Power Points Top Four

In a perfect world, all FBS teams would play equal or equal maximum game regular season schedules versus FBS competition only and knowingly compete according to the rules of the Power Points System. That said, without the benefit of equal or equal maximum game schedules and teams knowing the rules in play, listed below are the Power Points System's top four teams based on FBS games only for the past 36 seasons. 103 of the 144 teams listed finished in the AP top four. Among the 41 PPS favored teams that missed the AP top four, 19 won more games versus AP ranked teams than did the AP favored teams they replaced. Another eight won equal or more games versus AP ranked teams. Overall, 130 of 144 teams listed below finished in the AP top four and/or won equal or more games versus AP ranked teams that did the AP top four teams they replaced.

The 41 disputed top four finishes between the PPS and AP make for 67 disputed pairs. PPS favored teams hold a 34-19 advantage in most wins versus AP ranked teams with 14 pairs tied. Among the tied pairs, PPS favored teams own an 8-2-4 advantage based on average rank of AP ranked teams defeated.

Again, it is best if all teams play equal or equal maximum game regular season schedules to ensure equal maximum power points possible which has not been the case. For example, among the 67 disputed pairs, PPS favored teams played more games 36 times compared to four for AP favored teams with 27 pairs playing equal games. In some instances, an AP favored team might have become a PPS favored team with a low value win.

1978 Southern California Penn State Alabama Notre Dame

1979 Brigham Young Florida State Arkansas Ohio State

1980 Florida State Pittsburgh Brigham Young Notre Dame

1981 Clemson Pittsburgh Penn State Miami

1982 Georgia Penn State Nebraska UCLA

1983 Auburn Nebraska Texas Brigham Young

1984 Florida Brigham Young Washington Oklahoma

1985 Penn State Oklahoma Florida Michigan

1986 Penn State Michigan Miami Louisiana State

1987 Miami Florida State Nebraska Syracuse

1988 Notre Dame Southern California Miami Nebraska

1989 Notre Dame Colorado Tennessee Michigan

1990 Colorado Texas Miami Georgia Tech

1991 Miami Washington Florida Michigan

1992 Alabama Miami Texas A&M Florida State

1993 Florida State Nebraska Florida West Virginia

1994 Nebraska Penn State Florida Alabama

1995 Florida Nebraska Northwestern Ohio State

1996 Florida State Arizona State Florida Brigham Young

1997 Tennessee Michigan Nebraska Florida State

1998 Florida State Tennessee Texas A&M UCLA

1999 Florida State Alabama Nebraska Virginia Tech

2000 Oklahoma Florida State Miami Florida

2001 Miami Nebraska Tennessee Colorado

2002 Ohio State Miami Georgia Southern California

2003 Oklahoma Louisiana State Southern California Ohio State

2004 Oklahoma Southern California Auburn Texas

2005 Southern California Texas Penn State Ohio State

2006 Florida Michigan Ohio State Boise State

2007 Louisiana State Virginia Tech Oklahoma Missouri

2008 Oklahoma Texas Florida Utah

2009 Alabama Texas Florida Boise State

2010 Auburn Oklahoma Texas Christian Boise State

2011 Louisiana State Oklahoma State Boise State Stanford

2012 Notre Dame Ohio State Stanford Florida

2013 Auburn Florida State Stanford Ohio State