need to know

WIMfactor launched in 2022 providing analysis for FBS teams. In 2023 it returns with analysis for both FBS and FCS teams. Additionally, this year WIMfactor will provide a Top 30 ranking based exclusively on the data from games played this season. As WIMfactor analysis depends on data from games played, the WIMfactor analysis becomes available around week 5. But it gets more and more accurate as the season progresses and more data is available. Return often.

WIM stands for “What If Matchup.” A WIM provides data to help answer the question, “What if Team One were to play Team Two, who should we expect to win?” The WIM analyzes the games and opponents of each selected team to find common threads in the prior games that may help answer that question.

The different levels relate to how closely a matchup relates to an actual matchup between the two teams.

• Level One (Head-to-Head): These are matchups between the two selected teams—the two teams have played against each other.
• Level Two (Common Opponent): The selected teams have each played the same opponent. There are two games associated with this level: one game where each selected team played the common opponent.
• Level Three (Opponent Matchup): Opponents of the selected teams have played each other. There are three games associated with this level: a game between Team One and its opponent, between Team Two and its opponent, and the game when those opponents played each other.
• Level Four (Opponents' Common Matchup): Opponents of the selected teams have played a common opponent. There are four games associated with this level: the games between each selected team and an opponent (2 games), and the games between those opponents and an opponent common to both of them (2 games).

The overall matchup rating provides an indication of which team is favored in the given matchup, based on a neutral site, and the score represents the relative strength of the prediction—based on the WIMfactor analysis. The score is not a point spread for a matchup between the two selected teams. WIMfactor analyzes all available threads of linked opponents (for all four levels) and provides a resulting score for the matchup. The higher the number, the greater the chance of victory for that team.

The "advantage" is an indication of which team should have an advantage based solely on that thread of linked opponents.

There are two parts to our "ranks." First, the "no. 1" feature identifies our view of the best team in the country. Most important, the no. 1 feature explains the rationale for our determination, identifying the factors considered and how they contributed to the ultimate determination. It also identifies other teams in contention for the top spot with a brief explanation for their consideration.

Second, we provide a ranking of the top 30 teams based on the WIMfactor analysis. This analysis is not available until there is sufficient data from games played--usually after week 5.

Updates to both features are posted as appropriate but usually weekly.

In today’s game, a lot of focus is given to crowning the best team in the country––determining who is number 1. The traditional polls provide a ranking of top teams by aggregating the rankings of various voters. But the voters are not required to, and generally do not, provide justification for why they ranked teams as they did. And there have been clear instances of gamesmanship (at least clear to us) where a voter ranked a team significantly below that team’s realistic position resulting in a lower point total (and thus lower ranking) for that team. Such action affects the integrity of the polls.

Our no. 1 selection takes a page from the legal community, where opinions are supported with legal analysis, logical reasoning, and clear expression (ideally anyway). Rather than just stating who the number one team is, we explain how we arrived at our conclusion including our analysis and reasoning. We endeavor to be as clear as possible, but please call us out if you believe we have failed in that endeavor. And reasonable minds can differ. Please let us know if you think we got it wrong. You can send us comments at react@wimfactor.com. We will post selected comments on the Rants page (see questions related to Rants for more information).

This is where we highlight stories and happenings from both inside and outside the lines that move, inspire, and motivate us. While there are lots of amazing plays every weekend in college football, these stories (especially those outside the lines) are what we believe are the true highlights of the football season. We hope you enjoy.

We love all things college football and follow various news outlets related to such. When we become aware of a story worthy of a highlight, we write it up for the page. That said, if you know of a story you believe should be on the page, please let us know at hello@wimfactor.com. If we include the story, we will credit the first person who brought the story to our attention.

We recognize there are lots of differing viewpoints and opinions when it comes to college football. (There are lots just within WIM Factor.) If you believe we got something wrong, missed something important, failed in what we profess to do, or in any way annoyed you, let us know (but see question on how to get a Rant posted). We call these rants, and we publish our favorites to the rants page with credit to the Ranter. The views in rants are the views of others and do not reflect the views of WIMfactor.

Be smart—not mean. We love intelligent argument. If it is witty and clever, even better. We do not consider (and will stop reading) rants with profane, disrespectful, or derogatory language. We all can get emotional when it comes to our sports teams or opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable.

Currently, all content is free so everyone has an opportunity to experience the quality content that WIMfactor provides.

We update games and scores each weekend as games are completed. The "What If Matchups" feature analyzes games from the prior weekend starting on Tuesday of each week. Check in each Tuesday to see new matchups created over the weekend.

Week one of college football includes all games through September 5, which is the Monday of Labor Day weekend. The first games of the season, however, occur the prior weekend on Saturday, August 27. Most of the teams that play that first weekend, play again the next weekend, so by the end of week one they have played two games. To clearly distinguish when the respective games are played, we identify the games played during the first weekend as "Week 0."

Yes, please do! We strive to ensure our information is accurate, but we are not perfect. Plus we love to hear from visitors to our site. Please send any errors you identify to react@wimfactor.com. User-identified corrections will be acknowledged on the Rants page with identification of the first person to bring it to our attention.