Brief Description of the EMV rating system

Using a team's winning percentage and strength of schedule, along with the scoring average for all games that season, each team's Expected Margin of Victory (EMV) is calculated. This is the number of points a theoretical average team should beat (or lose to) that team. For example, in 1999, Florida State's EMV was -20.5. Meaning the average team should lose to Florida State by about 20 points. Meanwhile, Buffalo's EMV was 19.9.

Teams are judged by how they the perform against their opposition's EMV. When the Actual Margin of Victory exceeds the EMV, it is a positive result. Therefore, losing to Florida State by less than 20 would be a positive result, while a team would have to beat Buffalo by 20 or more for it to be considered a positive result. To reward teams for playing difficult schedules more weight is given to positive results versus good teams, and negative results versus poor teams.