Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Oct. 14, 2025, 9:41 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Allow me to restate why my ballot is the way that it is, and the changes upcoming as we move deeper into the season. And yes, I apologize for a lot of the repeated information as well. REMINDER: In my top 25, I'm including at least a few spots for the G5 schools as an indicator of who I think is favored to make a run at the Playoffs out of those conferences. ALL UNDEFEATED G5s WILL BE RANKED. I also do not mind including high week-to-week ranking variance, so you'll see a lot of that too, even deep into a year. In addition, this poll, by nature, is meant to be overreactive. I'm not here to try to be predictive - I want this to be strictly resume, even if that resume consists of a single game. I'm not here trying to justify every single one of my top 25 staying in the top 25 week-to-week; that's just lame. And it's not the point of what I want to accomplish when doing these rankings. Feel free to look at last week or earlier renditions if you need further insight, but essentially this is strictly-resume (hence there being several teams lower or even unranked compared to the AP or Coaches' Polls) with some boost given to G5 schools overperforming. In addition, I do my best to completely rebuild this poll from scratch as to minimize poll inertia and promote fluidity in my rankings as needed. NOTE: I am attempting to do something a little more comprehensive with my individual team reasonings. This may be reverted or altered in future weeks. | HONORABLE MENTIONS/NEXT 10 OUT: Notre Dame Fighting Irish [4-2], Washington Huskies [5-1, 2-1 B1G], Houston Cougars [5-1, 2-1 Big 12], Texas Longhorns [4-2, 1-1 SEC], Tulane Green Wave [5-1, 2-0 American], San Diego State Aztecs [5-1, 2-0 MWC], Louisville Cardinals [4-1, 1-1 ACC], James Madison Dukes [5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt], Illinois Fighting Illini [5-2, 2-2 B1G], North Texas Mean Green [5-1, 1-1 American] | DROPPING OUT: #14 Arizona State Sun Devils [4-2, 2-1 Big 12], #18 Michigan Wolverines [4-2, 2-1 B1G], #21 Iowa State Cyclones [5-2, 2-2 Big 12], #22 North Texas Mean Green [5-1, 1-1 American] || PRESEASON POLL: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/65801/ | WEEK 2: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/66202/ | WEEK 3: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/66437/ | WEEK 4: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/67064/ | WEEK 5: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/67721/ | WEEK 6: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/68281/ | WEEK 7/LAST WEEK: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/68792/
| Rank | Team | Reason | 
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Indiana Hoosiers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 B1G] (+1) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-14 vs Old Dominion [4-2], W 56-9 vs Kennesaw State [4-2], W 73-0 vs FCS Indiana State [2-4], W 63-10 vs Illinois [5-2], W 20-15 @ Iowa [4-2], W 30-20 @ #8 Oregon [5-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Michigan State [3-3] | 
| 2 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Ohio State Buckeyes
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 B1G] (+3) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 14-7 vs Texas [4-2], W 70-0 vs FCS Grambling State [3-3], W 37-9 vs Ohio [3-3], W 24-6 @ Washington [5-1], W 42-3 vs Minnesota [4-2], W 34-16 @ Illinois [5-2] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Wisconsin [2-4] | 
| 3 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Miami Hurricanes
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-0, 1-0 ACC] (-2) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-24 vs Notre Dame [4-2], W 45-3 vs FCS Bethune-Cookman [3-4], W 49-12 vs #19 South Florida [5-1], W 26-7 vs Florida [2-4], W 28-22 @ Florida State [3-3] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Louisville [4-1] | 
| 4 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Texas Tech Red Raiders
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 Big 12] (-) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 67-7 vs FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff [3-3], W 62-14 vs Kent State [2-4], W 45-14 vs Oregon State [0-7], W 34-10 @ #20 Utah [5-1], W 35-11 @ Houston [5-1], W 42-17 vs Kansas [4-3] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Arizona State [4-2] | 
| 5 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Texas A&M Aggies
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 SEC] (+2) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 42-24 vs UTSA [3-3], W 44-22 vs Utah State [3-3], W 41-40 @ Notre Dame [4-2], W 16-10 vs Auburn [3-3], W 31-9 vs Mississippi State [4-2], W 34-17 vs Florida [2-4] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Arkansas [2-4] | 
| 6 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Ole Miss Rebels
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 SEC] (-3) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 63-7 vs Georgia State [1-5], W 30-23 @ Kentucky [2-3], W 41-35 vs Arkansas [2-4], W 45-10 vs Tulane [5-1], W 24-19 vs #23 LSU [5-1], W 24-21 vs Washington State [3-3] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #11 Georgia [5-1] | 
| 7 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Alabama Crimson Tide
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 3-0 SEC] (+3) | RESULTS SO FAR: L 17-31 @ Florida State [3-3], W 73-0 vs Louisiana-Monroe [3-3], W 38-14 vs Wisconsin [2-4], W 24-21 @ #11 Georgia [5-1], W 30-14 vs #22 Vanderbilt [5-1], W 27-24 @ #13 Missouri [5-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #12 Tennessee [5-1] (Third Saturday in October) | 
| 8 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Oregon Ducks
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 B1G] (-) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 59-13 vs FCS #5 Montana State [5-2], W 69-3 vs Oklahoma State [1-5], W 34-14 @ Northwestern [4-2], W 41-7 vs Oregon State [0-7], W 30-24 (2OT) @ Penn State [3-3], L 20-30 vs #1 Indiana [6-0] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Rutgers [3-3] | 
| 9 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 ACC] (+6) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-20 @ Colorado [3-4], W 59-12 vs FCS Gardner-Webb [4-2], W 24-21 vs Clemson [3-3], W 45-24 vs Temple [3-3], W 30-29 (OT) @ Wake Forest [4-2], W 35-20 vs Virginia Tech [2-5] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Duke [4-2] | 
| 10 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        BYU Cougars
