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HieloLuz Ballot for 2025 Week 9

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Oct. 21, 2025, 1:15 a.m.

Overall Rationale: These rankings are a pure resume based points system. Teams are assigned a tier based on their rating (1-7). Points are gained for wins, subtracted for losses, based on the opponents tier. Small modifiers for game closeness (Win/Loss Bonuses/Penalties = WB, WP, LB, LP) and SOS based on Opponent's record. | If two teams are next to each other in the rankings, and have played head to head, the head to head winner will be ranked higher, regardless of points. | | | | Week 8 | Biggest Riser: Central Michigan (+26) | Biggest Drop: Western Kentucky (-33) | New teams: Louisville, Oklahoma, James Madison, Virginia, Missouri | Dropped from rankings: Memphis (8), Washington (18), UNLV (19), Tennessee (21), Nebraska (25) | Next 5: Houston, Michigan, Texas, Tulane, North Texas | Worst Team Eastern Michigan (-187.059) | | | | Playoff projections *Conference Autobid | | Rose: 1. Ohio State* | Sugar: 4. BYU* | Cotton: 3. Texas A&M* | Orange: 2. Indiana | 5 v 12: 14. USF* @ 5. Alabama | 6 v 11: 11. Georgia Tech @ 6. Miami (FL)* | 7 v 10: 10. Georgia @ 7. Texas Tech | 8 v 9: 9. Ole Miss @ 8. Louisville | | | |

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State and Indiana have a nearly identical resume at this point, the big difference is Ohio State has blown out everyone, while Indiana has a single close game against Iowa |4|. They are a clear 1 and 2, and the gap to 3 looks huge.
2 Indiana Hoosiers Indiana and Ohio State have a nearly identical resume at this point, the big difference is Ohio State has blown out everyone, while Indiana has a single close game against Iowa |4|. They are a clear 1 and 2, and the gap to 3 looks huge.
3 Texas A&M Aggies As long as Notre Dame |2| keeps winning they'll maintain a high quality win, but otherwise the schedule has been weak.
4 BYU Cougars They've been on a slow climb all season, only going up more than 5 spots outside of weeks 3->5. They got a great win over Utah to launch themselves into the top 4
5 Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama picks up another quality win over Tennessee |4|, making that 4 quality wins in a row.
6 Miami Hurricanes The loss only drops them one spot, but very few quality teams remain, so another loss hurts a lot.
7 Texas Tech Red Raiders 3 quality wins over Utah |3|, Houston, |3|, and Kansas |4| keep them near the top, but their non conference was among the worst, so they need the rest of the big 12 to perform.
8 Louisville Cardinals Louisville picks up a huge win over Miami |2|, and both their JMU |3| and Pitt |4| wins are looking better, while their loss to UVA |3| doesn't hurt them at this point. Huge jump from 28 to 8 this week.
9 Georgia Bulldogs Huge win over Ole Miss |2|, but that and Tennessee |4| remain their only quality wins.
10 Ole Miss Rebels Wins over LSU |3| and Tulane |3| continue to look good, but the loss to Georgia |2| send them down a few spots. Big game with Oklahoma |3| this week.
11 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets A rather weak schedule holds Tech at 11, but Duke |4| is a quality win that they need. Lowest ranked undefeated P4 team.
12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish USC |3| was a huge win, and puts them back in the playoff conversation so long as they keep winning.
13 Vanderbilt Commodores LSU |3| was a much needed win, and is their only quality win at this point.
14 USF Bulls Boise State |4| and Florida |4| wins are looking a bit better, and they'll need them to keep winning. Memphis's |4| loss reduces their ability to pick up quality wins down the road
15 Oregon Ducks Oregon completely lacks quality wins right now. But their last 4 opponents are all looking like tough games.
16 Navy Midshipmen The schedule has been weak, and multiple close games keep them as the lowest undefeated team. 4 tough games down the stretch.
17 Oklahoma Sooners Michigan |3| is their only quality win, but Texas |3| loss continues to look okay. Every game from here out will be tough.
18 USC Trojans The loss to Notre Dame |2| takes them back out of the playoff picture.
19 LSU Tigers Louisiana Tech |4| and Florida |4| are their only quality wins, but they have make or break games with TAMU |2| and Alabama |2| up next.
20 Illinois Fighting Illini Both losses are to the top 2 teams. USC |3| win is quality, but the whole schedule up to now and down the road is weak.
21 James Madison Dukes Finds themselves ranked for the first time this year. No quality wins, but Louisville loss is looking good. No opportunities for quality wins down the road probably leaves JMU out of the playoff picture outside a collapse in the AAC.
22 Cincinnati Bearcats This team is looking much better since the start of the year, and has a few big games down the stretch.
23 Utah Utes The loss to BYU |2| is their 2nd loss of the year, both to good teams, and the win over Arizona State |4| looks good for now.
24 Virginia Cavaliers Louisville |2| win is looking real good, but the loss to NC State |5| hurts. They'll have a few chances down the stretch for quality wins.
25 Missouri Tigers Still searching for a signature win, with KU |4| being their only quality win. Lots of close games, including this week against Auburn |5| leaves them lower, but multiple big games are up in the next couple.

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