Now that the regular season and conference championships are complete, the final NQS rankings are here, and we can start to analyze the full effects of the new formula. Overall, the revised formula did not alter the makeup of the postseason bracket very much, with the top 16 seeds remaining the same when using both formulas. The top 28 teams are also the same with either calculation, and there is only one change in teams qualifying to the top 36. Still, small shifts up and down the rankings under the new formula can change a team’s postseason seeding. Here’s a look at who came out ahead and who didn’t.
Winner: Nebraska
The most obvious winner of the new formula is Nebraska, who would have been ranked No. 37 using the previous NQS but instead was ranked No. 34 and qualified to NCAA regionals. The Cornhuskers’ consistency throughout the season was rewarded; their lowest score of 194.600 was higher than that of any team ranked lower than No. 31.
Loser: Boise State
If Nebraska made the regional field under the new formula, that unfortunately means another team was left out. That team was Boise State, who would’ve finished No. 36 using last year’s formula but instead was ranked No. 37.
Winner: Missouri
While the teams making up the top 16 seeds would remain the same under each formula, there is some shuffling in the order of the teams. Of the three teams that gained two spots in the top 16 using this year’s calculation, Missouri is the only one to move into the top 8, meaning it would be a top 2 seed at its regional. The Tigers would’ve been ranked No. 10 under the previous formula.
Loser: Utah
Utah had four sub-197 scores this season, and all of those would have been dropped from the previous NQS calculation, resulting in a No. 8 ranking. The new formula is not as forgiving and only drops the lowest score from the final calculation, so the Utes instead find themselves as the No. 12 seed.
Winner: Ohio State
Aside from Nebraska, Ohio State was the only other team to move up three spots in the rankings when using the new formula compared to the old one. While this didn’t result in a top 16 seeded position, it did mean that Ohio State will be the top non-seeded team in its regional.
Loser: Washington
Washington’s No. 35 ranking would’ve been four spots higher under the previous formula, so the Huskies are tied with Utah for the largest hypothetical ranking drop among teams in the top 36. While they still would’ve been in the first round of the postseason under the previous formula, they likely would’ve had a ranking advantage over their opponent in that play-in meet.
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Article by Jenna King