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 3-0 Big 12] (+7) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 69-0 vs FCS Portland State [0-6], W 27-3 vs Stanford [2-4], W 34-13 @ East Carolina [3-3], W 24-21 @ Colorado [3-4], W 38-24 vs West Virginia [2-4], W 33-27 @ Arizona [4-2] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #20 Utah [5-1] (Holy War) | 
| 11 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Georgia Bulldogs
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 3-1 SEC] (-) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-7 vs Marshall [3-3], W 28-6 vs FCS Austin Peay [#23, 4-3], W 44-41 (OT) @ #12 Tennessee [5-1], L 21-24 vs #7 Alabama [5-1], W 35-14 vs Kentucky [2-5], W 20-10 vs Auburn [3-3] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #6 Ole Miss [6-0] | 
| 12 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Tennessee Volunteers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 SEC] (+1) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-26 vs Syracuse [3-3] (in Atlanta), W 72-17 vs FCS East Tennessee State [3-4], L 41-44 vs #11 Georgia [5-1], W 56-24 vs UAB [2-4], W 41-34 (OT) @ Mississippi State [4-2], W 34-31 vs Arkansas [2-4] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #7 Alabama [5-1] (Third Saturday in October) | 
| 13 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Missouri Tigers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 SEC] (-4) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 61-6 vs FCS Central Arkansas [3-4], W 42-31 vs Kansas [4-3], W 52-10 vs Louisiana [2-4], W 29-20 vs South Carolina [3-3], W 42-6 vs UMass [0-6], L 24-27 vs #7 Alabama [5-1] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Auburn [3-3] | 
| 14 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Virginia Cavaliers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 3-0 ACC] (-2) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 48-7 vs Coastal Carolina [3-3], L 31-35 @ NC State [4-3], W 55-16 vs FCS William & Mary [3-3], W 48-20 vs Stanford [2-4], W 46-38 (2OT) vs Florida State [3-3], W 30-27 (OT) @ Louisville [4-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Washington State [3-3] | 
| 15 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Oklahoma Sooners
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 1-1 SEC] (-9) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 35-3 vs FCS #10 Illinois State [4-2], W 24-13 vs Michigan [4-2], W 42-3 @ Temple [3-3], W 24-17 vs Auburn [3-3], W 44-0 vs Kent State [2-4], L 6-23 vs Texas [4-2] (in Dallas) | THIS WEEK: Away @ South Carolina [3-3] | 
| 16 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Memphis Tigers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 2-0 American] (-) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-10 vs FCS Chattanooga [2-4], W 38-16 @ Georgia State [1-5], W 28-7 @ Troy [4-2], W 32-31 vs Arkansas [2-4], W 55-26 @ Florida Atlantic [3-3], W 45-7 vs Tulsa [2-4] | THIS WEEK: Away @ UAB [2-4] | 
| 17 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Nebraska Cornhuskers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 B1G] (+2) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 20-17 vs #18 Cincinnati (in Kansas City), W 68-0 vs Akron [2-5], W 59-7 vs FCS Houston Christian [2-4], L 27-30 vs Michigan [4-2], W 38-27 vs Michigan State [3-3], W 34-31 vs Maryland [4-2] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Minnesota [4-2] | 
| 18 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Cincinnati Bearcats
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 3-0 Big 12] (+2) | RESULTS SO FAR: L 17-20 vs #17 Nebraska (in Kansas City), W 34-20 vs Bowling Green [3-3], W 70-0 vs FCS Northwestern State [1-5], W 37-34 @ Kansas [4-3], W 38-30 vs Iowa State [5-2], W 20-11 vs UCF [3-3] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Oklahoma State [1-5] | 
| 19 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        USF Bulls
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-0 American] (+6) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 34-7 vs Boise State [4-2], W 18-16 vs Florida [2-4], L 12-49 vs #3 Miami [5-0], W 63-14 vs FCS South Carolina State [4-3], W 54-26 vs Charlotte [1-5], W 63-36 @ North Texas [5-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Florida Atlantic [3-3] | 
| 20 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Utah Utes
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 Big 12] (NEW) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 43-10 @ UCLA [2-4], W 63-9 vs FCS Cal Poly [3-4], W 31-6 @ Wyoming [3-3], L 10-34 vs #4 Texas Tech [6-0], W 48-14 @ West Virginia [2-4], W 42-10 vs Arizona State [4-2] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #10 BYU [6-0] (Holy War) | 
| 21 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        USC Trojans
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 B1G] (NEW) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 73-13 vs Missouri State [3-3], W 59-20 vs Georgia Southern [2-4], W 33-17 @ Purdue [2-4], W 45-31 vs Michigan State [3-3], L 32-34 @ Illinois [5-2], W 31-13 vs Michigan [4-2] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Notre Dame [4-2] | 
| 22 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Vanderbilt Commodores
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 3-0 SEC] (NEW) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-3 vs FCS Charleston Southern [1-6], W 44-20 @ Virginia Tech [2-5], W 31-7 @ South Carolina [3-3], W 70-21 vs Georgia State [1-5], W 55-35 vs Utah State [3-3], L 14-30 @ #7 Alabama [5-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #23 LSU [5-1] | 
| 23 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        LSU Tigers
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [5-1, 2-1 SEC] (NEW) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 17-10 @ Clemson [3-3], W 23-7 vs Louisiana Tech [4-2], W 20-10 vs Florida [2-4], W 56-10 vs FCS Southeastern Louisiana [4-2], L 19-24 @ #6 Ole Miss [6-0], W 20-10 vs South Carolina [3-3] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #22 Vanderbilt [5-1] | 
| 24 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        Navy Midshipmen
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 4-0 American] (-1) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 52-7 vs FCS VMI [1-5], W 38-24 vs UAB [2-4], W 42-23 @ Tulsa [2-4], W 21-13 vs Rice [3-4], W 34-31 vs Air Force [1-5], W 32-31 @ Temple [3-3] | THIS WEEK: On BYE; Next Game is October 25th vs Florida Atlantic [3-3] | 
| 25 | 
                                        
