🏈 The 2021 college football season
The champion and its path, the poll race week by week, the honours, the best games and every conference table.
Source: Citizen of Nowhere college football database · 11 conferences · 38 bowls
Jump to any season1869–2026
1860s
2021 national champion
Named by the selectors, with the road it took.
The path, Georgia14-1
- Sep 4vs#3ClemsonW10-3Duke's Mayo Classic
- Sep 11vsUABW56-7
- Sep 18vsSouth CarolinaW40-13
- Sep 25atVanderbiltW62-0
- Oct 2vs#8ArkansasW37-0
- Oct 9at#18AuburnW34-10
- Oct 16vs#11KentuckyW30-13
- Oct 30vsFloridaW34-7
- Nov 6vsMissouriW43-6
- Nov 13atTennesseeW41-17
- Nov 20vsCharleston SouthernW56-7
- Nov 27atGeorgia TechW45-0
- Dec 4vs#4AlabamaL24-41SEC Championship Game
- Dec 31vs#2MichiganW34-11Orange Bowl
- Jan 10vs#1AlabamaW33-18College Football Championship Game
The 2021 playoff bracket
Round by round, seeds on the left of each team.
CFP (4 teams) · Seeds are final CFP rankings.
The other New Year’s bowls
- Peach BowlDec 30#11Michigan State31#13Pittsburgh21
- Fiesta BowlJan 1#9Oklahoma State37#5Notre Dame35
- Rose BowlJan 1#7Ohio State48#10Utah45
- Sugar BowlJan 1#6Baylor21#8Mississippi7
The 2021 poll race
Rank by poll week, 1 at the top, or Elo by week. A poll line breaks where a team was unranked.
How this is measured
The final top five and the champion are drawn in team colours; everyone else is muted until you tap a line or pick a team. The grid under a poll chart has the same ranks, team by week, so a rank can be read as a number as well as a height. Where the College Football Playoff or BCS ranking also ran, switch between it and the AP poll. The Elo view plots each team's rating on the poll dates for the teams that finished in the Elo top 15 or were ranked at any point, and its Show filter works the same way.
- Conference title weeks
- Break before bowls
- Bowl season
Tap or drag on the chart to read a team's rank in any week.
AP rank, team by week
| Team | Aug16 | Sep7 | 12 | 19 | 26 | Oct3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31 | Nov7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | Dec5 | Jan11final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Michigan | 25 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Cincinnati | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Baylor | 21 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | ||||||
| Ohio State | 4 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Oklahoma State | 19 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 7 | ||||
| Notre Dame | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Michigan State | 20 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | |||
| Oklahoma | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 10 |
| Mississippi | 20 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | |
| Utah | 24 | 21 | 24 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 12 | |||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 23 | 17 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||
| Clemson | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 14 | ||||||||
| Wake Forest | 24 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 15 | ||||
| LA-Lafayette | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 16 | ||||||||
| Houston | 20 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 17 | |||||||||
| Kentucky | 16 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 18 | ||||||||
| BYU | 23 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 19 | |||
| North Carolina State | 23 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 20 | ||||||
| Arkansas | 20 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | ||||||
| Oregon | 11 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 22 |
| Iowa | 18 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 23 |
| Utah State | 24 | |||||||||||||||
| San Diego State | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 25 | ||||||||
| Texas A&M | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 24 | 23 | ||
| TX-San Antonio | 24 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 24 | |||||||||
| Wisconsin | 12 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | |||||||||
| Auburn | 25 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 16 | |||||||
| Coastal Carolina | 22 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 24 | 21 | 22 | |||||
| Penn State | 19 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 23 | |||||
| SMU | 24 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Fresno State | 22 | 18 | 25 | |||||||||||||
| Iowa State | 7 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 22 | |||||||||||
| Purdue | 25 | |||||||||||||||
| Arizona State | 25 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 18 | |||||||||||
| Florida | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 20 | 20 | |||||||||
| Texas | 21 | 15 | 21 | 25 | ||||||||||||
| UCLA | 16 | 13 | 24 | 20 | ||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 10 | 24 | 21 | 21 | ||||||||||||
| Kansas State | 25 | |||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 19 | 15 | ||||||||||||||
| Miami (FL) | 14 | 22 | 24 | |||||||||||||
| USC | 15 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| LSU | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 17 | |||||||||||||||
| Washington | 20 |
Tap a rank to read it and highlight that team on the chart above.
