Today is another example of how screwy RPI is....
There was a very limited slate of softball games yesterday. The only one that I see that could have affected VT is Arkansas beating Auburn 4-1. The Hokies hold two wins over Auburn from February.
The RPI calculation weighs a team's winning percentage (25%), its opponents' winning percentage (50%), and its opponents' opponents' winning percentage (25%).
Auburn's adjusted RPI value fell from .61161 to .61119, a decrease of .00042.
Auburn's loss apparently caused VT RPI value to fall from .64066 to .64023, a decrease of .00043.
For some reason that I haven't figured out, Ole Miss' RPI increased from .63923 to .64047. I can't see where any of their opponents played, so it must be the opponents' opponents portion of the formula.
Regardless, Ole Miss jumped VT in the RPI rankings - Ole Miss is now 17 and the Hokies are 18. One day is not a big deal - winning will take care of everything. But dang is this confusing.
14 Replies
3mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
One would think if two teams played three games, one would go up and one would go down, but that was not the case
On April 1, VT's adjusted RPI was .64327, Strength of schedule was 85, RPI ranking was 17
On April 5, VT's adjusted RPI was .64066, Strength of schedule was 81, RPI ranking was 17 - thru Sunday's games
On April 6, VT's adjusted RPI was .64023, Strength of schedule was 82, RPI ranking is 18 - thru Monday's games
On April 1, Clemson's adjusted RPI was .63323, Strength of schedule was 15, RPI ranking was 21
On April 5, Clemson's adjusted RPI was .63235, Strength of schedule was 11, RPI ranking was 21- thru Sunday's games
On April 6, Clemson's adjusted RPI was .63170, Strength of schedule was 11, RPI ranking was 21 - thru Monday's games
(In response to this post by hokietony)
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2hhoop3
3mo
and inconsistencies an algorithm generates the more susceptible it's suitability as a credible tournament seeding metric it becomes. We have seen it in spades in previous years in basketball and the ultimately self fulfilling prophecies early season OOCs become. For a while, the ACC got a similar bump in hoops but, in more recent times only the P2 get those bumps. People can see it, just like the situation you pointed out above, however, nobody will challenge it.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
even with going say 12-3 the rest of the year because their SOS is worse this year.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
Troy are all worse than we could’ve known as well as us not having control over conference schedule (missing FSU & Stanford)
Binghamton too…they were supposed to be rolling thru their conference
That flu weekend in week 2 may come back to bite us
(In response to this post by hokietony)
3mo
...is bizarre....
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
RPI is stupid
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
That is also used by the NCAA for seeding purposes.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
Notice that the Top 6 teams are SEC schools.
The ACC doesn't show up until #12 (FSU) and #13 (VT)
(In response to this post by VTChip)
3mo
The SEC is undeniably the deepest conference of high quality teams BUT…it does NOT seem the ACC gets much credit for beating these teams. VT is 6-0 vs SEC. Clemson run ruled BOTH SC and UGA. Even NCSU waxed Mizzou 13-7…but because Mizzou wins a game out of 3 vs top 30 SEC schools even at .500 their RPI is way above NCSU’s (who has a winning record, slightly better than Mizzou). The RPI should stand for Repetitve Punishment of Institutions who cannot control that the teams they have to play due to conference and location can never add up to what the SEC schools have on their schedules.
It’s like it doesn’t matter that VT is 33-5; 6-0 vs SEC teams outscoring them 49-22. It matters more that Georgia has played MORE tough opponents and LOST…so they’re “better” than the team they lost to 18-6 combined…because they’ve played a “better schedule”
Analytics at necessary but they CANNOT be allowed to trump on the field results as has been happening
** Edited by hokiepro at 4/7/2026, 2:12:18 PM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
