These preseason rankings for the 2013 season are based on a regression model that considers team performance in previous years, turnovers and returning starters.
Since 2005, a higher ranked team in these preseason rankings have beaten a lower ranked team in 60.6% of bowl games that season. These rankings also predicted the winner of 70.5% of regular season games. The preseason rankings achieve this accuracy without knowledge of any regular season games during the season.