Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Sept. 29, 2025, 2:04 p.m.
Overall Rationale: At this point in the season there will be less hard emphasis on Ranked Wins > P4 Wins > Wins. It will be more about eye test, strength of opponent, and how I feel the teams have stacked up so far. A close overtime loss against another strong opponent won't be viewed as negatively as earlier in the season. A scrape by win against a weaker opponent could lower my view of the team, too.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oregon Ducks
|
(+1) Were #2 and beat my #8/AP #3 Penn State on the road, while #1 had a bye week. Dante Moore looked cool as ice in the white out. Heisman Stocks added. |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
(-1) Had a bye week, passed by the ducks. |
| 3 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
(-) Broke the second longest home winning streak on the road, but over an unranked team, not impressive enough to jump up to #2. |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
(+1) Bye week, but teams above them and below them lost, so no one slipped past them and they bump up one. Likely to fall with Mateer out. |
| 5 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
(+4) Beat an undefeated team, teams above them lost |
| 6 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
(+6) 5-0, teams above them lost/bye. Big test next week @ Bama. |
| 7 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
(+3) Scraped another win out, teams above them lost / bye |
| 8 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
(+11) Had them lower because they kept just scraping by "bottom" SEC teams, but finally picked up a big ranked win against LSU. |
| 9 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
(+2) Bye week, teams above lost. |
| 10 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
(+3) Mainly, teams above them lost. Offense stuttered against Auburn. |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
(+9) Statement win @ #6/AP#5 UGA. Another test vs Vandy next week. |
| 12 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
(+5) Some losses above, managed to Iowa against Iowa somehow. |
| 13 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
(+9) Picked up another (my rankings) ranked win @ Miss St. I feel like they should've beat UGA, and should've lost to MSST. |
| 14 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
(-7) Upset loss! Will see if they can bounce back against MIA |
| 15 |
Missouri Tigers
|
(+1) Looked good, got a bye week then their first real test vs Bama |
| 16 |
LSU Tigers
|
(-12) Wins against Clemson and Florida don't look impressive anymore. Can't figure out how to run the ball, and that is limiting their passing too. |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
(+4) Bye week, movement mainly due to other losses |
| 18 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
(-12) Felt like they should've lost to Tennessee, then lose to Bama (whom everyone was down on) at home. |
| 19 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
They've played one real game, and had every single advantage (home white out, off a bye week, experienced team vs younger team, etc), and they lost. Team still looked pretty good, and it was a one score game. I expect them to stay ~10-16, even if they beat INDI, unless they beat OSU / teams above lose. |
| 20 |
BYU Cougars
|
(-2) Mainly movement around them. Stayed undefeated though. |
| 21 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
(-7) Felt like they should've beat Tennessee. |
| 22 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
(NR) Wasn't sure if they were going to collapse for the rest of the season after that indiana beatdown, but picked up a ranked win against USC. |
| 23 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
(NR) Nobody goes up 17-0, then allows an 0-17 comeback, and beats them twice! Defense coming up clutch here. Red Zone offense is a huge concern. |
| 24 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
(NR) Offense seems to have found its groove. Early losses were close game against top 10 teams at this point. |
| 25 |
Maryland Terrapins
|
(-) Sat on a bye. FELL OUT: USC, TCU, MICH |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.04 |
| 5 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
0.73 |
| 6 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.75 |
| 7 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
0.97 |
| 8 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
-0.46 |
| 9 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
-1.42 |
| 13 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.31 |
| 14 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
0.28 |
| 15 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 16 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 19 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
-0.12 |
| 20 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
1.59 |
| 22 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Maryland Terrapins
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.65 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.11 |
Memphis Tigers
|
0.03 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.08 |
Total Score: 7.53