Movers
AP rank on Aug 16 against the final AP rank. NR is not ranked.
Risers
- MichiganNR → #3
- BaylorNR → #5
- Oklahoma StateNR → #7
- Michigan StateNR → #9
- MississippiNR → #11
Fallers
- Texas A&M#6 → NR
- Iowa State#7 → NR
- North Carolina#10 → NR
- Wisconsin#12 → NR
- Florida#13 → NR
2021 final polls
The last ranking of the season in each poll.
2021 final pollsAP, Coaches, CFP, Elo
AP and Coaches
Jan 11 final| AP | Team | C | Rec |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeorgiaAPCTitle | 1 | 14-1 |
| 2 | 2 | 13-2 | |
| 3 | 3 | 12-2 | |
| 4 | 4 | 13-1 | |
| 5 | 6 | 12-2 | |
| 6 | 5 | 11-2 | |
| 7 | 7 | 12-2 | |
| 8 | 9 | 11-2 | |
| 9 | 8 | 11-2 | |
| 10 | 10 | 11-2 | |
| 11 | 11 | 10-3 | |
| 12 | 12 | 10-4 | |
| 13 | 13 | 11-3 | |
| 14 | 16 | 10-3 | |
| 15 | 14 | 11-3 | |
| 16 | 18 | 13-1 | |
| 17 | 17 | 12-2 | |
| 18 | 15 | 10-3 | |
| 19 | 22 | 10-3 | |
| 20 | 19 | 9-3 | |
| 21 | 20 | 9-4 | |
| 22 | 21 | 10-4 | |
| 23 | 23 | 10-4 | |
| 24 | 24 | 11-3 | |
| 25 | 12-2 | ||
| Coaches only | |||
| 25 | |||
CFP
Dec 5 finalElo top 25
rating, z
APAP championCCoaches championTitleTitle game winner
2021 conference championship games
The title game of each conference that played one, by date. The percentage is the winner's pre-game Elo win chance.
2021 conference championship games10 games, Dec 3-4
- Dec 3C-USATX-San Antonio49Western Kentucky41Alamodome40% Elo
- Dec 3Pac-12#14Utah38#10Oregon10Allegiant Stadium59% Elo
- Dec 4ACC#17Pittsburgh45#18Wake Forest21Bank of America Stadium60% Elo
- Dec 4American#3Cincinnati35#16Houston20Nippert Stadium85% Elo
- Dec 4Big 12#9Baylor21#5Oklahoma State16AT&T Stadium38% Elo
- Dec 4Big Ten#2Michigan42#15Iowa3Lucas Oil Stadium64% Elo
- Dec 4MACNorthern Illinois41Kent State23Ford Field32% Elo
- Dec 4Mountain WestUtah State46#19San Diego State13Dignity Health Sports Park16% Elo
- Dec 4SEC#4Alabama41#1Georgia24Mercedes-Benz Stadium57% Elo
- Dec 4Sun Belt#20LA-Lafayette24Appalachian State16Cajun Field70% Elo
The 2021 honours
The Heisman vote and the major awards side by side, then the All-Americans.
The 2021 honoursHeisman: Bryce Young
Heisman Trophy voting
Major awards
Luke Fickell
AFCA Coach of the Year Award · Coach · Cincinnati
Will Anderson Jr.
