2025 NEC FCS AQ Tiebreakers (heading into final week of play)
In a four-way tie between CCSU, Duquesne, Mercyhurst and Wagner, the composite records of all tied teams are compared.
Duquesne and Mercyhurst would finish 2-1 in the composite, while CCSU and Wagner would both be 1-2.
Duquesne and Mercyhurst are then removed from the composite. Mercyhurst is ineligible for the AQ during its NCAA reclassification, but Duquesne would earn the AQ regardless based on its head-to-head win over the Lakers. (Duquesne AQ)
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In a three-way tie between CCSU, Duquesne and Mercyhurst, Duquesne wins the composite at 2-0 against the other two teams and claims the AQ. (Duquesne AQ)
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In a three-way tie between CCSU, Mercyhurst and Wagner, Mercyhurst wins the composite at 2-0. Since Mercyhurst is ineligible for the NCAA AQ, the tiebreaker reverts to head-to-head between CCSU and Wagner. CCSU defeated Wagner and earns the AQ. (CCSU AQ)
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In a tie between CCSU and Mercyhurst, the AQ goes to CCSU, as Mercyhurst is ineligible during its NCAA reclassification. (CCSU AQ)
Tiebreaker Procedure:
The tiebreaker procedure will be used only to determine a league champion for purposes of a postseason opportunity.
Two-Way Tiebreaker
In the event of a two-way tie in the standings, the following tiebreaker system shall be used, in order, until the tie is broken:
1. Winning percentage of each team in head-to-head competition.
2. Winning percentage of each team vs. the first-place team, or their composite winning percentage against any teams tying for first place.
3. Winning percentage of each team vs. the second-place team, or their composite winning percentage against any teams tying for second place.
4. This process continues with winning percentage vs. the third-place team, fourth-place team, etc., as necessary, until the tie is broken and seeding is complete.
5. If a tie still exists after exhausting steps 1-4, the most recent USA Today’s Sagarin rating will be utilized to determine the Conference champion.
Three-Way (or more) Tiebreaker
In the event of a three-way tie (or a tie involving more than three teams) in the standings, the following tiebreaker system shall be used in the order listed.
1. The winning percentages of the teams involved in the tie vs. each other shall be compared. If one team’s winning percentage is superior to the others, that team shall be removed from the tie and seeded highest of the teams involved in the tie. If two teams subsequently remain, that tie shall be broken utilizing the two-way tiebreaker procedure.
2. If no single team has a superior winning percentage after the comparison described in No. 1, but multiple teams have the same superior percentage to the any other teams involved in the tie, those teams with the superior percentage will be compared using either the two-way or three-way tiebreakerprocedure. The team that has the advantage will be seeded highest of all teams involved in the original tie. The other team(s) (the loser(s) of the appropriate tiebreaker) will again be compared to the remaining teams in the tie, beginning with step No. 1 of the three-way tiebreaker.
3. If all winning percentages in the three-way (or more) tie vs. teams involved in the tie are the same, each team’s winning percentage vs. the first-place team or teams tying for first place shall be compared. If one team’s winning percentage is superior to the others, that team shall be removed from the tie and seeded highest of the teams involved in the tie. If two teams remain, that tie shall be broken utilizing the two-way tiebreaker procedure.
4. If all winning percentages in the three-way (or more) tie vs. teams involved in the tie are the same, each team’s winning percentage vs. the first-place team or teams tying for first place shall be compared. If multiple teams have a superior winning percentage to any other team in the original tie, those teams with the superior percentage will be compared using either the two-way or three-way tiebreaker procedure. The team that has the advantage will be seeded highest of all teams involved in the original tie. The other team(s) (the loser(s) of the appropriate tiebreaker) will again be compared to the remaining teams in the tie, beginning with step No. 1 of the two-way or three-way tiebreaker.
5. This process continues as necessary, comparing winning percentages of teams in the tie vs. the second-place team or their composite percentages vs. teams tying for second place, third place, etc., until all ties are broken and seeding is complete.
6. Fewest points allowed among tied teams in those head-to-head games.