The Colley Matrix as an Extension of the Borda Count
Michael A. Jones
Associate Editor
Mathematical Reviews
American Mathematical Society
The Colley method was one of the six computer-based ranking methods used
to determine the top ten NCAA football teams to play in bowl games as part of
the Bowl Championship Series. The Colley method uses a matrix to rank order
the teams based on win-loss data; the method accounts for strength of schedule.
The Borda Count is a well-known voting procedure with a long history. By viewing
voters' preferences as win-loss data, the Colley method can be used to determine
the winner of an election. Surprisingly, the Colley ranking agrees with the ranking
from the Borda count.