Games of Interest
The "interest factor" based upon computer rankings is a combination of how closely the teams are ranked and how high in the rankings they are. The ranking I use is approximately the median of the Kenneth Massey's College Football Ranking Comparison. (It differs from the median only in that when there are an even number of rankings it uses the worst of the two rankings that are averaged to form the median. In other words, it is the best rank for which a majority of the rankings have the team ranked that highly or better.)
The formula I chose is loosely based upon Potemkin's magnitude of ranking violation metric. It is:
| ( N + 1 - R1) × ( N + 1 - R2 ) |
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| ( | R1 - R2 | + max( R1, R2 ) ) |
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N is the number of ranked teams, and R1, R2 are the ordinal ranks of the opponents in each game. We take any game against an unranked team as being of zero interest and assign unranked teams a rank of N + 1. N + 1 -rank is therefore the number of ranked teams for which the team with rank has a better rank. So the numerator gets larger as either or both teams' ranks are better.
The denominator gets smaller (resulting in larger results) as Δrank gets smaller (teams 10 spots apart in the ranking are probably a "better game" than teams 50 spots apart) and the worst of the two teams gets better (games involving the #1 team are always interesting, but if they're playing the #117 team, less so.)
For example, #1 vs #1 is just 1202/(0+1) = 14400. #1 vs #120 is (120×1)/(119+120) = ~ ½. #25 vs #1 is (121-25)×(121-1)/(24 + 25) = ~235.1 while #25 vs #24 is (121-25)×(121-24)/(1+25) = ~358.2.
It may seem strange that #25 vs #24 has a higher "interest" factor than #25 vs #1, but just think about it for a second. We expect #1 to beat #25, but when #24 and #25 play we have no idea which is more likely to win.
I'll update the list as the rankings change.
Upcoming Games of Interest
Rankings as of 8:30AM (US Mountain) 3 September
| Wk | | | | | | | |
| 1 | #3 | Oregon | vs | #9 | LSU | at Arlington TX | |
| | #4 | Boise State | vs | #33 | Georgia | at Atlanta GA | |
| | #33 | Miami-Florida | at | #40 | Maryland | | (Monday) |
| | #38 | Tulsa | at | #4 | Oklahoma | | |
| | #50 | South Florida | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 2 | #22 | Mississippi State | at | #12 | Auburn | | |
| | #28 | Utah | at | #23 | Southern California | | |
| | #26 | Nevada | at | #3 | Oregon | | |
| | #17 | Missouri | at | #30 | Arizona State | | (Friday) |
| | #19 | South Carolina | at | #33 | Georgia | | |
| | #35 | Arizona | at | #10 | Oklahoma State | | (Thursday) |
| | #6 | TCU | at | #36 | Air Force | | |
| | #41 | Oregon State | at | #13 | Wisconsin | | |
| | #39 | BYU | at | #45 | Texas | | |
| | #3 | Alabama | at | #41 | Penn State | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #48 | UCF | | |
| | #20 | Notre Dame | at | #48 | Michigan | | |
| | #53 | Hawaii | at | #44 | Washington | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 3 | #4 | Oklahoma | at | #13 | Florida State | | |
| | #9 | LSU | at | #22 | Mississippi State | | (Thursday) |
| | #27 | Michigan State | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | #32 | Pittsburgh | at | #32 | Iowa | | |
| | #8 | Ohio State | at | #33 | Miami-Florida | | |
| | #5 | Stanford | at | #35 | Arizona | | |
| | #28 | Utah | at | #39 | BYU | | |
| | #28 | West Virginia | at | #40 | Maryland | | |
| | #10 | Oklahoma State | at | #38 | Tulsa | | |
| | #12 | Auburn | at | #40 | Clemson | | |
| | #30 | Arizona State | at | #44 | Illinois | | |
| | #44 | Washington | at | #17 | Nebraska | | |
| | #49 | Tennessee | at | #24 | Florida | | |
| | #13 | Wisconsin | vs | #50 | Northern Illinois | at Chicago IL | |
| | #53 | Navy | at | #19 | South Carolina | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 4 | #12 | Arkansas | at | #3 | Alabama | | |
| | #10 | Oklahoma State | at | #17 | Texas A&M | | |
| | #17 | Missouri | at | #4 | Oklahoma | | |
| | #23 | Southern California | at | #30 | Arizona State | | |
| | #9 | LSU | at | #28 | West Virginia | | |
