2011 Gridiron Power Index (GPI) Debuts, Georgia Southern is No. 1

The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), the index ranking for the NCAA Division I FCS and a top indicator of at-large playoff selection debuts for the 2011-12 season with unbeaten Georgia Southern in the top spot.

The Southern Conference and Colonial Athletic Association have six teams each in the top 25; the Missouri Valley Football Conference has five; the Big Sky, Great West and Southland Conferences have two each; and the Big South and Ohio Valley Conferences plus the Patriot League have one each. (Games through 10/2/11)

As conference average rankings the Southern Conference has a sizable lead at #1 while the Great West and Missouri Valley Football Conferences plus the Colonial Athletic Association are bunched at #2-3-4 respectively.

Changes of note this year are including only the Coaches and Sports Network polls plus the replacement of the retired Sauceda ranking with the return of the Born ranking. The Final 2011 GPI will be released once all the college football games have been played, in January 2012.

10/3/2011 GPI Top 25
1. Ga Southern (1.29)
2. Northern Iowa (2.57)
3. Wofford (3.00)
4. N Dakota St (5.00)
5. Montana St (5.43)
6. James Madison (9.00)
7. New Hampshire (10.00)
8. Sam Houston St (10.71)
9. Maine (11.57)
10T. Furman (12.00)
10T. Appalachian St (12.00)
12. Indiana St (15.14)
13. Lehigh (15.86)
14. South Dakota (16.14)
15. McNeese St (18.14)
16. Southern Utah (20.71)
17. Delaware (21.29)
18. Chattanooga (21.43)
19. Montana (21.57)
20. Coastal Carolina (26.43)
21. Samford (27.29)
22. Youngstown St (27.43)
23. Towson (28.00)
24. Tennessee Tech (28.43)
25T. Richmond (28.57)
25T. S Illinois (28.57)

Full GPI Detail

Conference Ranking:
Rank, League, Total Average
1. Southern Conference (20.46)
2. Great West Conference (29.26)
3. Missouri Valley Football Conference (30.24)
4. Colonial Athletic Association (30.69)
5. Big Sky Conference (35.43)
6. Southland Conference (43.13)
7. Independents (52.54)
8. Ohio Valley Conference (52.62)
9. Patriot League (54.31)
10. Big South Conference (60.92)
11. Ivy League (62.95)
12. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (67.70)
13. Northeast Conference (70.91)
14. Pioneer Football League (77.24)
15. Southwestern Athletic Conference (81.97)

Conference Ranking Detail:
1. Southern Conference (20.46)
1. Ga Southern (1.29)
3. Wofford (3.00)
10T. Furman (12.00)
10T. Appalachian St (12.00)
18. Chattanooga (21.43)
21. Samford (27.29)
29T. Elon (28.86)
33T. The Citadel (30.00)
57. W Carolina (48.29)

2. Great West Conference (29.26)
14. South Dakota (16.14)
16. Southern Utah (20.71)
40. North Dakota (34.00)
41T. Cal Poly (35.14)
49. UC Davis (40.29)

3. Missouri Valley Football Conference (30.24)
2. Northern Iowa (2.57)
4. N Dakota St (5.00)
12. Indiana St (15.14)
22. Youngstown St (27.43)
25T. S Illinois (28.57)
45T. W Illinois (37.71)
54. Illinois St (46.00)
60T. S Dakota St (52.14)
67T. Missouri St (57.57)

4. Colonial Athletic Association (30.69)
6. James Madison (9.00)
7. New Hampshire (10.00)
9. Maine (11.57)
17. Delaware (21.29)
23. Towson (28.00)
25T. Richmond (28.57)
36. Old Dominion (32.71)
43. William & Mary (37.00)
48. Massachusetts (39.00)
67T. Rhode Island (57.57)
81. Villanova (62.86)

5. Big Sky Conference (35.43)
5. Montana St (5.43)
19. Montana (21.57)
26T. Portland St (28.71)
26T. E Washington (28.71)
29T. Weber St (28.86)
35. Northern Arizona (31.57)
39. Sacramento St (33.57)
65. Idaho St (56.43)
109. N Colorado (84.00)

6. Southland Conference (43.13)
8. Sam Houston St (10.71)
15. McNeese St (18.14)
38. Northwestern St (33.29)
47. Cent Arkansas (38.29)
56. SF Austin (47.86)
63T. Lamar (56.14)
86. SE Louisiana (67.71)
92. Nicholls St (72.86)

7. Independents (52.54)
37. South Alabama (32.86)
41T. Texas St (34.14)
89. UT San Antonio (69.71)
93. Georgia St (73.43)

8. Ohio Valley Conference (52.62)
24. Tennessee Tech (28.43)
32. Jacksonville St (29.86)
50. TN Martin (40.71)
60T. E Kentucky (52.14)
63T. Murray St (56.14)
79T. E Illinois (62.43)
82T. Austin Peay (64.00)
82T. SE Missouri St (64.00)
96. Tennessee St (75.86)

9. Patriot League (54.31)
13. Lehigh (15.86)
44. Holy Cross (37.43)
55. Bucknell (47.71)
79T. Georgetown (62.43)
84. Colgate (66.29)
88. Lafayette (69.57)
103. Fordham (80.86)

10. Big South Conference (60.92)
20. Coastal Carolina (26.43)
45T. Liberty (37.71)
62. Stony Brook (55.86)
70T. Presbyterian (57.86)
87. Gardner Webb (68.29)
114. Charleston So (87.86)
121. VMI (92.43)

11. Ivy League (62.95)
33T. Harvard (30.00)
53. Brown (45.57)
59. Yale (50.14)
69. Cornell (57.71)
91. Penn (72.43)
95. Dartmouth (74.43)
105. Princeton (81.86)
118. Columbia (91.43)

12. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (67.70)
31. Norfolk St (29.14)
51. S Carolina St (40.86)
52. Bethune-Cookman (44.14)
66. Hampton (57.43)
85. Florida A&M (66.71)
98. NC A&T (76.43)
100. Howard (78.71)
106. Morgan St (82.86)
108. NC Central (83.71)
119. Delaware St (92.14)
122. Savannah St (92.57)

13. Northeast Conference (70.91)
58. Duquesne (49.14)
70T. Albany (57.86)
72. Bryant (58.00)
78. Monmouth (61.29)
97. Central Conn (76.29)
99. Robert Morris (77.43)
101T. Sacred Heart (80.43)
111. Wagner (85.43)
120. St Francis PA (92.29)

14. Pioneer Football League (77.24)
73T. San Diego (58.14)
76. Jacksonville (59.71)
77. Drake (60.86)
90. Butler (71.43)
94. Dayton (73.71)
104. Davidson (81.57)
113. Morehead St (87.71)
115. Marist (88.57)
124. Campbell (93.43)
126Valparaiso97.29

15. Southwestern Athletic Conference (81.97)
73T. Alabama St (58.14)
75. Jackson St (58.57)
101T. Alabama A&M (80.43)
107. Ark Pine Bluff (83.29)
110. Prairie View (84.29)
112. Southern Univ (86.57)
116. TX Southern (89.14)
117. Grambling (89.43)
123. Alcorn St (93.00)
125. MS Valley St (96.86)