diff --git a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
index 08696cd..c3b5514 100644
--- a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/[roundId]/page.tsx
@@ -1434,7 +1434,10 @@ export default function RoundDetailPage() {
 
         {/* ═══════════ PROJECTS TAB ═══════════ */}
         <TabsContent value="projects" className="space-y-4">
-          <ProjectStatesTable competitionId={competitionId} roundId={roundId} />
+          <ProjectStatesTable competitionId={competitionId} roundId={roundId} onAssignProjects={() => {
+            setActiveTab('assignments')
+            setTimeout(() => setPreviewSheetOpen(true), 100)
+          }} />
         </TabsContent>
 
         {/* ═══════════ FILTERING TAB ═══════════ */}
@@ -1797,7 +1800,7 @@ export default function RoundDetailPage() {
               </CardHeader>
               <CardContent className="space-y-6">
                 <COIReviewSection roundId={roundId} />
-                <RoundUnassignedQueue roundId={roundId} requiredReviews={(config.requiredReviewsPerProject as number) || 3} />
+                <RoundUnassignedQueue roundId={roundId} requiredReviews={(config.requiredReviewsPerProject as number) || 3} onAssignUnassigned={() => setPreviewSheetOpen(true)} />
               </CardContent>
             </Card>
 
@@ -2157,50 +2160,103 @@ export default function RoundDetailPage() {
 
               <div className="border-t mt-2 pt-4 px-4 pb-2 bg-[#053d57]/[0.03] rounded-b-lg -mx-6 -mb-6 p-6">
                 <Label className="text-sm font-medium">Advancement Targets</Label>
-                {isEvaluation && !(config.startupAdvanceCount as number) && !(config.conceptAdvanceCount as number) && (
-                  <div className="mt-2 mb-1 rounded-md border border-amber-200 bg-amber-50 px-3 py-2">
-                    <p className="text-xs text-amber-700">Advancement targets not configured — all passed projects will be eligible to advance.</p>
-                  </div>
-                )}
                 <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mb-3">
-                  Target number of projects per category to advance from this round
+                  How to determine which projects advance from this round
                 </p>
-                <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                  <div className="space-y-1.5">
-                    <Label htmlFor="startup-advance-count" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                      Startup Projects
-                    </Label>
-                    <Input
-                      id="startup-advance-count"
-                      type="number"
-                      min={0}
-                      className="h-9"
-                      placeholder="No limit"
-                      value={(config.startupAdvanceCount as number) ?? ''}
-                      onChange={(e) => {
-                        const val = e.target.value ? parseInt(e.target.value, 10) : undefined
-                        handleConfigChange({ ...config, startupAdvanceCount: val })
-                      }}
-                    />
-                  </div>
-                  <div className="space-y-1.5">
-                    <Label htmlFor="concept-advance-count" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                      Concept Projects
-                    </Label>
-                    <Input
-                      id="concept-advance-count"
-                      type="number"
-                      min={0}
-                      className="h-9"
-                      placeholder="No limit"
-                      value={(config.conceptAdvanceCount as number) ?? ''}
-                      onChange={(e) => {
-                        const val = e.target.value ? parseInt(e.target.value, 10) : undefined
-                        handleConfigChange({ ...config, conceptAdvanceCount: val })
-                      }}
-                    />
-                  </div>
+
+                {/* Mode toggle */}
+                <div className="flex gap-2 mb-4">
+                  <Button
+                    type="button"
+                    size="sm"
+                    variant={(config.advanceMode as string) === 'threshold' ? 'outline' : 'default'}
+                    className="h-8 text-xs"
+                    onClick={() => handleConfigChange({ ...config, advanceMode: 'count' })}
+                  >
+                    Fixed Count
+                  </Button>
+                  <Button
+                    type="button"
+                    size="sm"
+                    variant={(config.advanceMode as string) === 'threshold' ? 'default' : 'outline'}
+                    className="h-8 text-xs"
+                    onClick={() => handleConfigChange({ ...config, advanceMode: 'threshold' })}
+                  >
+                    Score Threshold
+                  </Button>
                 </div>
+
+                {(config.advanceMode as string) === 'threshold' ? (
+                  <div className="space-y-2">
+                    <Label htmlFor="advance-threshold" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      Minimum Average Score to Advance
+                    </Label>
+                    <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      All projects scoring at or above this threshold will advance (both categories)
+                    </p>
+                    <Input
+                      id="advance-threshold"
+                      type="number"
+                      min={0}
+                      max={10}
+                      step={0.1}
+                      className="h-9 w-32"
+                      placeholder="e.g. 6.5"
+                      value={(config.advanceScoreThreshold as number) ?? ''}
+                      onChange={(e) => {
+                        const val = e.target.value ? parseFloat(e.target.value) : undefined
+                        handleConfigChange({ ...config, advanceScoreThreshold: val })
+                      }}
+                    />
+                  </div>
+                ) : (
+                  <>
+                    {isEvaluation && !(config.startupAdvanceCount as number) && !(config.conceptAdvanceCount as number) && (
+                      <div className="mb-2 rounded-md border border-amber-200 bg-amber-50 px-3 py-2">
+                        <p className="text-xs text-amber-700">Advancement targets not configured — all passed projects will be eligible to advance.</p>
+                      </div>
+                    )}
+                    <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mb-2">
+                      Target number of projects per category to advance
+                    </p>
+                    <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
+                      <div className="space-y-1.5">
+                        <Label htmlFor="startup-advance-count" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                          Startup Projects
+                        </Label>
+                        <Input
+                          id="startup-advance-count"
+                          type="number"
+                          min={0}
+                          className="h-9"
+                          placeholder="No limit"
+                          value={(config.startupAdvanceCount as number) ?? ''}
+                          onChange={(e) => {
+                            const val = e.target.value ? parseInt(e.target.value, 10) : undefined
+                            handleConfigChange({ ...config, startupAdvanceCount: val })
+                          }}
+                        />
+                      </div>
+                      <div className="space-y-1.5">
+                        <Label htmlFor="concept-advance-count" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                          Concept Projects
+                        </Label>
+                        <Input
+                          id="concept-advance-count"
+                          type="number"
+                          min={0}
+                          className="h-9"
+                          placeholder="No limit"
+                          value={(config.conceptAdvanceCount as number) ?? ''}
+                          onChange={(e) => {
+                            const val = e.target.value ? parseInt(e.target.value, 10) : undefined
+                            handleConfigChange({ ...config, conceptAdvanceCount: val })
+                          }}
+                        />
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                  </>
+                )}
               </div>
             </CardContent>
           </Card>
diff --git a/src/components/admin/assignment/round-unassigned-queue.tsx b/src/components/admin/assignment/round-unassigned-queue.tsx
index ec3e39b..36d0134 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/assignment/round-unassigned-queue.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/assignment/round-unassigned-queue.tsx
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 'use client'
 
