SOR stands for Strength of Record. In college football it’s a single number that shows how strong a team’s win-loss record is, after adjusting for the quality of the opponents they’ve beaten and lost to. A higher SOR means a tougher schedule and better results against that schedule.
On Saturdays in the fall you’ll hear it when fans or analysts debate playoff spots. Someone might say, “Yeah, they’re 9-1, but their SOR is only 15 because they haven’t beaten anyone ranked.” Coaches also glance at it when they’re lobbying for a better bowl, and media folks drop it into tweets like “Team X jumps to 4th in SOR after upsetting #3.”
Meaning & Usage Examples
• ESPN’s SOR page lists it on a 0-to-100 scale; 90-plus is elite.
• Example tweet: “Alabama’s SOR of 94 is why they’re still top 4 despite two losses.”
• Example chat: “Our 7-3 record looks fine, but our SOR is 28 so we’re probably out of the CFP picture.”
Is SOR the same as the AP Poll?
No. The AP Poll is voted on by writers; SOR is a math formula created by ESPN that ignores human opinion and just looks at schedule strength plus results.
Does SOR decide the playoff?
It’s one of many tools the selection committee uses, not the only one. They also watch game film, consider injuries, and review head-to-head results.
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