Week 2 gave us the first real opportunity to move beyond preseason projection and let the games begin to shape the rankings.
The ATS ranking system is built to do more than look at wins and losses. It evaluates strength of schedule, quality of opponent, quality wins, damaging losses, head-to-head results, roster strength, recent performance, divisional strength and how a team’s level of play translates across the entire Downstate coverage area.
That matters because every league is different.
A dominant team in one division is not automatically stronger than a team playing a more difficult schedule somewhere else. A close loss to an elite opponent is not treated the same as a bad loss. And a team that consistently proves it can compete across classifications deserves credit for it.
The goal is simple:
Rank the best football teams in Downstate New York based on who they are, who they have played and what they have actually done.
This week, Iona Prep strengthened its position near the top with a convincing 38-18 win over CBA Syracuse. Monsignor Farrell continued its strong start, while Eagle Academy II delivered another major résumé win by going to Ohio and beating Archbishop Hoban 24-20.
Curtis also continues to rise after moving to 2-0, while Erasmus Hall remains highly regarded despite an 0-2 start because of the level of competition it has faced.
The model also makes sure losses carry consequences.
Archbishop Stepinac took a significant fall after a 62-24 loss to CBA Albany. The opponent was strong, but the margin and overall performance could not be ignored.
That is the balance built into the ATS system:
Who did you play?
How did you perform?
How strong is your roster?
How does your résumé compare?
And if you lined up against the teams around you, who would ATS expect to win?
We are also seeing new teams push into the conversation.
James Madison’s 28-0 win over New Dorp, Sheepshead Bay’s victory over South Shore and several early Long Island results have already started reshaping the middle and back end of the rankings.
There is still one major variable. Not every team has played the same number of games yet. That means the model still has to balance current results with roster evaluation and competitive level. Over the next few weeks, that will change quickly.
Once the PSAL, CHSFL, Section VIII and Section XI are all fully into league play, the rankings will have more head-to-head results, common opponents and strength-of-schedule data to work with.
That is when the picture gets even sharper. The rankings will move. The résumés will grow. And we will find out who is who.