I really hate to go any further down a Cheetahs rabbit hole, but you've made a great point.

One thing I've liked about Alliance is their leaderboards. They at least try to create an RPI-like rating system. (I'm not aware of anything similar with PGF, but would like to be educated if I'm wrong.)

Here is the Alliance methodology: "The Alliance Rating System represents your team’s current rating, similar to RPI in college softball. Teams exchange rating points based on the outcome of games. A team that performs better than expected gains rating points. A team that performs worse than expected loses rating points. Teams are incentivized to play stronger opponents. Stronger teams must consistently beat weaker teams to maintain or improve their rating. Weaker teams can improve their rating by playing stronger teams, even without winning many games."

For 2026 (fall 2025 through summer 2026), Cheetahs MC is 14th nationally in the Super (higher) division. In 2025, they were 28th nationally. This is 18U.

Unfortunately, neither Bandits nor Chill play Alliance, so you can't compare them there.

Without doing a forensic analysis, it doesn't look like there are any "one state" teams ahead of Cheetahs MC so far in 2026. Other Midwest teams appearing are IN Gators Meyer (6th), IMG Moore (8th), and IMG Green (10th).

The Alliance ranking system would seem to address your point about them playing mediocre teams as the rating system would take that into account (and "punish" them if that was the case?

But I'd agree with your point that their method is likely a short-term path. The org doesn't have the ability to reload when they age out.

I really wish there was a combined PGF/Alliance rating system... GameChanger would have the ability to do this right away!