Every week this season, Central Jersey Sports Radio will continue to publish the Big Central and New Jersey Power Rankings.
Simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula – which helps determine a team’s OSI, which is 60% of the UPR playoff formula – the rankings will change each week as games are played. See methodology at the bottom of this page.
The rankings use the official NJSIAA Strength Index values calculated by Gridiron New Jersey, which updates them on each team’s page on a weekly basis. Our rankings use the official SI calculations as of October 7, 2024.
With St. Thomas Aquinas losing in overtime at Paramus Catholic, the Trojans fall this week to No. 4, with Ridge taking over the top spot. Somerville’s blowout of Summit propelled the Pioneers to No. 2, with Phillipsburg right behind.
Big Central Conference Power Rankings after Week 4
Meanwhile, in the state Top 25, the lone team in last week’s rankings – St. Thomas Aquinas – dropped out, but three Big Central teams joined. Ridge ascended to No. 12, while Somerville surged to 19, and Phillipsburg rejoined at No. 25.
Statewide, the top four remain the same, with Winslow at No. 1, followed by Bergen Catholic, Toms River North and Millville.
New Jersey Power Rankings – Top 25 after Week 4
Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.
Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).
Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.
Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.
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