What Does It Take to Win A Conference Title: Tie Breakers & More

Twenty-one of the 32 conference that receive automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament wrapped up play last weekend, awarded regular season titles and are now gearing up for conference tournaments . Several other league races tightening up with one or two weeks remaining.

To see what it takes to claim a conference title, tournament No. 1 seed or even a league’s automatic berth in the event of a tie, VolleyMob has compiled a list of tie-breaker rules for eight major conferences.

ACC

Regular season wraps 11/25; No Tournament –

Where it Stands: Currently there is a three-way tie atop the standings between N.C. State, Louisville and Pittsburgh (all 13-3).

Head to head results: 

• Louisville: W 3-2 over Pittsburgh (10/27);
• N.C. State – W 3-1 over Pittsburgh (10/22);
• Pittsburgh – L 3-2 to Louisville (10/27); L 3-1 to N.C. State (10/22)

Upcoming key matchups: 

• N.C. State at Louisville (11/17)

The ACC does not have a tournament or break ties for conference champions – so the ACC can have co-champions or tri-champions or however many there are with the same record at the top of the standings. There are tie breaking procedures, however, to decide the ACC’s Automatic Qualifier to the NCAA Tournament:

From the rule book: The NCAA automatic qualifier will be determined by conference winning percentage during the regular season. If the institution with the highest winning percentage is not eligible for NCAA postseason competition, the institution with the next highest winning percentage, which is eligible for postseason competition, will earn automatic qualification and will be named Conference Champion. In the event of a tie, the following procedure will be used:

1. Head-to-head results between tied teams, even if there are an unequal number of matches played.
2. Head-to-head set results between tied teams.
3. Head-to-head point differential between tied teams.

If still tied,

4. Coin flip or blind draw if more than two teams are tied.

American Athletic Conference

Regular season wraps 11/25; No Tournament 

Where it Stands: Wichita State appears to have the title locked up at 16-0, but should they stumble, SMU (13-3) and Temple (12-4) are waiting in the wings. Each team has four matches remaining.

Head to head results: 

• Wichita State: W 3-1 at Temple (9/22); W 3-1 vs. SMU (10/13); W 3-0 vs. Temple (11/5);
• SMU: L 3-1 vs. Wichita State (9/22); L 3-1 at Temple (10/22); L 3-2 vs. Temple (11/9)
• Temple: L 3-1 vs. Wichita State (9/22); W 3-1 vs. SMU (10/22); W 3-2 at SMU (11/9)

Upcoming key matchups: 

• Wichita State at SMU (11/19)

The American does not have a tournament or break ties for conference champions. When determining the automatic berth for the NCAAs, the following tiebreakers apply:

From the rule book:

Two-team tie:

1. Results of head-to-head match record during the regular-season.
2. Results of head-to-head set record during the regular season.
3. Results of head-to-head point differential during the regular season
4. Each team’s record vs. the team occupying the highest position in the final regular-season standings (or in the case of a tie for the championship, the next highest position in the regular-season standings), continuing down through the standings until one team gains an advantage.
5. When arriving at another pair of tied teams while comparing records, use each team’s record against the collective tied teams as a group (prior to their own tie-breaking procedures), rather than the performance against the individual tied teams.
6. When comparing records against a single team or a group of teams, the higher winning percentage shall prevail, even if the number of sets played against the team or group are unequal (i.e., 2-0 is better than 3-1, but 2-0 is not better than 1-0).
7. Won-loss percentage of all Division I opponents.
8. Coin toss conducted by the Commissioner or designee.

3+ team tie:

1. Results of head-to-head match during the regular-season.
2. Results of head-to-head set record during the regular season.
3. Results of head-to-head point differential during the regular season
4. When comparing records against the tied teams, the team with the higher winning percentage shall prevail, even if the number of sets played against the team or group are unequal (i.e., 2-0 is better than 3-1, but 2-0 is not better than 1-0).
5. After the top team among the tied teams is determined, the second team is ranked by its record among the original tied teams, not the head-to-head record vs. the remaining team(s).
6. If the remaining teams are still tied, the tied teams then begin the tie-breaking procedure from the beginning.
7. If the remaining teams are still tied, the tied teams’ record shall be compared to the team occupying the highest position in the final regular-season standings, continuing down through the standings until one team gains an advantage.
8. When arriving at another pair of tied teams while comparing records, use each team’s record against the collective tied teams as a group (prior to their own tie-breaking procedures), rather than the performance against the individual tied teams.
9. When comparing records against a single team or group of teams, the higher winning percentage shall prevail, even if the number of sets played against the team or group are unequal (i.e., 2-0 is better than 3-1, but 2-0 is not better than 1-0).
10. Won-loss percentage of Division I opponents.
11. Coin toss conducted by Commissioner or designee.

