ELO is a rating system originally developed for chess that measures the relative skill level of teams. In college football, it provides a more accurate ranking than traditional polls by considering strength of schedule and margin of victory.
Blowout wins earn more ELO than close wins. The system rewards dominant performances while not heavily penalizing close losses to good teams.
Teams start each season with ELO ratings based on their previous four years of recruiting. New teams or teams without history start at 1500.
This interactive chart shows how team ELO ratings changed throughout the season. You can select teams to compare their progression and see the impact of key games.