Bronko Nagurski Award · D · Alabama
Jordan Davis
Chuck Bednarik Award · D · Georgia
Tyler Linderbaum
Dave Rimington Trophy · C · Iowa
Bryce Young
Davey O'Brien Award · QB · Alabama
Show all 21 awards
Nakobe Dean
Dick Butkus Award · LB · Georgia
Kenneth Walker III
Doak Walker Award · RB · Michigan State
Jordan Addison
Fred Biletnikoff Award · WR · Pittsburgh
Coby Bryant
Jim Thorpe Award · DB · Cincinnati
Michigan
Joe Moore Award · OL · Michigan
Trey McBride
John Mackey Award · TE · Colorado State
Kenny Pickett
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award · QB · Pittsburgh
Aidan Hutchinson
Lott Trophy · DE · Michigan
Jake Moody
Lou Groza Award · PK · Michigan
Bryce Young
Manning Award · QB · Alabama
Bryce Young
Maxwell Award · QB · Alabama
Jordan Davis
Outland Trophy · DT · Georgia
Matt Araiza
Ray Guy Award · P · San Diego State
Aidan Hutchinson
Ted Hendricks Award · DE · Michigan
Aidan Hutchinson
Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award · DE · Michigan
Kenneth Walker III
Walter Camp Award · RB · Michigan State
Consensus All-Americans
A star marks a unanimous selection.
QB
- Bryce YoungAlabama
RB
- Breece HallIowa State
- Kenneth Walker III★ unanimousMichigan State
WR
- Jordan AddisonPittsburgh
- David BellPurdue
Show all 11 positions
TE
- Trey McBride★ unanimousColorado State
OL
- Ikem Ekwonu★ unanimousNorth Carolina State
- Darian KinnardKentucky
- Kenyon GreenTexas A&M
- Tyler Linderbaum★ unanimousIowa
- Evan NealAlabama
DL
DB
- Sauce GardnerCincinnati
- Kyle HamiltonNotre Dame
- Verone McKinley IIIOregon
- Jalen PitreBaylor
P
- Matt Araiza★ unanimousSan Diego State
KR/AP
- Brian BattieSouth Florida
- Marcus JonesHouston
- Deuce VaughnKansas State
PK
- Jake MoodyMichigan
QB
- Bryce YoungAlabama
RB
- Breece HallIowa State
- Kenneth Walker III★ unanimousMichigan State
WR
- Jordan AddisonPittsburgh
- David BellPurdue
TE
- Trey McBride★ unanimousColorado State
OL
- Ikem Ekwonu★ unanimousNorth Carolina State
- Darian KinnardKentucky
- Kenyon GreenTexas A&M
- Tyler Linderbaum★ unanimousIowa
- Evan NealAlabama
DL
DB
- Sauce GardnerCincinnati
- Kyle HamiltonNotre Dame
- Verone McKinley IIIOregon
- Jalen PitreBaylor
P
- Matt Araiza★ unanimousSan Diego State
KR/AP
- Brian BattieSouth Florida
- Marcus JonesHouston
- Deuce VaughnKansas State
PK
- Jake MoodyMichigan
The best games of 2021
The ten best games of the season by Game Score. Switch to the Elo score for a second opinion.
How this is measured
Game score is the college football workbook's own rating of how good a game was; it weighs a lot more than the margin. The Elo score is a second view built from the ratings alone: the two teams' average pre-game Elo, plus stakes (150 for the national championship game, 90 for a playoff game or a major bowl, 40 for another bowl or a conference title game, 15 for a rivalry), plus up to 60 for a close finish and 15 for overtime. The Elo view takes its own top ten from every game between major teams. Sort by any column.
The best games of 202110 games
Rank by
9
#3Cincinnati beat #16Houston
35-20 · American Athletic Championship Game · 2021-12-04 · Elo score 1885
0.77
game score
Upsets of 2021
The results the ratings gave the winner the least chance of, lowest first.