+import { Users } from 'lucide-react'
 import { trpc } from '@/lib/trpc/client'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 
 export type RoundUnassignedQueueProps = {
   roundId: string
   requiredReviews?: number
+  onAssignUnassigned?: () => void
 }
 
-export function RoundUnassignedQueue({ roundId, requiredReviews = 3 }: RoundUnassignedQueueProps) {
+export function RoundUnassignedQueue({ roundId, requiredReviews = 3, onAssignUnassigned }: RoundUnassignedQueueProps) {
   const { data: unassigned, isLoading } = trpc.roundAssignment.unassignedQueue.useQuery(
     { roundId, requiredReviews },
     { refetchInterval: 15_000 },
@@ -18,9 +21,17 @@ export function RoundUnassignedQueue({ roundId, requiredReviews = 3 }: RoundUnas
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-3">
-      <div>
-        <p className="text-sm font-medium">Unassigned Projects</p>
-        <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Projects with fewer than {requiredReviews} jury assignments</p>
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+        <div>
+          <p className="text-sm font-medium">Unassigned Projects</p>
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Projects with fewer than {requiredReviews} jury assignments</p>
+        </div>
+        {unassigned && unassigned.length > 0 && onAssignUnassigned && (
+          <Button size="sm" variant="outline" onClick={onAssignUnassigned}>
+            <Users className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+            Assign to Jurors
+          </Button>
+        )}
       </div>
       <div>
         {isLoading ? (
diff --git a/src/components/admin/round/project-states-table.tsx b/src/components/admin/round/project-states-table.tsx
index d450357..48a8e6c 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/round/project-states-table.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/round/project-states-table.tsx
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ import {
   Search,
   ExternalLink,
   Sparkles,
+  Users,
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import Link from 'next/link'
 import type { Route } from 'next'
@@ -78,9 +79,10 @@ const stateConfig: Record<ProjectState, { label: string; color: string; icon: Re
 type ProjectStatesTableProps = {
   competitionId: string
   roundId: string
+  onAssignProjects?: (projectIds: string[]) => void
 }
 
