2021 season
130 teams across 5 tiers · ingest from CFBD regular season
- National champion
- Cincinnatifrom Premier
- Biggest riser (1999 tiers)
- Michigan▲ 1 tier
- Biggest faller
- TCU▼ 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 | Notre Dame | 11 | 1 | 40 | 423 | 219 | +204 | |
| 2 | Cincinnati | 13 | 0 | 39 | 510 | 209 | +301 | |
| 3 | Alabama | 12 | 1 | 38 | 553 | 263 | +290 | |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | 11 | 2 | 38 | 398 | 218 | +180 | |
| 5 | Georgia | 12 | 1 | 33 | 512 | 124 | +388 | |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 10 | 2 | 33 | 461 | 303 | +158 | |
| 7 | Ohio State | 10 | 2 | 31 | 546 | 251 | +295 | |
| 8 | Michigan State | 10 | 2 | 31 | 383 | 308 | +75 | |
| 9 | Iowa | 10 | 3 | 31 | 311 | 249 | +62 | |
| 10 | Oregon | 10 | 3 | 29 | 408 | 331 | +77 | |
| 11 | Arizona State | 8 | 4 | 26 | 356 | 251 | +105 | |
| 12 | Clemson | 9 | 3 | 23 | 322 | 180 | +142 | |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 8 | 4 | 21 | 310 | 197 | +113 | |
| 14 | Texas A&M | 8 | 4 | 20 | 352 | 191 | +161 | |
| 15 | UCF | 8 | 4 | 19 | 386 | 302 | +84 | |
| 16 | Miami (FL) | 7 | 5 | 19 | 409 | 341 | +68 | |
| 17 | Penn State | 7 | 5 | 18 | 315 | 201 | +114 | |
| 18 | LSU | 6 | 6 | 17 | 325 | 304 | +21 | |
| 19 | Texas | 5 | 7 | 14 | 423 | 373 | +50 | |
| 20 | Florida | 6 | 6 | 12 | 382 | 319 | +63 | |
| 21 | TCU | 5 | 7 | 12 | 344 | 419 | -75 | Relegated |
| 22 | Stanford | 3 | 9 | 11 | 245 | 389 | -144 | Survived |
| 23 | USC | 4 | 8 | 10 | 344 | 381 | -37 | Relegated |
| 24 | Washington | 4 | 8 | 9 | 258 | 272 | -14 | Relegated |
Tier 224 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 12 | 1 | 48 | 490 | 209 | +281 | Promoted |
| 2 | Utah | 10 | 3 | 37 | 461 | 268 | +193 | Promoted |
| 3 | Baylor | 11 | 2 | 36 | 422 | 249 | +173 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | 11 | 2 | 30 | 559 | 300 | +259 | |
| 5 | UCLA | 8 | 4 | 30 | 438 | 321 | +117 | |
| 6 | BYU | 10 | 2 | 27 | 402 | 291 | +111 | |
| 7 | Minnesota | 8 | 4 | 26 | 313 | 219 | +94 | |
| 8 | Houston | 11 | 2 | 25 | 485 | 273 | +212 | |
| 9 | San Diego State | 11 | 2 | 24 | 345 | 253 | +92 | |
| 10 | Iowa State | 7 | 5 | 21 | 394 | 247 | +147 | |
| 11 | Mississippi State | 7 | 5 | 19 | 371 | 303 | +68 | |
| 12 | West Virginia | 6 | 6 | 19 | 322 | 292 | +30 | |
| 13 | Louisville | 6 | 6 | 18 | 383 | 324 | +59 | |
| 14 | Memphis | 6 | 6 | 15 | 361 | 351 | +10 | |
| 15 | Northern Illinois | 9 | 4 | 15 | 410 | 425 | -15 | |
| 16 | Western Michigan | 7 | 5 | 14 | 370 | 343 | +27 | |
| 17 | Virginia Tech | 6 | 6 | 14 | 298 | 275 | +23 | |
| 18 | Texas Tech | 6 | 6 | 14 | 360 | 385 | -25 | |
| 19 | Boise State | 7 | 5 | 13 | 350 | 228 | +122 | |
| 20 | Florida State | 5 | 7 | 12 | 331 | 318 | +13 | |
| 21 | Auburn | 6 | 6 | 11 | 355 | 266 | +89 | Relegated |
| 22 | Nebraska | 3 | 9 | 6 | 335 | 272 | +63 | Relegated |
| 23 | Northwestern | 3 | 9 | 3 | 199 | 348 | -149 | Survived |
| 24 | Indiana | 2 | 10 | 2 | 207 | 399 | -192 | Relegated |
Tier 326 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NC State | 9 | 3 | 28 | 397 | 236 | +161 | Promoted |
| 2 | Ole Miss | 10 | 2 | 28 | 431 | 300 | +131 | Promoted |
| 3 | SMU | 8 | 4 | 24 | 461 | 341 | +120 | |
| 4 | Kentucky | 9 | 3 | 23 | 400 | 265 | +135 | |
| 5 | Kansas State | 7 | 5 | 22 | 316 | 253 | +63 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 6 | Washington State | 7 | 5 | 21 | 341 | 291 | +50 | |