How this is measured
Win chance is the winner's pre-game probability from the site's college football Elo ratings, home field included, so 3% means the winner would be expected to win about one time in thirty. Games against lower-level opponents count and carry a tag for the level (FCS, Division II and so on). Where the AP poll had ranks, the rank line is shown as context. Elo gap is the loser's pre-game rating minus the winner's.
Upsets of 202110 upsets
2021 standings by conference
Every conference at once: conference and overall record, and the final AP rank. A star marks the conference champion.
2021 standings by conference11 groups
American Athletic
11 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | Cincinnati★ conference champion | 9-0 | 13-1 | #4 |
| 2 | Houston | 8-1 | 12-2 | #17 |
| 3 | Central Florida | 5-3 | 9-4 | |
| 4 | East Carolina | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 5 | Tulsa | 5-3 | 7-6 | |
| 6 | SMU | 4-4 | 8-4 | |
| 7 | Memphis | 3-5 | 6-6 | |
| 8 | Navy | 3-5 | 4-8 | |
| 9 | Temple | 1-7 | 3-9 | |
| 10 | South Florida | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
| 11 | Tulane | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
Atlantic Coast
14 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal | ||||
| 1 | Pittsburgh★ conference champion | 8-1 | 11-3 | #13 |
| 2 | Miami (FL) | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 3 | Virginia | 4-4 | 6-6 | |
| 4 | Virginia Tech | 4-4 | 6-7 | |
| 5 | North Carolina | 3-5 | 6-7 | |
| 6 | Georgia Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 | |
| 7 | Duke | 0-8 | 3-9 | |
| Atlantic | ||||
| 1 | Wake Forest | 7-2 | 11-3 | #15 |
| 2 | Clemson | 6-2 | 10-3 | #14 |
| 3 | North Carolina State | 6-2 | 9-3 | #20 |
| 4 | Louisville | 4-4 | 6-7 | |
| 5 | Florida State | 4-4 | 5-7 | |
| 6 | Boston College | 2-6 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Syracuse | 2-6 | 5-7 | |
Big 12
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | Baylor★ conference champion | 8-2 | 12-2 | #5 |
| 2 | Oklahoma State | 8-2 | 12-2 | #7 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 7-2 | 11-2 | #10 |
| 4 | Iowa State | 5-4 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Kansas State | 4-5 | 8-5 | |
| 6 | West Virginia | 4-5 | 6-7 | |
| 7 | Texas Tech | 3-6 | 7-6 | |
| 8 | TCU | 3-6 | 5-7 | |
| 9 | Texas | 3-6 | 5-7 | |
| 10 | Kansas | 1-8 | 2-10 | |
Big Ten
14 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | ||||
| 1 | Michigan★ conference champion | 9-1 | 12-2 | #3 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 8-1 | 11-2 | #6 |
| 3 | Michigan State | 7-2 | 11-2 | #9 |
| 4 | Penn State | 4-5 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 3-6 | 7-6 | |
| 6 | Rutgers | 2-7 | 5-8 | |
| 7 | Indiana | 0-9 | 2-10 | |
| West | ||||
| 1 | Iowa | 7-3 | 10-4 | #23 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 6-3 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Purdue | 6-3 | 9-4 | |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 6-3 | 9-4 | |
| 5 | Illinois | 4-5 | 5-7 | |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1-8 | 3-9 | |
| 7 | Northwestern | 1-8 | 3-9 | |
Conference USA
14 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | TX-San Antonio★ conference champion | 8-1 | 12-2 | |
| 2 | UAB | 6-2 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | North Texas | 5-3 | 6-7 | |
| 4 | UTEP | 4-4 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Rice | 3-5 | 4-8 | |
| 6 | Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 | |
| 7 | Southern Mississippi | 2-6 | 3-9 | |
| East | ||||
| 1 | Western Kentucky | 7-2 | 9-5 | |
| 2 | Marshall | 5-3 | 7-6 | |
