Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Oct. 25, 2025, 11:14 p.m.
Overall Rationale: Early season rankings are based largely on expected results versus other ranked teams, and as the season goes leans more heavily on results. By the end of the season, rankings are based entirely on resume. I lean heavily into head to head results and results against common opponents. I also sort teams into 6 tiers based on championship/playoff likelihood. Tier 1: Championship Frontrunners Tier 2: Championship Contenders Tier 3: Playoff teams that I don't think are championship teams Tier 4: Good teams with Chance at Playoffs Tier 5: Unlikely to make playoffs Tier 6: No shot at playoffs
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
Tier 1. |
| 2 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
Tier 2. |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
Tier 2. Slow start but big second half. TAMU seems like the real deal. |
| 4 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
Tier 2. Road conference wins are always tough. |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Tier 3. |
| 6 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
Tier 3. |
| 7 |
Oregon Ducks
|
Tier 3. |
| 8 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
Tier 3. I've seen enough. Welcome Yellow Jackets into Tier 3. |
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
Tier 4. Win next week will probably move them up a tier. |
| 10 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
Tier 4. Same as above. |
| 11 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
Tier 4. |
| 12 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
Tier 4. |
| 13 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
Tier 4. |
| 14 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
Tier 4. |
| 15 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
Tier 4. |
| 16 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
Tier 4. |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
Tier 4. Somehow they're still in this. |
| 18 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
Tier 4. |
| 19 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
Tier 4. |
| 20 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
Tier 4. |
| 21 |
Houston Cougars
|
Tier 4. |
| 22 |
Missouri Tigers
|
Tier 4. |
| 23 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
Tier 4. |
| 24 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
Tier 4. |
| 25 |
Washington Huskies
|
Tier 4. |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.30 |
| 7 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.59 |
| 12 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.19 |
| 13 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
-0.03 |
| 14 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.03 |
| 16 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
-0.63 |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.76 |
| 18 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 19 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
-0.18 |
| 21 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Washington Huskies
|
0.00 |