +106 | |
| 12 | BYU | 5 | 6 | 18 | 267 | 295 | -28 | |
| 13 | Stanford | 4 | 7 | 17 | 242 | 233 | +9 | |
| 14 | Southern Miss | 6 | 5 | 17 | 278 | 288 | -10 | |
| 15 | Hawaii | 7 | 5 | 15 | 408 | 459 | -51 | |
| 16 | Miami (OH) | 8 | 4 | 13 | 394 | 281 | +113 | |
| 17 | Michigan State | 5 | 7 | 13 | 353 | 326 | +27 | |
| 18 | Syracuse | 6 | 5 | 13 | 273 | 293 | -20 | |
| 19 | Marshall | 6 | 5 | 12 | 277 | 234 | +43 | |
| 20 | TCU | 5 | 6 | 11 | 362 | 373 | -11 | |
| 21 | Penn State | 4 | 7 | 10 | 195 | 168 | +27 | Relegated |
| 22 | Air Force | 5 | 6 | 10 | 326 | 342 | -16 | Relegated |
| 23 | Colorado State | 4 | 7 | 7 | 261 | 325 | -64 | Survived |
| 24 | Ole Miss | 4 | 7 | 6 | 215 | 278 | -63 | Relegated |
Tier 326 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | 10 | 1 | 27 | 553 | 196 | +357 | Promoted |
| 2 | New Mexico | 7 | 4 | 21 | 225 | 190 | +35 | Promoted |
| 3 | Cincinnati | 6 | 5 | 20 | 312 | 306 | +6 | |
| 4 | Memphis | 8 | 3 | 19 | 395 | 323 | +72 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 5 | Oklahoma State | 7 | 4 | 18 | 380 | 268 | +112 | |
| 6 | Boston College | 8 | 3 | 18 | 259 | 179 | +80 | |
| 7 | Toledo | 9 | 3 | 18 | 422 | 365 | +57 | |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | 8 | 3 | 17 | 318 | 253 | +65 | |
| 9 | Clemson | 6 | 5 | 17 | 236 | 229 | +7 | |
| 10 | West Virginia | 8 | 3 | 16 | 343 | 216 | +127 | |
| 11 | Minnesota | 6 | 5 | 16 | 341 | 257 | +84 | |
| 12 | North Carolina | 6 | 5 | 16 | 295 | 345 | -50 | |
| 13 | Alabama | 6 | 5 | 15 | 279 | 169 | +110 | |
| 14 | Bowling Green | 8 | 3 | 13 | 480 | 247 | +233 | |
| 15 | NC State | 5 | 6 | 13 | 264 | 218 | +46 | |
| 16 | Maryland | 5 | 6 | 11 | 195 | 220 | -25 | |
| 17 | Tulane | 5 | 6 | 10 | 300 | 361 | -61 | |
| 18 | Missouri | 5 | 6 | 9 | 256 | 215 | +41 | |
| 19 | San Diego State | 4 | 7 | 9 | 234 | 282 | -48 | |
| 20 | Nevada | 5 | 7 | 9 | 356 | 413 | -57 | |
| 21 | Arizona | 3 | 8 | 9 | 164 | 275 | -111 | |
| 22 | Rice | 3 | 8 | 8 | 272 | 377 | -105 | |
| 23 | Illinois | 3 | 8 | 5 | 240 | 323 | -83 | Survived |
| 24 | East Carolina | 2 | 9 | 4 | 231 | 439 | -208 | Relegated |
| 25 | San Jose State | 2 | 9 | 3 | 312 | 469 | -157 | Relegated |
| 26 | Kentucky | 2 | 9 | 3 | 173 | 341 | -168 | Relegated |
Tier 426 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern | 6 | 6 | 20 | 295 | 342 | -47 | Promoted |
| 2 | UAB | 7 | 4 | 16 | 332 | 292 | +40 | Promoted |
| 3 | South Carolina | 6 | 5 | 15 | 243 | 229 | +14 | |
| 4 | Louisiana Tech | 6 | 6 | 15 | 308 | 382 | -74 | |
| 5 | Wyoming | 6 | 5 | 14 | 294 | 276 | +18 | |
| 6 | Northern Illinois | 8 | 3 | 13 | 387 | 283 | +104 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 7 | Navy | 9 | 2 | 13 | 300 | 219 | +81 | |
| 8 | Akron | 6 | 5 | 12 | 271 | 347 | -76 | |
| 9 | South Florida | 4 | 7 | 9 | 271 | 351 | -80 | |
| 10 | Indiana | 3 | 8 | 9 | 262 | 343 | -81 | |
| 11 | UConn | 7 | 4 | 8 | 324 | 250 | +74 | |
| 12 | North Texas | 7 | 4 | 8 | 299 | 327 | -28 | |
| 13 | Mississippi State | 3 | 8 | 8 | 173 | 280 | -107 | |
| 14 | SMU | 3 | 8 | 8 | 202 | 420 | -218 | |
| 15 | Wake Forest | 4 | 7 | 7 | 230 | 253 | -23 | |
| 16 | Tulsa | 4 | 8 | 7 | 345 | 398 | -53 | |
| 17 | Houston | 3 | 8 | 7 | 230 | 354 | -124 | |
| 18 | UNLV | 2 | 9 | 7 | 229 | 357 | -128 | |
| 19 | Ohio | 4 | 7 | 6 | 221 | 271 | -50 | |
| 20 | Utah State | 3 | 8 | 6 | 184 | 333 | -149 | |
| 21 | Middle Tennessee | 5 | 6 | 5 | 269 | 293 | -24 | |
| 22 | New Mexico State | 5 | 6 | 4 | 273 | 355 | -82 | |
| 23 | Ball State | 2 | 9 | 4 | 225 | 405 | -180 | Survived |
| 24 | Idaho | 3 | 9 | 3 | 245 | 473 | -228 | Relegated |
| 25 | UCF | 0 | 11 | 0 | 175 | 362 | -187 | Relegated |
| 26 | Western Michigan | 1 | 10 | 0 | 248 | 436 | -188 | Relegated |
Tier 518 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UTEP | 8 | 3 | 20 | 401 | 268 | +133 | Promoted |