| 3 | Old Dominion | 5-3 | 6-7 | |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State | 4-4 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Charlotte | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 7 | Florida International | 0-8 | 1-11 | |
Mid-American
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | Northern Illinois★ conference champion | 7-2 | 9-5 | |
| 2 | Central Michigan | 6-2 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Toledo | 5-3 | 7-6 | |
| 4 | Western Michigan | 4-4 | 8-5 | |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 7-6 | |
| 6 | Ball State | 4-4 | 6-7 | |
| East | ||||
| 1 | Kent State | 6-3 | 7-7 | |
| 2 | Miami (OH) | 5-3 | 7-6 | |
| 3 | Ohio | 3-5 | 3-9 | |
| 4 | Bowling Green | 2-6 | 4-8 | |
| 5 | Buffalo | 2-6 | 4-8 | |
| 6 | Akron | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
Mountain West
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | San Diego State | 7-2 | 12-2 | #25 |
| 2 | Fresno State | 6-2 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | Nevada | 5-3 | 8-5 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | 3-5 | 6-7 | |
| 5 | San Jose State | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 6 | UNLV | 2-6 | 2-10 | |
| Mountain | ||||
| 1 | Utah State★ conference champion | 7-2 | 11-3 | #24 |
| 2 | Air Force | 6-2 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | Boise State | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 4 | Wyoming | 2-6 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Colorado State | 2-6 | 3-9 | |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1-7 | 3-9 | |
Pacific-12
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | ||||
| 1 | Utah★ conference champion | 9-1 | 10-4 | #12 |
| 2 | UCLA | 6-3 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Arizona State | 6-3 | 8-5 | |
| 4 | Colorado | 3-6 | 4-8 | |
| 5 | USC | 3-6 | 4-8 | |
| 6 | Arizona | 1-8 | 1-11 | |
| North | ||||
| 1 | Oregon | 7-3 | 10-4 | #22 |
| 2 | Washington State | 6-3 | 7-6 | |
| 3 | Oregon State | 5-4 | 7-6 | |
| 4 | California | 4-5 | 5-7 | |
| 5 | Washington | 3-6 | 4-8 | |
| 6 | Stanford | 2-7 | 3-9 | |
Southeastern
14 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | ||||
| 1 | Georgia | 8-1 | 14-1 | #1 |
| 2 | Kentucky | 5-3 | 10-3 | #18 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 4-4 | 7-6 | |
| 4 | South Carolina | 3-5 | 7-6 | |
| 5 | Missouri | 3-5 | 6-7 | |
| 6 | Florida | 2-6 | 6-7 | |
| 7 | Vanderbilt | 0-8 | 2-10 | |
| West | ||||
| 1 | Alabama★ conference champion | 8-1 | 13-2 | #2 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 6-2 | 10-3 | #11 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 4-4 | 9-4 | #21 |
| 4 | Texas A&M | 4-4 | 8-4 | |
| 5 | Mississippi State | 4-4 | 7-6 | |
| 6 | Auburn | 3-5 | 6-7 | |
| 7 | LSU | 3-5 | 6-7 | |
Sun Belt
10 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | ||||
| 1 | LA-Lafayette★ conference champion | 9-0 | 13-1 | #16 |
| 2 | Texas State | 3-5 | 4-8 | |
| 3 | South Alabama | 2-6 | 5-7 | |
| 4 | LA-Monroe | 2-6 | 4-8 | |
| 5 | Arkansas State | 1-7 | 2-10 | |
| East | ||||
| 1 | Appalachian State | 7-2 | 10-4 | |
| 2 | Coastal Carolina | 6-2 | 11-2 | |
| 3 | Georgia State | 6-2 | 8-5 | |
| 4 | Troy | 3-5 | 5-7 | |
| 5 | Georgia Southern | 2-6 | 3-9 | |
Independent
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | - | 11-2 | #8 |
| 2 | BYU | - | 10-3 | #19 |
| 3 | Army | - | 9-4 | |
| 4 | Liberty | - | 8-5 | |
| 5 | New Mexico State | - | 2-10 | |
| 6 | Connecticut | - | 1-11 | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | - | 1-11 |
2021 bowls
One line per game, latest first. A tag marks the playoff and the other major bowls.
