Ahead of the 2024 season, the American Conference revised its tiebreaking procedures following two years of adjustments following the 2023 realignment and the arrival of Army to replace SMU in 2024.
The American Conference standings are first determined based on record against opponents within the conference. No games against non-conference opponents are considered when looking at the initial standings in the American Conference Championship Game. In the event of a tie when it comes to conference winning percentage, the American Conference tiebreakers are used.
To find out how PFSN’s analytics see the current American Conference season playing out, visit our College FPM table to see every team’s percentage chance of making the American Conference Championship Game. If you want to test out different scenarios of your own, then be sure to check out the PFSN College Football Playoff Predictor.
The American Conference Two-Team Tiebreakers
If two teams are tied for first place in the standings, they will both participate in the Championship Game. However, the tiebreaking procedure outlined below will be used to determine which team is considered the home team and which is considered the road team. In the event of a tie for second place in the standings, the following process will be used to determine who will advance to the American Conference Championship Game.
- The winner of any head-to-head matchup between the two teams (if applicable).
If there is no head-to-head, things vary depending on how many teams (if any) were ranked in the most recent CFP Selection Committee rankings before the final week of the season.
- If one of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and does not lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, they will win the tiebreaker.
- If one of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and they lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
- If both of the teams were ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings, the higher-ranked team that does not lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play will win the tiebreaker.
- If both of the teams were ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and both lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
- If neither of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
If the teams remain tied after this process, the following tiebreakers are used:
1) Win percentage against all common conference opponents.
2) The team with the highest overall winning percentage, including both conference and non-conference games (excluding exempt games).
3) Coin toss.
The American Conference Three (or More) Team Tiebreakers
If, after any step in the following procedure, one or two teams are either superior or inferior to the others, they are removed from the tiebreaking procedure, and the remaining teams either go to the two-team tiebreaker or return to the start of the three-team tiebreaking procedure.
1) If all teams played each other, then the records for those teams in those games would be compared.
2) If all the teams did not play each other, but one team either defeated or was defeated by ALL the other teams, they shall be removed from the tiebreaking procedure.
If there is no head-to-head resolution, things vary depending on how many teams (if any) were ranked in the most recent CFP Selection Committee rankings before the final week of the season.
- If one of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and does not lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, they will win the tiebreaker.
- If one of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and they lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
- If both of the teams were ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings, the higher-ranked team that does not lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play will win the tiebreaker.
- If both of the teams were ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings and both lose in the final weekend of regular-season Conference play, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
- If neither of the teams was ranked in the last CFP Selection Committee rankings, a composite average of the following computer metrics will be used to determine the winner: Connolly SP+, SportSource TR116 SOR, ESPN SOR, and KPI.
If the teams remain tied after this process, the following tiebreakers are used:
1) Win percentage against all common conference opponents.
2) The team with the highest overall winning percentage, including both conference and non-conference games (excluding exempt games).
3) Random draw.
If multiple teams are tied for top spot in The American standings, and two teams emerge as superior after any step, those two teams shall contest The American Championship Game. A two-team tiebreaker will be applied to determine the home and road designation.
