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quantum_jedi Ballot for 2025 Week 9

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 20, 2025, 9:17 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Wins and losses are weighted by the difference in "rank" between the winner/loser and the median team. Scaled such that beating strong teams matters more than beating weak teams, and losing to bad teams is worse than losing to strong teams. Winning is weighted slightly more than losing, and by the preceding two years' performance. Results are scaled by offensive and defensive points per drive efficiencies, and strength of schedule determined by opponents score normalized throughout the season. Preseason rankings are weighted by returning production, talent composite, and previous season(s)' success. Next five out: Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Illinois, Tulane

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes (+0) Blanked a struggling Wisconsin. BYE week is next.
2 Texas A&M Aggies (+0) Woo pig that was closer than you would like. The Aggies got it done, but struggled to stop the Razorbacks' offense. We'll see if A&M can correct course with a challenging road game next week at LSU.
3 Alabama Crimson Tide (+1) Another week, another ranked win for Kalen DeBoer. Alabama is now 4-0 against ranked teams and 2-1 against unranked... Should the Tide be worried about traveling to unranked and struggling South Carolina next week?? The answer is no, but I'll be keeping an eye on this one just in case.
4 Georgia Bulldogs (+3) Terrific win for the Bulldogs over Ole Miss. This is definitely not the same Georgia defensive monster that we've come to expect, but the Dawgs are still loaded. BYE week is next.
5 Indiana Hoosiers (+0) All the Hoosiers do is win. Indiana is now 18-2 in the last two years and is pushing teams around... Interesting matchup next week with the resurgent Bruins traveling to Bloomington.
6 Ole Miss Rebels (-3) Tough loss on the road against a very good Georgia team. Another tricky road game is next when the Rebels travel to Oklahoma.
7 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+2) Comfortable win for Georgia Tech over the Blue Devils, who seem to just want to give their opponents points. This team just keeps winning and will look to move to 8-0 when Syracuse travels to Atlanta.
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6) An excellent win for the Irish over USC. Notre Dame's two early season losses are stilling looming, but the Irish are looking better every week. BYE week is next.
9 BYU Cougars (+3) Terrific win for the Cougars in the Holy War! A couple tough road games coming up will really test how good this BYU team is.
10 Oregon Ducks (+3) Great rebound for the Ducks by crushing Rutgers on the road. A lifeless Wisconsin comes to Eugene next week.
11 Arizona State Sun Devils (+6) Terrific win for the Sun Devils over Texas Tech! This team is really a different beast when Leavitt is healthy. The Big 12 may not have any elite teams, but it is so much fun to watch every week.
12 Miami Hurricanes (-6) The Hurricanes suffer their first loss of the year against a very good Louisville team. Miami's issue was being ranked #2 against a Jeff Brohm team... The U gets Stanford at home next.
13 Vanderbilt Commodores (+6) This Vandy team is so much fun. Fantastic win over LSU for the 'Dores. Another tough test with Mizzou coming to Nashville next week.
14 LSU Tigers (-6) Rough day for the Tigers. LSU is a good football team, but they didn't hire Brian Kelly to be merely good. You have to wonder how much longer this will last. Texas A&M travels to Baton Rouge next week for what feels like a must win for LSU.
15 USC Trojans (-5) Trojans crashed back to earth against Notre Dame. A tricky road game against Nebraska is next. We'll see how USC responds.
16 Texas Tech Red Raiders (-5) The Red Raiders suffer their first loss of the year at ASU. Oklahoma State travels to Lubbock next for a get-right game for Tech.
17 Oklahoma Sooners (+5) Smothered South Carolina. The Sooner defense is awesome and the offense is good enough. Big challenge next week for Oklahoma with Ole Miss coming to Norman.
18 USF Bulls (-3) Crushed FAU. The Bulls are terrific, but get a massive test next week against Memphis in a game that might decide the American.
19 SMU Mustangs (+6) Great win for the Mustangs over Clemson in Death Valley, who, despite their record, is still a talented team. Another road game next for SMU as they travel to Wake.
20 Missouri Tigers (+3) Oof that was ugly, but a win over Auburn is always good. The Tigers travel to Nashville for a huge game against Vanderbilt.
21 Texas Longhorns (+0) If you thought the Mizzou game was ugly... Holy crap... The Longhorns have serious issues and Arch is only one of them. The lines look a mess, which I don't think anyone expected given recent history. Texas travels to Starkville to play a Mississippi State team that is not going to be an easy out.
22 TCU Horned Frogs (+8) Really important win for TCU over Baylor this week to stay within reach of a Big 12 championship game spot. The Frogs travel to West Virginia next.
23 Michigan Wolverines (+8) Huge win for Michigan over a good Washington team. The defense was excellent and took a lot of pressure off the offense. The Wolverines travel to East Lansing and look to retain the Paul Bunyan trophy.
24 Louisville Cardinals (+10) Phenomenal win for the Cardinals over Miami. Jeff Brohm is now 4-0 against top 5 teams?! The next few weeks will determine how focused Louisville is as they should cruise.
25 Cincinnati Bearcats (+7) The Bearcats are quietly 6-1 with their only loss on the road by 3 to a good Nebraska team. Undefeated in Big 12 play, the last five games will really test the Bearcats.

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