2021 bowls38 bowls
Show all 38 bowls
FCS. Shown for context. These seasons do not count in this hub’s major-college records.
Champion
FCS national champion.
FCS champion
Playoff
Round by round.
FCS playoff
First Round · 8 games
Incarnate Word35✓
Stephen F. Austin28
Nov 27 · Incarnate Word
South Dakota State56✓
UC Davis24
Nov 27 · South Dakota State
Eastern Washington19✓
Northern Iowa9
Nov 27 · Eastern Washington
Second Round · 8 games
Quarterfinals · 4 games
Semifinals · 2 games
Championship · 1 game
2021 standings by conference
Overall and conference record.
2021 standings by conference14 groups
Big Sky
13 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento State | 8-0 | 9-3 | |
| 2 | Montana State | 7-1 | 11-3 | |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | 6-2 | 10-3 | |
| 4 | Montana | 6-2 | 10-3 | |
| 5 | UC Davis | 5-3 | 8-4 | |
| 6 | Weber State | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | Northern Arizona | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | Portland State | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Idaho | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 11 | Cal Poly-SLO | 1-7 | 2-9 | |
| 12 | Idaho State | 1-7 | 1-10 | |
| 13 | Southern Utah | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Big South
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennesaw State | 7-0 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | Monmouth | 6-1 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | Hampton | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 4 | North Carolina A&T | 3-4 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Charleston Southern | 3-4 | 4-6 | |
| 6 | North Alabama | 3-4 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Robert Morris | 3-5 | 4-6 | |
| 8 | Gardner-Webb | 2-5 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Campbell | 2-5 | 3-8 |
Colonial
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison | 7-1 | 12-2 | |
| 2 | Villanova | 7-1 | 10-3 | |
| 3 | Elon | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 4-4 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Maine | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Richmond | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 7 | William & Mary | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 8 | Stony Brook | 4-4 | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Delaware | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 10 | Towson | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 12 | Albany | 1-7 | 2-9 |
Ivy
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth | 6-1 | 9-1 | |
| 2 | Princeton | 6-1 | 9-1 | |
| 3 | Harvard | 5-2 | 8-2 | |
| 4 | Columbia | 4-3 | 7-3 | |
| 5 | Yale | 4-3 | 5-5 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1-6 | 3-7 | |
| 7 | Brown | 1-6 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Cornell | 1-6 | 2-8 |
Mid-Eastern
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina State | 5-0 | 7-5 | |
| 2 | North Carolina Central | 4-1 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | Norfolk State | 2-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Delaware State | 2-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Howard | 1-4 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Morgan State | 1-4 | 2-9 |
Missouri Valley
11 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State | 7-1 | 14-1 | |
| 2 | Missouri State | 6-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | South Dakota State | 5-3 | 11-4 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois | 5-3 | 8-5 | |
| 5 | South Dakota | 5-3 | 7-5 | |
| 6 | Northern Iowa | 4-4 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Indiana State | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 8 | North Dakota | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 9 | Illinois State | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 10 | Youngstown State | 2-6 | 3-7 | |
| 11 | Western Illinois | 2-6 | 2-9 |
Northeast
8 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Heart | 6-1 | 8-4 | |
| 2 | Duquesne | 5-2 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | Bryant | 5-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | St. Francis (PA) | 4-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Central Connecticut State | 4-3 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Merrimack | 2-5 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | LIU-Brooklyn | 2-5 | 2-8 | |
| 8 | Wagner | 0-7 | 0-11 |
Ohio Valley