| 7 | Fresno State | 9 | 3 | 19 | 403 | 243 | +160 | |
| 8 | Air Force | 9 | 3 | 17 | 372 | 229 | +143 | |
| 9 | Virginia | 6 | 6 | 17 | 415 | 382 | +33 | |
| 10 | Nevada | 8 | 4 | 15 | 440 | 293 | +147 | |
| 11 | North Carolina | 6 | 6 | 14 | 437 | 379 | +58 | |
| 12 | California | 5 | 7 | 14 | 285 | 267 | +18 | |
| 13 | Tulsa | 6 | 6 | 14 | 313 | 329 | -16 | |
| 14 | Boston College | 6 | 6 | 13 | 296 | 266 | +30 | |
| 15 | South Carolina | 6 | 6 | 13 | 256 | 291 | -35 | |
| 16 | Missouri | 6 | 6 | 13 | 356 | 416 | -60 | |
| 17 | Tennessee | 7 | 5 | 12 | 466 | 330 | +136 | |
| 18 | Navy | 4 | 8 | 12 | 241 | 339 | -98 | |
| 19 | Toledo | 7 | 5 | 11 | 410 | 252 | +158 | |
| 20 | Syracuse | 5 | 7 | 11 | 299 | 316 | -17 | |
| 21 | Colorado | 4 | 8 | 8 | 225 | 320 | -95 | |
| 22 | Georgia Tech | 3 | 9 | 6 | 288 | 402 | -114 | |
| 23 | Duke | 3 | 9 | 5 | 274 | 477 | -203 | Relegated |
| 24 | Louisiana Tech | 3 | 9 | 3 | 336 | 408 | -72 | Survived |
| 25 | Tulane | 2 | 10 | 3 | 331 | 408 | -77 | Relegated |
| 26 | South Florida | 2 | 10 | 2 | 278 | 416 | -138 | Relegated |
Tier 426 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Forest | 10 | 3 | 26 | 536 | 394 | +142 | Promoted |
| 2 | Purdue | 8 | 4 | 26 | 330 | 246 | +84 | Promoted |
| 3 | Illinois | 5 | 7 | 18 | 242 | 263 | -21 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 4 | East Carolina | 7 | 5 | 17 | 356 | 315 | +41 | |
| 5 | Central Michigan | 8 | 4 | 14 | 396 | 314 | +82 | |
| 6 | UAB | 8 | 4 | 14 | 353 | 274 | +79 | |
| 7 | App State | 10 | 3 | 12 | 445 | 251 | +194 | |
| 8 | Army | 8 | 4 | 12 | 403 | 268 | +135 | |
| 9 | Maryland | 6 | 6 | 12 | 327 | 389 | -62 | |
| 10 | Ball State | 6 | 6 | 10 | 293 | 318 | -25 | |
| 11 | Western Kentucky | 8 | 5 | 9 | 560 | 373 | +187 | |
| 12 | Marshall | 7 | 5 | 9 | 408 | 273 | +135 | |
| 13 | Liberty | 7 | 5 | 9 | 381 | 260 | +121 | |
| 14 | Wyoming | 6 | 6 | 9 | 278 | 270 | +8 | |
| 15 | Miami (OH) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 349 | 286 | +63 | |
| 16 | Hawaii | 6 | 7 | 8 | 374 | 408 | -34 | |
| 17 | Middle Tennessee | 6 | 6 | 7 | 357 | 310 | +47 | |
| 18 | San Jose State | 5 | 7 | 7 | 240 | 318 | -78 | |
| 19 | North Texas | 6 | 6 | 6 | 343 | 330 | +13 | |
| 20 | Temple | 3 | 9 | 5 | 196 | 450 | -254 | |
| 21 | Buffalo | 4 | 8 | 4 | 351 | 359 | -8 | |
| 22 | Southern Miss | 3 | 9 | 4 | 212 | 335 | -123 | |
| 23 | Ohio | 3 | 9 | 1 | 271 | 364 | -93 | Survived |
| 24 | Arkansas State | 2 | 10 | 1 | 303 | 463 | -160 | Relegated |
| 25 | UNLV | 2 | 10 | 0 | 249 | 394 | -145 | Relegated |
| 26 | Arizona | 1 | 11 | 0 | 206 | 377 | -171 | Relegated |
Tier 530 teams
| Team | Status | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon State | 7 | 5 | 26 | 393 | 311 | +82 | Promoted |
| 2 | Arkansas | 8 | 4 | 24 | 378 | 288 | +90 | Promoted |
| 3 | UTSA | 12 | 1 | 23 | 492 | 307 | +185 | Promoted (playoff) |
| 4 | Utah State | 10 | 3 | 19 | 432 | 329 | +103 | |
| 5 | Louisiana-Lafayette | 12 | 1 | 16 | 399 | 238 | +161 | |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | 5 | 12 | 372 | 334 | +38 | |
| 7 | Kent State | 7 | 6 | 12 | 424 | 456 | -32 | |
| 8 | Coastal Carolina | 10 | 2 | 11 | 485 | 240 | +245 | |
| 9 | Rutgers | 5 | 7 | 11 | 246 | 295 | -49 | |
| 10 | UTEP | 7 | 5 | 9 | 302 | 297 | +5 | |
| 11 | Old Dominion | 6 | 6 | 8 | 342 | 331 | +11 | |
| 12 | Georgia State | 7 | 5 | 8 | 315 | 332 | -17 | |
| 13 | Bowling Green | 4 | 8 | 8 | 257 | 368 | -111 | |
