A Retrospective Look at College Football in the Late BCS Era A Case Study in Sports Analytics, Sports Management, and Sports Economics

Abstract

This case study presents game-play statistics to explore their relationships between winning, conference affiliation, and styles of play. Statistics from games from 2005 to 2011 are compiled and explored using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Pearsons Correlations. Bowl Championship Series automatic-qualifiers serve as variables in this study. ANOVA analysis indicates that the style of play from 2005 to 2011 has changed as total offensive production and scoring have increased. This study also finds marked differences in game-play for the various conferences, and presents the statistics that carry the greatest correlation to winning in each of the conferences. This case study is intended for use in sports management and administration courses, where users must make determinations on the differences in play, and their impact on sports administrative decisions.