Big 12

Regular season wraps 11/25; No Tournament 

Where it Stands: Texas is in the driver’s seat at 13-0 followed by Baylor (11-2) and Kansas (10-3). Each team has four matches remaining.

Head to Head: 

• Texas: W 3-0 vs. Baylor  (9/27); W 3-2 at Kansas (10/11);
• Baylor: L 3-0 at Texas (9/27); L 3-0 vs. Kansas (10/18); W 3-0 at Kansas (11/11)
• Kansas: L 3-2 vs. Texas (10/11); W 3-0 at Baylor (10/18); L 3-0 vs. Baylor (11/11)

Upcoming Key Matches: 

• Kansas at Texas (11/15)
• Texas at Baylor (11/25)

From the rule book:  If there is a tie between two or more teams for first place at the conclusion of regular-season conference matches, co- or multiple champions shall be declared. The Big 12 regular-season champion shall be the recipient of the automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. If there is a tie between two or more teams for first place at the conclusion of regular-season conference matches, the following tiebreaker shall be used to determine the conference’s automatic qualifier:
1. Head-to-head match record;
2. Total sets won divided by total sets played in Big 12 matches between/among
tied teams;
3. Total points won divided by total points lost in Big 12 matches between/among
tied teams;
4. Repeat above procedures using all conference matches if a tie remains;
5. Coin toss.

Big Ten

Regular season wraps 11/25; No Tournament

Where It Stands: Penn State and Nebraska sit atop the league tied at 15-1; Minnesota (13-3) and Michigan State (12-4) follow. Each has four matches remaining.

Head to Head:

• Penn State: L 3-0 vs. Nebraska (9/22); W 3-1 vs. Michigan State (10/13); W 3-1 at Michigan State (11/1);
• Nebraska: W 3-0 at Penn State (9/22); W 3-0 vs. Minnesota (9/29); W 3-1 vs. Michigan State (10/4); W 3-1 at Michigan State (10/27)
• Minnesota: L 3-0 vs. Michigan State (9/24); L 3-0 at Nebraska (9/29);
• Michigan State: W 3-0 at Minnesota (9/24); L 3-1 at Nebraska (10/4), L 3-1 at Penn State (10/13); L 3-1 vs. Nebraska (10/27); L 3-1 vs. Penn State (11/1)

Upcoming key matchups: 

• Penn State at Minnesota (11/25)

From the Rule Book: NCAA Championship Automatic Qualification Representative – The Conference champion shall be the Conference designee for automatic qualification into the NCAA championship. In the event of a tie, the Conference representative to automatically qualify for the NCAA championship shall be determined by:

1. Head-to-head Conference match results.
2. If still tied, percentage of games won or lost between (among) tied teams during Conference competition.
3. If still tied, game percentage in all Conference matches.
4. If still tied, point differential of head-to-head competition (between and/or among tied teams) as specified in the International Volleyball Federation System (i.e., requires that all points won in head-to-head competition be divided by all points lost).
5. If still tied, using the International Volleyball Federation System against all Conference teams.
6. If still tied, flip of coin.