                                        
                                             
                                        
                                        UNLV Rebels
                                        
                                     | 
                                    [6-0, 2-0 MWC] (-1) | RESULTS SO FAR: W 38-31 vs FCS Idaho State [2-5], W 38-21 @ Sam Houston [0-6], W 30-23 vs UCLA [2-4], W 41-38 @ Miami (Ohio) [3-3], W 31-17 @ Wyoming [3-3], W 51-48 vs Air Force [1-5] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Boise State [4-2] | 
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness | 
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Indiana Hoosiers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.14 | 
| 2 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Ohio State Buckeyes
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 3 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Miami Hurricanes
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 4 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Texas Tech Red Raiders
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.14 | 
| 5 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Texas A&M Aggies
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 6 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Ole Miss Rebels
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 7 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Alabama Crimson Tide
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 8 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Oregon Ducks
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 9 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 10 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            BYU Cougars
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 11 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Georgia Bulldogs
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 12 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Tennessee Volunteers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 13 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Missouri Tigers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.24 | 
| 14 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Virginia Cavaliers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.52 | 
| 15 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Oklahoma Sooners
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 16 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Memphis Tigers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 17 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Nebraska Cornhuskers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        1.15 | 
| 18 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Cincinnati Bearcats
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.47 | 
| 19 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            USF Bulls
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 20 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Utah Utes
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 21 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            USC Trojans
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 22 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Vanderbilt Commodores
                                            
                                         | 
                                        -0.14 | 
| 23 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            LSU Tigers
                                            
                                         | 
                                        -1.57 | 
| 24 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            Navy Midshipmen
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 | 
| 25 | 
                                            
                                            
                                                 
                                            
                                            UNLV Rebels
                                            
                                         | 
                                        0.00 |