-export function ProjectStatesTable({ competitionId, roundId }: ProjectStatesTableProps) {
+export function ProjectStatesTable({ competitionId, roundId, onAssignProjects }: ProjectStatesTableProps) {
   const [selectedIds, setSelectedIds] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set())
   const [stateFilter, setStateFilter] = useState<string>('ALL')
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('')
@@ -321,6 +323,16 @@ export function ProjectStatesTable({ competitionId, roundId }: ProjectStatesTabl
               <ArrowRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
               Change State
             </Button>
+            {onAssignProjects && (
+              <Button
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={() => onAssignProjects(Array.from(selectedIds))}
+              >
+                <Users className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                Assign to Jurors
+              </Button>
+            )}
             <Button
               variant="outline"
               size="sm"
diff --git a/src/server/routers/ranking.ts b/src/server/routers/ranking.ts
index 520697c..9fa57e1 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/ranking.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/ranking.ts
@@ -408,18 +408,15 @@ export const rankingRouter = router({
   roundEvaluationScores: adminProcedure
     .input(z.object({ roundId: z.string() }))
     .query(async ({ ctx, input }) => {
-      // Fetch the round config to find the boolean criterion ID (legacy fallback)
-      const round = await ctx.prisma.round.findUniqueOrThrow({
-        where: { id: input.roundId },
-        select: { configJson: true },
+      // Find the boolean criterion ID from the EvaluationForm (not round configJson)
+      const evalForm = await ctx.prisma.evaluationForm.findFirst({
+        where: { roundId: input.roundId, isActive: true },
+        select: { criteriaJson: true },
       })
-      const roundConfig = round.configJson as Record<string, unknown> | null
-      const criteria = (roundConfig?.criteria ?? roundConfig?.evaluationCriteria ?? []) as Array<{
-        id: string
-        label: string
-        type?: string
-      }>
-      const boolCriterionId = criteria.find(
+      const formCriteria = (evalForm?.criteriaJson as Array<{
+        id: string; label: string; type?: string
+      }> | null) ?? []
+      const boolCriterionId = formCriteria.find(
         (c) => c.type === 'boolean' && c.label?.toLowerCase().includes('move to the next stage'),
       )?.id ?? null
 
diff --git a/src/server/services/ai-ranking.ts b/src/server/services/ai-ranking.ts
index 90b5a3e..55c02ca 100644
--- a/src/server/services/ai-ranking.ts
+++ b/src/server/services/ai-ranking.ts
@@ -247,17 +247,11 @@ function anonymizeProjectsForRanking(
 }
 
 /**
- * Find the boolean criterion ID for "Move to the Next Stage?" from round config.
- * Returns null if no such criterion exists.
+ * Find the boolean criterion ID for "Move to the Next Stage?" from criteria definitions.
+ * Accepts criteria from EvaluationForm.criteriaJson (preferred) or round configJson (legacy).
  */
-function findBooleanCriterionId(roundConfig: Record<string, unknown> | null): string | null {
-  if (!roundConfig) return null
-  const criteria = (roundConfig.criteria ?? roundConfig.evaluationCriteria ?? []) as Array<{
-    id: string
-    label: string
-    type?: string
-  }>
-  const boolCriterion = criteria.find(
+function findBooleanCriterionId(criterionDefs: Array<{ id: string; label: string; type?: string }>): string | null {
+  const boolCriterion = criterionDefs.find(
     (c) => c.type === 'boolean' && c.label?.toLowerCase().includes('move to the next stage'),
   )
   return boolCriterion?.id ?? null
@@ -593,7 +587,6 @@ export async function fetchAndRankCategory(
   ])
 
   const roundConfig = round.configJson as Record<string, unknown> | null
-  const boolCriterionId = findBooleanCriterionId(roundConfig)
 
   // Parse evaluation config for criteria weights
   const evalConfig = roundConfig as EvaluationConfig | null
@@ -603,6 +596,7 @@ export async function fetchAndRankCategory(
   const criterionDefs: CriterionDef[] = evalForm?.criteriaJson
     ? (evalForm.criteriaJson as unknown as CriterionDef[])
     : []
+  const boolCriterionId = findBooleanCriterionId(criterionDefs)
   const numericCriterionIds = new Set(
     criterionDefs.filter((d) => !d.type || d.type === 'numeric').map((d) => d.id),
   )
diff --git a/src/types/competition-configs.ts b/src/types/competition-configs.ts
index 63db249..eeec17f 100644
--- a/src/types/competition-configs.ts
+++ b/src/types/competition-configs.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import type { RoundType, AwardEligibilityMode, AwardScoringMode, AwardStatus } f
 const generalSettingsFields = {
   startupAdvanceCount: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
   conceptAdvanceCount: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
+  advanceMode: z.enum(['count', 'threshold']).default('count'),
+  advanceScoreThreshold: z.number().min(0).max(10).optional(),
   notifyOnEntry: z.boolean().default(false),
   notifyOnAdvance: z.boolean().default(false),
 }