| 14 | Charlotte | 5 | 7 | 7 | 326 | 408 | -82 | |
| 15 | Rice | 4 | 8 | 7 | 258 | 434 | -176 | |
| 16 | South Alabama | 5 | 7 | 6 | 299 | 317 | -18 | |
| 17 | Troy | 5 | 7 | 5 | 274 | 313 | -39 | |
| 18 | Kansas | 2 | 10 | 5 | 249 | 506 | -257 | |
| 19 | Florida Atlantic | 5 | 7 | 4 | 305 | 309 | -4 | |
| 20 | Louisiana-Monroe | 4 | 8 | 4 | 251 | 402 | -151 | |
| 21 | Colorado State | 3 | 9 | 3 | 284 | 339 | -55 | |
| 22 | Georgia Southern | 3 | 9 | 3 | 243 | 377 | -134 | |
| 23 | New Mexico | 3 | 9 | 3 | 146 | 341 | -195 | |
| 24 | Texas State | 4 | 8 | 2 | 277 | 396 | -119 | |
| 25 | New Mexico State | 2 | 10 | 1 | 271 | 485 | -214 | |
| 26 | Akron | 2 | 10 | 1 | 238 | 474 | -236 | |
| 27 | Florida International | 1 | 11 | 0 | 244 | 476 | -232 | |
| 28 | Vanderbilt | 2 | 10 | -1 | 189 | 430 | -241 | |
| 29 | UConn | 1 | 11 | -3 | 187 | 462 | -275 | |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 1 | 11 | -5 | 196 | 517 | -321 |
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: Cincinnati.
Round 1
Quarterfinal
Semifinal
Final
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.
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: Stanford
Tier 2bottom 4 · survivor: Northwestern
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Tier 3bottom 4 · survivor: Louisiana Tech
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
Tier 4bottom 4 · survivor: Ohio
Semifinal
Survival Final· winner stays up
2022 starting tiers
Cascade from 2021: promoted teams move up, relegated teams move down, and FBS membership is reconciled against CFBD's roster for the next year.
Premier24
- Michigan1
- Notre Dame2
- Cincinnati3
- Alabama4
- Oklahoma State5
- Utah6
- Baylor7
- Georgia8
- Oklahoma9
- Ohio State10
- Michigan State11
- Iowa12
- Oregon13
- Arizona State14
- Clemson15
- Wisconsin16
- Texas A&M17
- UCF18
- Miami (FL)19
- Penn State20
- LSU21
- Texas22
- Florida23
- Stanford24
Tier 224
- Pittsburgh1
- UCLA2
- NC State3
- Ole Miss4
- BYU5
- Minnesota6
- Houston7
- San Diego State8
- Kansas State9
- Iowa State10
- Mississippi State11
- West Virginia12
- Louisville13
- Memphis14
- Northern Illinois15
- Western Michigan16
- Virginia Tech17
- Texas Tech18
- Boise State19
- Florida State20
- TCU21
- USC22
- Washington23
- Northwestern24
Tier 326
- Wake Forest1
- Purdue2
- SMU3
- Kentucky4
- Washington State5
- Fresno State6
- Illinois7
- Air Force8
- Virginia9
- Nevada10
- North Carolina11
- California12
- Tulsa13
- Boston College14
- South Carolina15
- Missouri16
- Tennessee17
- Navy18
- Toledo19
- Auburn20
- Syracuse21
- Colorado22
- Nebraska23
- Georgia Tech24
- Louisiana Tech25
- Indiana26
Tier 426
- Oregon State1
- Arkansas2
- UTSA3
- East Carolina4
- Central Michigan5
- UAB6
- App State7
- Army8
- Maryland9
- Ball State10
- Western Kentucky11
- Marshall12
- Liberty13
- Wyoming14
- Miami (OH)15
- Hawaii16
- Middle Tennessee17
- San Jose State18
- North Texas19
- Duke20
- Temple21
- Buffalo22
- Southern Miss23
- Tulane24
- South Florida25
- Ohio26
Tier 530
- Utah State1
- Louisiana-Lafayette2
- Eastern Michigan3
- Kent State4
- Coastal Carolina5
- Rutgers6
- UTEP7
- Old Dominion8
- Georgia State9
- Bowling Green10
- Charlotte11
- Rice12
- South Alabama13
- Troy14
- Kansas15
- Florida Atlantic16
- Louisiana-Monroe17
- Colorado State18
- Georgia Southern19
- New Mexico20
- Texas State21
- Arkansas State22
- New Mexico State23
- Akron24
- UNLV25
- Arizona26
- Florida International27
- Vanderbilt28
- UConn29
- Massachusetts30