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UT-Martin | 5-1 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | Austin Peay | 4-2 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | SE Missouri State | 4-2 | 4-7 | |
| 4 | Murray State | 3-3 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | Tennessee State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Tennessee Tech | 1-5 | 3-8 | |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois | 1-5 | 1-10 |
Patriot
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Cross | 6-0 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | Colgate | 5-1 | 5-6 | |
| 3 | Fordham | 4-2 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Lehigh | 3-3 | 3-8 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | 2-4 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Georgetown | 1-5 | 2-8 | |
| 7 | Bucknell | 0-6 | 1-10 |
Pioneer
11 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson | 7-1 | 8-3 | |
| 2 | San Diego | 7-1 | 7-4 | |
| 3 | St. Thomas | 6-2 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Morehead State | 6-2 | 7-4 | |
| 5 | Dayton | 5-3 | 6-4 | |
| 6 | Marist | 5-3 | 5-5 | |
| 7 | Valparaiso | 4-4 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Stetson | 2-6 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Butler | 1-7 | 3-8 | |
| 10 | Drake | 1-7 | 2-9 | |
| 11 | Presbyterian | 0-8 | 2-9 |
Southern
9 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Tennessee State | 7-1 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | Mercer | 6-2 | 7-3 | |
| 3 | UT-Chattanooga | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | Furman | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 5 | VMI | 4-4 | 6-5 | |
| 6 | Western Carolina | 4-4 | 4-7 | |
| 7 | Citadel | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 8 | Samford | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 9 | Wofford | 0-8 | 1-10 |
Southland
6 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Incarnate Word | 7-1 | 10-3 | |
| 2 | SE Louisiana | 6-2 | 9-4 | |
| 3 | Nicholls State | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 4 | McNeese State | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Northwestern State | 3-5 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Houston Baptist | 0-8 | 0-11 |
Southwestern Athletic
12 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | ||||
| 1 | Jackson State | 8-0 | 11-2 | |
| 2 | Florida A&M | 7-1 | 9-3 | |
| 3 | Alabama A&M | 5-3 | 7-3 | |
| 4 | Alabama State | 3-5 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Mississippi Valley State | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 6 | Bethune-Cookman | 2-6 | 2-9 | |
| West | ||||
| 1 | Prairie View | 6-2 | 7-5 | |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 5-3 | 6-5 | |
| 3 | Grambling | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 4 | Southern | 3-5 | 4-7 | |
| 5 | Texas Southern | 2-6 | 3-8 | |
| 6 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-7 | 2-9 | |
WAC-ASUN
7 teams| # | Team | Conf | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Houston State | 6-0 | 11-1 | |
| 2 | Stephen F. Austin | 4-2 | 8-4 | |
| 3 | Eastern Kentucky | 4-2 | 7-4 | |
| 4 | Central Arkansas | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 5 | Jacksonville State | 3-3 | 5-6 | |
| 6 | Abilene Christian | 1-5 | 5-6 | |
| 7 | Lamar | 0-6 | 1-9 |
Where these numbers come from
Enough to disbelieve this page on purpose rather than by accident.
Champions, polls, standings, bowls, honours and games are read from the Citizen of Nowhere college football database, built from its own workbook one season at a time. Team colours and crests are the current programs’, so a school is drawn the way it looks today even where it played under another name.
The AP poll begins in 1936, so earlier seasons have no poll race and no final poll, but they do have an Elo race, and their champions are those the selectors named. Before 1992 there was no title game, so those seasons list the major bowls instead; from 1992 the title game is shown with the other major bowls, and from 2014 the playoff bracket. Where the database has no entry for a section, the section is left out rather than shown empty.
Elo ratings, the upsets and the best games come from the site’s college football Elo, which rates every game since 1869 and counts games against lower-level opponents. Each season’s ratings are shown on a scale where the average major team ends the season at 1500; z is the distance from that average in standard deviations.