| | #20 | Notre Dame | at | #32 | Pittsburgh | | |
| | #3 | Oregon | at | #35 | Arizona | | |
| | #38 | Tulsa | at | #4 | Boise State | | |
| | #13 | Florida State | at | #40 | Clemson | | |
| | #26 | Nevada | at | #45 | Texas Tech | | |
| | #46 | San Diego State | at | #48 | Michigan | | |
| | #48 | UCF | at | #39 | BYU | | (Friday) |
| | #50 | California | at | #44 | Washington | | |
| | #58 | Kansas State | at | #33 | Miami-Florida | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 5 | #17 | Nebraska | at | #13 | Wisconsin | | |
| | #12 | Arkansas | vs | #17 | Texas A&M | at Arlington TX | |
| | #12 | Auburn | at | #19 | South Carolina | | |
| | #3 | Alabama | at | #24 | Florida | | |
| | #26 | Nevada | at | #4 | Boise State | | |
| | #27 | Michigan State | at | #8 | Ohio State | | |
| | #22 | Mississippi State | at | #33 | Georgia | | |
| | #35 | Arizona | at | #23 | Southern California | | |
| | #41 | Oregon State | at | #30 | Arizona State | | |
| | #40 | Clemson | at | #13 | Virginia Tech | | |
| | #44 | Washington | at | #28 | Utah | | |
| | #50 | South Florida | at | #32 | Pittsburgh | | (Thursday) |
| | #36 | Air Force | at | #53 | Navy | | |
| | #55 | Baylor | at | #58 | Kansas State | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 6 | #12 | Auburn | at | #12 | Arkansas | | |
| | #8 | Ohio State | at | #17 | Nebraska | | |
| | #24 | Florida | at | #9 | LSU | | |
| | #30 | Arizona State | at | #28 | Utah | | |
| | #33 | Miami-Florida | at | #13 | Virginia Tech | | |
| | #36 | Air Force | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | #35 | Arizona | at | #41 | Oregon State | | |
| | #32 | Iowa | at | #41 | Penn State | | |
| | #17 | Texas A&M | at | #45 | Texas Tech | | |
| | #4 | Oklahoma | vs | #45 | Texas | at Dallas TX | |
| | #6 | TCU | at | #46 | San Diego State | | |
| | #33 | Georgia | at | #49 | Tennessee | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #40 | Clemson | | |
| | #50 | California | at | #3 | Oregon | | (Thursday) |
| | #52 | Connecticut | at | #28 | West Virginia | | |
| | #58 | Southern Miss | at | #53 | Navy | | |
| | #17 | Missouri | at | #58 | Kansas State | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 7 | #19 | South Carolina | at | #22 | Mississippi State | | |
| | #24 | Florida | at | #12 | Auburn | | |
| | #28 | Utah | at | #32 | Pittsburgh | | |
| | #30 | Arizona State | at | #3 | Oregon | | |
| | #40 | Clemson | at | #40 | Maryland | | |
| | #39 | BYU | at | #41 | Oregon State | | |
| | #33 | Miami-Florida | at | #41 | North Carolina | | |
| | #46 | San Diego State | at | #36 | Air Force | | (Thursday) |
| | #8 | Ohio State | at | #44 | Illinois | | |
| | #10 | Oklahoma State | at | #45 | Texas | | |
| | #48 | Michigan | at | #27 | Michigan State | | |
| | #50 | South Florida | at | #52 | Connecticut | | |
| | #9 | LSU | at | #49 | Tennessee | | |
| | #23 | Southern California | at | #50 | California | | (Thursday) |
| | #55 | Baylor | at | #17 | Texas A&M | | |
| | #58 | Kansas State | at | #45 | Texas Tech | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 8 | #12 | Auburn | at | #9 | LSU | | |
| | #10 | Oklahoma State | at | #17 | Missouri | | |
| | #23 | Southern California | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | #13 | Wisconsin | at | #27 | Michigan State | | |
| | #41 | North Carolina | at | #40 | Clemson | | |
| | #36 | Air Force | at | #4 | Boise State | | |
| | #40 | Maryland | at | #13 | Florida State | | |
| | #44 | Washington | at | #5 | Stanford | | |
| | #45 | Texas Tech | at | #4 | Oklahoma | | |
| | #28 | Utah | at | #50 | California | | |
| | #49 | Tennessee | at | #3 | Alabama | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #13 | Virginia Tech | | |
| | #52 | Connecticut | at | #32 | Pittsburgh | | (Wednesday) |
| | | | | | | | |
| 9 | #13 | Wisconsin | at | #8 | Ohio State | | |
| | #17 | Missouri | at | #17 | Texas A&M | | |
| | #5 | Stanford | at | #23 | Southern California | | |
| | #27 | Michigan State | at | #17 | Nebraska | | |
| | #30 | North Carolina State | at | #13 | Florida State | | |
| | #33 | Georgia | vs | #24 | Florida | at Jacksonville FL | |
| | #41 | Oregon State | at | #28 | Utah | | |
