Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Sept. 28, 2025, 4:52 p.m.
Overall Rationale: Week 6 notes: dramatic shake-ups in the 10-25 range. Methodology: FIRST layer (computer portion): SP+, opponents’ SP+, opponents’ opponents’ SP+, opponents’ win %, opponents’ opponents’ win %. SECOND layer (human portion): home/field/away, key injuries, P5/G5 status, watched game factors (ex: offensive/defensive line domination, rush yards after contact, average point of first contact, defensive penetration on non-inside screens, missed tackles, quarterback throwing release speed, overall turnovers, average starting field position, etc). THIRD layer (human portion): wins/losses vs higher-/lower-/non-ranked teams, recency of those results. FOURTH layer (computer portion): Deservedness = Team A cannot be ranked over Team B that has 2+ fewer losses (ex: 9-3 LSU can be ranked over 10-2 Missouri, but 9-3 LSU cannot be ranked over 11-1 Tulane even if LSU beat Tulane heads up, rankings have LSU over Tulane, and/or I think LSU is better than Tulane) unless Team B is giving a X loss allowance to Team A due to significantly fewer P4 games played. Loss allowances come into play when: P5 teams play 2 fewer P5 games than another P5 team (ex: 9-3 Arizona plays 10 P5 games, 11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P5 games, 10-8=2, 9-3 Arizona can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse); P5 teams play 6 fewer P5 games than a G5 team (11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P5 teams, 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P5 teams, 8-2=6, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse); G5 teams play 10 fewer P5 teams than a P5 team (ex: 9-3 Arizona plays 10 P5 games, 11-1 Liberty plays 0 P5 games, 10-0=0, 9-3 Arizona can be ranked over 11-1 Liberty); or G5 teams play 2 fewer P5 games than another G5 team (ex: 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P5 games, 11-1 Liberty plays 0 P5 games, 2-0=2, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Liberty). If the game differential exceeds more than 2/6/10/2 in those scenarios, add another loss allowance for each additional P5 game played difference in that scenario.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oregon Ducks
|
+0. Would be the #1 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #8 Iowa State/#9 Texas in the Rose Bowl |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
+0. Would be the #2 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #7 Ole Miss/#10 Michigan in the Orange Bowl |
| 3 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
+3. Would be the #3 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #6 Oklahoma/#11 Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl |
| 4 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
+0. Would be the #4 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #5 Indiana/#12 Tulane in the Cotton Bowl |
| 5 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
+0. Would be the #5 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #12 Tulane in the first round |
| 6 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
+1. Would be the #6 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #11 Texas A&M in the first round |
| 7 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
+4. Would be the #7 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #10 Michigan in the first round |
| 8 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
+4. Would be the #8 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #9 Texas in the first round |
| 9 |
Texas Longhorns
|
+7. Would be the #9 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #8 Iowa State in the first round |
| 10 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
+7. Would be the #10 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #7 Ole Miss in the first round |
| 11 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
-1. Would be the #11 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #6 Oklahoma in the first round |
| 12 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
+7 |
| 13 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
+0 |
| 14 |
LSU Tigers
|
-5 |
| 15 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
+5 |
| 16 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
NEW |
| 17 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
-9 |
| 18 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
-4 |
| 19 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-16 |
| 20 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
-5 |
| 21 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
NEW |
| 22 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
NEW |
| 23 |
Missouri Tigers
|
+0 |
| 24 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
+1 |
| 25 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
NEW. Tulane be the #12 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #5 Indiana in the first round |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.81 |
| 5 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
-0.05 |
| 8 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
0.06 |
| 9 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.38 |
| 10 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
1.78 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
-0.20 |
| 12 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.04 |
| 15 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
-0.26 |
| 16 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
1.61 |
| 17 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
-0.36 |
| 19 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-0.14 |
| 20 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
-0.05 |
| 21 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
1.59 |
| 22 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Missouri Tigers
|
-1.04 |
| 24 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
-0.07 |