Big East

Regular season wraps 11/18, conference tournament 11/24-25 (Top 4)

Where It Stands: Creighton (15-1) has clinched a share of the title with two matches remaining; Marquette follows at 14-3 with just one match left

Head to Head: 

• Creighton: L 3-0 at Marquette (10/5); W 3-0 vs. Marquette (11/4)
• Marquette: W 3-0 vs. Creighton (10/5); L 3-0 at Creighton (11/4)

Ties between two teams:

1. Head to head match record
2. Head to head set record
3. Head to head point total
4. Match record vs. highest finishing conference opponent
5. Match record vs 2nd highest finishing conference opponent (and so forth)
6. Coin toss

Ties of three teams or more:

1. Tied teams are viewed as a mini-conference. As soon as one team breaks the tie, the tiebreaking procedure starts over.
2. Best match record within the mini-conference
3. Best set record within the mini-conference
4. Best point percentage (total points scored divided by total points played) within the mini-conference
5. Match record vs. highest finishing conference opponent
6. Match record vs. 2nd highest finishing conference opponent (and so forth)
7. Coin toss

Conference USA
Regular season wrapped 11/11; Tournament 11/17-19 (Top 8)

Where It Stands: North Texas and Western Kentucky tied for the league title at 13-1. North Texas earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament due to tiebreakers.

Head to Head: 

• North Texas: W 3-2 vs. Western Kentucky (11/9)
• Western Kentucky: L 3-2 at North Texas (11/9)

From the Rule Book: Ties in winning percentage, and thus for seeding positions shall be broken according to the following formula (in order):

1. Overall Conference win/loss percentage of all Conference matches;
2. Head to head match record between tied teams;
3. Compare records vs. teams with highest winning percentage in Conference play in descending order until tie is broken.  When arriving at a set of tied teams (i.e., winning percentage) while comparing records, use each team’s record vs. the collective tied teams as a group (prior to that group’s own tiebreaking process);
4. Most recent RPI.

For multiple team ties, the first team to win the above tie-breaker will be seeded and separated from the tied teams.  Once this happens, the remaining teams will start the process again at step 1.  This process will continue until all ties have been resolved.

Missouri Valley

Regular season wraps 11/18; Tournament 11/23-25 (Top 6)

Where it Stands: Missouri State claimed the outright conference title on Nov. 11 with a sweep of Drake, moving to 16-0 with two matches remaining. Northern Iowa is next at 14-3.

Head to Head: 

• Missouri State: W 3-1 at UNI (10/14); W 3-0 vs. UNI (11/11)
• Northern Iowa: L 3-1 vs. Missouri State; L 3-0 at Missouri State (11/11)

From the Rule Book: In the event of a tie, the following tie-breaking procedures shall be implemented:
a. Winner of head-to-head competition (two-way tie) or comparison of composite head-to-head records among tied teams (3 or more tied);
b. Power rating using conference matches:

c. Games winning percentage among tied teams;
d. Games winning percentage for all conference matches; and
e. The most recently available RPI ranking.

SEC

Regular season wraps 11/25, No Tournament

Where it Stands: It is a two-team race. Florida (14-1) boasts a half game lead of Kentucky (13-1), simply by virtue of playing an extra match so far. The Gators have three matches left, while Kentucky has four.

Head to Head: 

• Florida: L 3-1 vs. Kentucky (10/15); W 3-0 at Kentucky (11/1)
• Kentucky: W 3-1 at Florida (10/15); L 3-0 vs. Florida

Key Matches Remaining: 

• Kentucky vs. Georgia (11/17)
• Kentucky at Georgia (11/24)
• Florida at Missouri (11/25)

From the Rule Book: Conference Champion –  The team with the highest percentage of wins during regular-season Conference competition will be declared the Conference champion. If two or more teams are tied with the highest percentage of wins, they will be declared Conference co-champions.

Two-Team Tie. In the event of a percentage tie between two teams for the Conference championship, the following criteria will be used in the following order to determine which team shall represent the Conference as its automatic qualifier in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship:

1. Head-to-Head competition in Conference matches;
2. Number of games won between the two teams;
3. Highest number of points scored between the two teams;
4. Number of Conference games won;
5. Number of points scored in Conference matches; and
6. Coin toss conducted by Conference staff liaison.

Three or More Team Tie. In the event of a percentage tie between three or more teams for the Conference championship, the following criteria will be used in the following order to determine which team shall represent the Conference as its automatic qualifier in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship (once the tie has been reduced to two teams, the two-team tie breaker procedure will be used):

1. Number of games won between all the tied teams;
2. Number of points scored between all the tied teams;
3. Number of games won in all Conference matches;
4. Number of points scored in all Conference matches; and
5. Coin toss conducted by Conference staff liaison.