| 2 | Troy | 7 | 4 | 14 | 265 | 166 | +99 | Promoted |
| 3 | Iowa State | 6 | 5 | 14 | 229 | 246 | -17 | |
| 4 | Kansas | 4 | 7 | 13 | 262 | 235 | +27 | |
| 5 | Kent State | 5 | 6 | 6 | 335 | 264 | +71 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 6 | Baylor | 3 | 8 | 6 | 224 | 406 | -182 | |
| 7 | Louisiana-Monroe | 5 | 6 | 5 | 211 | 303 | -92 | |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 4 | 7 | 5 | 260 | 378 | -118 | |
| 9 | Army | 2 | 9 | 5 | 260 | 388 | -128 | |
| 10 | Temple | 2 | 9 | 5 | 238 | 399 | -161 | |
| 11 | Rutgers | 4 | 7 | 4 | 269 | 343 | -74 | |
| 12 | Arkansas State | 3 | 8 | 4 | 215 | 365 | -150 | |
| 13 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | 7 | 3 | 242 | 272 | -30 | |
| 14 | Eastern Michigan | 4 | 7 | 3 | 328 | 458 | -130 | |
| 15 | Duke | 2 | 9 | 3 | 183 | 322 | -139 | |
| 16 | Buffalo | 2 | 9 | 3 | 197 | 351 | -154 | |
| 17 | Vanderbilt | 2 | 9 | 2 | 212 | 286 | -74 | |
| 18 | Florida A&M | 6 | 12 | -24 | 467 | 625 | -158 |
Main playoff
Twelve-team championship bracket: top 8 from Premier (seeds 1–8), top 2 from Tier 2 (seeds 9–10), top 2 from Tier 3 (seeds 11–12). Seeds 1–4 receive first-round byes. Champion: USC.
Promotion playoffs
Each lower tier sends two teams up automatically (ranks 1 and 2); ranks 3–6 contest a single-elimination playoff for the third promotion spot.
Tier 2→ up to Tier 1
Semifinal
Final
Tier 3→ up to Tier 2
Semifinal
Final
Tier 4→ up to Tier 3
Semifinal
Final
Tier 5→ up to Tier 4
Semifinal
Final
Relegation playoffs
Bottom 4 of each upper tier play a survival bracket. The Survival Final winner stays up; the other three drop down.
Premierbottom 4 · survivor: Georgia Tech
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Tier 2bottom 4 · survivor: Colorado State
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Tier 3bottom 4 · survivor: Illinois
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Tier 4bottom 4 · survivor: Ball State
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Idaho17
2005 starting tiers
Cascade from 2004: promoted teams move up, relegated teams move down, and FBS membership is reconciled against CFBD's roster for the next year.
Premier24
- USC1
- Oklahoma2
- California3
- Auburn4
- Utah5
- Boise State6
- Arizona State7
- Texas8
- Michigan9
- Virginia Tech10
- Georgia11
- Tennessee12
- Miami (FL)13
- Purdue14
- Ohio State15
- Notre Dame16
- Oregon State17
- UCLA18
- Florida State19
- Florida20
- Oregon21
- Washington State22
- Arkansas23
- Georgia Tech24
Tier 224
- Iowa1
- Wisconsin2
- Louisville3
- LSU4
- Fresno State5
- Colorado6
- Virginia7
- Texas A&M8
- Texas Tech9
- New Mexico10
- Memphis11
- BYU12
- Stanford13
- Southern Miss14
- Hawaii15
- Miami (OH)16
- Michigan State17
- Syracuse18
- Marshall19
- TCU20
- Kansas State21
- Nebraska22
- Colorado State23
- Washington24
Tier 326
- Cincinnati1
- Northwestern2
- Oklahoma State3
- Boston College4
- Toledo5
- Pittsburgh6
- Clemson7
- West Virginia8
- Minnesota9
- UAB10
- North Carolina11
- Alabama12
- Bowling Green13
- Northern Illinois14
- NC State15
- Maryland16
- Penn State17
- Air Force18
- Tulane19
- Missouri20
- San Diego State21
- Nevada22
- Arizona23
- Rice24
- Ole Miss25
- Illinois26
Tier 426
- UTEP1
- South Carolina2
- Louisiana Tech3
- Troy4
- Wyoming5
- Navy6
- Akron7
- South Florida8
- Indiana9
- UConn10
- North Texas11
- Mississippi State12
- SMU13
- Wake Forest14
- Tulsa15
- Houston16
- UNLV17
- Kent State18
- Ohio19
- Utah State20
- Middle Tennessee21
- New Mexico State22
- Ball State23
- East Carolina24
- San Jose State25
- Kentucky26
Tier 518
- Iowa State1
- Kansas2
- Baylor3
- Louisiana-Monroe4
- Central Michigan5
- Army6
- Temple7
- Rutgers8
- Arkansas State9
- Louisiana-Lafayette10
- Eastern Michigan11
- Duke12
- Buffalo13
- Idaho14
- Vanderbilt15
- UCF16
- Western Michigan17
- Florida A&M18