| | #44 | Illinois | at | #41 | Penn State | | |
| | #39 | BYU | vs | #6 | TCU | at Arlington TX | (Friday) |
| | #35 | Arizona | at | #44 | Washington | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #40 | Maryland | | |
| | #19 | South Carolina | at | #49 | Tennessee | | |
| | #53 | Navy | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | #55 | Baylor | at | #10 | Oklahoma State | | |
| | #4 | Oklahoma | at | #58 | Kansas State | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 10 | #9 | LSU | at | #3 | Alabama | | |
| | #19 | South Carolina | at | #12 | Arkansas | | |
| | #17 | Texas A&M | at | #4 | Oklahoma | | |
| | #28 | Utah | at | #35 | Arizona | | |
| | #41 | North Carolina | at | #30 | North Carolina State | | |
| | #45 | Texas Tech | at | #45 | Texas | | |
| | #5 | Stanford | at | #41 | Oregon State | | |
| | #3 | Oregon | at | #44 | Washington | | |
| | #38 | Tulsa | at | #48 | UCF | | (Thursday) |
| | #48 | Michigan | at | #32 | Iowa | | |
| | #13 | Florida State | at | #50 | Boston College | | (Thursday) |
| | #17 | Missouri | at | #55 | Baylor | | |
| | #58 | Kansas State | at | #10 | Oklahoma State | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 11 | #3 | Oregon | at | #5 | Stanford | | |
| | #6 | TCU | at | #4 | Boise State | | |
| | #24 | Florida | at | #19 | South Carolina | | |
| | #3 | Alabama | at | #22 | Mississippi State | | |
| | #27 | Michigan State | at | #32 | Iowa | | |
| | #33 | Miami-Florida | at | #13 | Florida State | | |
| | #12 | Auburn | at | #33 | Georgia | | |
| | #20 | Notre Dame | vs | #40 | Maryland | at Landover MD | |
| | #17 | Nebraska | at | #41 | Penn State | | |
| | #44 | Washington | at | #23 | Southern California | | |
| | #45 | Texas | at | #17 | Missouri | | |
| | #48 | Michigan | at | #44 | Illinois | | |
| | #10 | Oklahoma State | at | #45 | Texas Tech | | |
| | #41 | Oregon State | at | #50 | California | | |
| | #30 | North Carolina State | at | #50 | Boston College | | |
| | #49 | Tennessee | at | #12 | Arkansas | | |
| | #53 | Hawaii | at | #26 | Nevada | | |
| | #48 | UCF | at | #58 | Southern Miss | | |
| | #17 | Texas A&M | at | #58 | Kansas State | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 12 | #22 | Mississippi State | vs | #12 | Arkansas | at Little Rock AR | |
| | #23 | Southern California | at | #3 | Oregon | | |
| | #35 | Arizona | at | #30 | Arizona State | | |
| | #40 | Clemson | at | #30 | North Carolina State | | |
| | #44 | Washington | at | #41 | Oregon State | | |
| | #41 | North Carolina | at | #13 | Virginia Tech | | (Thursday) |
| | #41 | Penn State | at | #8 | Ohio State | | |
| | #13 | Wisconsin | at | #44 | Illinois | | |
| | #45 | Texas Tech | at | #17 | Missouri | | |
| | #4 | Boise State | at | #46 | San Diego State | | |
| | #17 | Nebraska | at | #48 | Michigan | | |
| | #33 | Miami-Florida | at | #50 | South Florida | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #20 | Notre Dame | | |
| | #50 | California | at | #5 | Stanford | | |
| | #4 | Oklahoma | at | #55 | Baylor | | |
| | #58 | Kansas State | at | #45 | Texas | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 13 | #12 | Arkansas | at | #9 | LSU | | (Friday) |
| | #3 | Alabama | at | #12 | Auburn | | |
| | #20 | Notre Dame | at | #5 | Stanford | | |
| | #13 | Florida State | at | #24 | Florida | | |
| | #32 | Pittsburgh | at | #28 | West Virginia | | (Friday) |
| | #32 | Iowa | at | #17 | Nebraska | | (Friday) |
| | #40 | Maryland | at | #30 | North Carolina State | | |
| | #40 | Clemson | at | #19 | South Carolina | | |
| | #41 | Penn State | at | #13 | Wisconsin | | |
| | #41 | Oregon State | at | #3 | Oregon | | |
| | #45 | Texas | at | #17 | Texas A&M | | (Thursday) |
| | #8 | Ohio State | at | #48 | Michigan | | |
| | #50 | Boston College | at | #33 | Miami-Florida | | (Friday) |
| | #50 | California | at | #30 | Arizona State | | (Friday) |
| | #45 | Texas Tech | vs | #55 | Baylor | at Arlington TX | |
| | | | | | | | |
| 14 | #4 | Oklahoma | at | #10 | Oklahoma State | | |
| | #28 | West Virginia | at | #50 | South Florida | | (Thursday) |
| | #39 | BYU | at | #53 | Hawaii | | |
| | #45 | Texas | at | #55 | Baylor | | |
|