Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Nov. 2, 2025, 3:39 p.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 10 | T136= UTSA (+21) , T25= North Texas (+12) | Biggest Drop: T136= Troy (-27) , T25= Houston (-19) | New teams: Oklahoma, Texas, USC, San Diego State | Dropped from rankings: Georgia Tech (12), Cincinnati (16), Houston (20), Tulane (24) | Next 5: Washington, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Pitt, LSU | Worst Team Umass (-215.368) | | | | Playoff projections *Conference Autobid | | Rose: 1. Indiana* | Sugar: 4. BYU* | Cotton: 3. Texas A&M* | Orange: 2. Ohio State | 5 v 12: 13. North Texas* @ 5. Alabama | 6 v 11: 11. Vanderbilt @ 6. Ole Miss | 7 v 10: 10. Oregon @ 7. Texas Tech | 8 v 9: 9. Georgia @ 8. Louisville* | | | |
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
Indiana holds theirplace at #1. A great win @Oregon |2| and 3 tier 4 wins is a great resume. They are playoff bound as long as they finish 11-1, and maybe even at 10-2. |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
Easy schedule up until they get Michigan |3|. 2 tier 3 wins and another Tier 4 win are solid. |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
Best wins are Notre Dame |3|, and LSU |3|, and Florida |4| |
| 4 |
BYU Cougars
|
Best wins are Utah |2|, ECU |4|, and Arizona |4|. Very tough schedule ahead. If they finish out 2-2 or better they should be in the playoff. |
| 5 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
They have among the best wins of anyone, with Georgia |2|, Vanderbilt |2|, Missouri |3|, and Tennessee |4|. But the loss to Florida State |4| will cap their ceiling as long as undefeated teams remain. |
| 6 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
Best wins are LSU |3|, Oklahoma |3|, and Tulane |4|, with a loss to Georgia |2|. Should be playoff bound with a 2-1 finish. |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
Best wins are Utah |2|, and Houston |4|, with a loss to Arizona State |4|. Game this week against BYU |2| will be last challenge of the year. As long as they don't get blown out they should be playoff bound. |
| 8 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
Best wins are James Madison |3|, Pitt |3|, and Miami (FL) |3|, with a loss to Virginia |3|. SMU |4| is only quality team remaining, they'll likely need to finish 4-0 to make the playoff. |
| 9 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Best wins are Ole Miss |2|, Tennessee |4|, and Florida |4|, with a loss to Alabama |2|. They might be able to sneak into the playoff if they finish 2-2. |
| 10 |
Oregon Ducks
|
They've been slowly climbing since their loss to Indiana |1|, and finally make it back into the playoff picture. Up to now their only quality win is Montana State, but they have a very tough schedule to end the year with Iowa |4|, USC |3|, and Washington |3|. A 3-1 finish should land them in the playoff. |
| 11 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
Best wins are LSU |3| and Missouri |3|, with losses to Alabama |2| and Texas |3|. With a weak schedule ahead they'll need to finish 3-0 to make the playoff. |
| 12 |
Utah Utes
|
Best wins are Arizona State |4| and Cincinnati |4|, with losses to Texas Tech |2| and BYU |2|. They finish with a weak schedule, and will need to go 3-0 to have a shot at the playoffs, but they'll need some chaos to do so. |
| 13 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
Picks up a huge quality win over Navy |3|, which is their only quality win. They're currently in the lead for the G5 playoff spot, but will have to win the AAC to do so. |
| 14 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
Best wins are Notre Dame |3|, USF |3|, Florida |4|, and Florida State |4|, but losses to Louisville |2| and SMU |4|. They'll need to go 4-0 to make the playoff, especially since the ACC championship game is almost certainly out of the picture. |
| 15 |
James Madison Dukes
|
No quality wins to speak of, and Old Dominion |5| their only win above tier 6, and a loss to Louisville |2|. They'll need to win out and hope that the AAC champion has 2 losses to have a chance at the playoff. |
| 16 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
Best and only quality win is USC |3|, with losses to Miami (FL) |3| and Texas A&M |2|. They have two huge games coming up with Navy |3| and Pitt |3|, so if they finish 4-0 I see them in the playoff. |
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
Best and only quality win is Florida State |4|, with a loss to NC State |5|. They'll need to finish 3-0 to make the playoff. |
| 18 |
Memphis Tigers
|
Best and only quality win is USF |3|, with a loss to UAB |7|. All 3 of their remaining games are against good teams, but with the worst loss of any top 25 team, they'll need to win the AAC if they want in the playoff. |
| 19 |
Texas Longhorns
|
Best and only quality win is Oklahoma |3|, with losses to Ohio State |1| and Florida |4|. They have a tough schedule to end the year, and I think they are playoff bound with a 3-0 finish |
| 20 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
Best wins are Michigan |3| and Tennessee |4|, with losses to Texas |3| and Ole Miss |2|. Also a tough schedule to end the year, a 3-0 finish should land them in the playoff |
| 21 |
USC Trojans
|
Best wins are Michigan |3| and Nebraska |4|, with losses with Illinois |4| and Notre Dame |3|. Must finish 4-0 to have a shot at the playoff, but I think they are in if they do so. |
| 22 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
Best wins are Washington |3| and Nebraska |4|, with losses to Oklahoma |3| and USC |3|. Easy schedule until Ohio State |1|. They'll need to finish 3-0 to have a shot at the playoff, but the head to head losses to Oklahoma and USC may be their downfall |
| 23 |
USF Bulls
|
Best wins are North Texas |3| and Florida |4|, with losses to Miami (FL) |3| and Memphis |3|. Only path to playoff is winning the AAC |
| 24 |
San Diego State Aztecs
|
Cracks the top 25 for the first time all year. No quality wins to speak of, their best win being Fresno State |5| and Cal |6|. All other wins are Tier 7. A very weak schedule finishes off the year. Only path to playoff is winning the MWC and hoping for chaos in the AAC and a JMU loss. |
| 25 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
Undefeated season ends, but the schedule is tough to end the year, with all 3 opponents being Tier 3. They'll need to win the AAC to have a shot at the playoff. |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.28 |
| 5 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.02 |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.05 |
| 8 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.63 |
| 9 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-0.62 |
| 10 |
Oregon Ducks
|
-0.05 |
| 11 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
1.20 |
| 12 |
Utah Utes
|
0.21 |
| 13 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
2.68 |
| 14 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.24 |
| 15 |
James Madison Dukes
|
3.39 |
| 16 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-0.08 |
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
-0.38 |
| 18 |
Memphis Tigers
|
0.25 |
| 19 |
Texas Longhorns
|
-0.26 |
| 20 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
-0.71 |
| 21 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
USF Bulls
|
1.70 |
| 24 |
San Diego State Aztecs
|
0.10 |
| 25 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
1.98 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.66 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.17 |
Washington Huskies
|
0.32 |
Total Score: 15.95