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MADBuc49 Ballot for 2025 Week 14

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Nov. 23, 2025, 5:36 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Week 14 notes: head-to-head still has major influence since most top teams are connected to each other. Methodology: FIRST layer (computer portion): SP+, opponents’ SP+, opponents’ opponents’ SP+, opponents’ win %, opponents’ opponents’ win %. SECOND layer (human portion): home/field/away, key injuries, P5/G5 status, watched game factors (ex: offensive/defensive line domination, rush yards after contact, average point of first contact, defensive penetration on non-inside screens, missed tackles, quarterback throwing release speed, overall turnovers, average starting field position, etc). THIRD layer (human portion): wins/losses vs higher-/lower-/non-ranked teams, recency of those results. FOURTH layer (computer portion): Deservedness = Team A cannot be ranked over Team B that has 2+ fewer losses (ex: 9-3 LSU can be ranked over 10-2 Missouri, but 9-3 LSU cannot be ranked over 11-1 Tulane even if LSU beat Tulane heads up, rankings have LSU over Tulane, and/or I think LSU is better than Tulane) unless Team B is giving a X loss allowance to Team A due to significantly fewer P4 games played. Loss allowances come into play when: P5 teams play 2 fewer P5 games than another P5 team (ex: 9-3 Arizona plays 10 P5 games, 11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P5 games, 10-8=2, 9-3 Arizona can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse); P5 teams play 6 fewer P5 games than a G5 team (11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P5 teams, 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P5 teams, 8-2=6, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse); G5 teams play 10 fewer P5 teams than a P5 team (ex: 9-3 Arizona plays 10 P5 games, 11-1 Liberty plays 0 P5 games, 10-0=0, 9-3 Arizona can be ranked over 11-1 Liberty); or G5 teams play 2 fewer P5 games than another G5 team (ex: 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P5 games, 11-1 Liberty plays 0 P5 games, 2-0=2, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Liberty). If the game differential exceeds more than 2/6/10/2 in those scenarios, add another loss allowance for each additional P5 game played difference in that scenario.

Rank Team Reason
1 Indiana Hoosiers +0. Would be the #1 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #8 BYU/#9 Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl
2 Ohio State Buckeyes +0. Would be the #2 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #7 Ole Miss/#10 BYU in the Orange Bowl
3 Texas A&M Aggies +0. Lowest-rated 0-loss team. Would be the #3 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #6 Texas Tech/#11 Virginia in the Sugar Bowl
4 Georgia Bulldogs +0. Would be the #4 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #5 Oregon/#12 Tulane in the Cotton Bowl
5 Oregon Ducks +0. Would be the #5 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #12 Tulane in the first round
6 Texas Tech Red Raiders +0. Would be the #6 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #11 Virginia in the first round
7 Ole Miss Rebels +0. Would be the #7 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #10 BYU in the first round. Head-to-head over Oklahoma
8 Oklahoma Sooners +0. Would be the #8 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #9 Alabama in the first round. Head-to-head over Alabama (I think the CFP Committee would switch #9 Alabama to #10 and #10 BYU to #9 to avoid this immediate rematch)
9 Alabama Crimson Tide +0. Would be the #9 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #8 Oklahoma in the first round. Head-to-head over Georgia negated by most losses between Alabama/Georgia/Oklahoma/Ole Miss foursome and then worst loss to FSU (I think the CFP Committee would switch #9 Alabama to #10 and #10 BYU to #9 to avoid this immediate rematch)
10 BYU Cougars +0. Would be the #10 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #7 Ole Miss in the first round. Head-to-head over BYU
11 Utah Utes +0
12 Virginia Cavaliers +0. Would be the #11 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #6 Texas Tech in the first round.
13 Miami Hurricanes +0. Head-to-head over Notre Dame
14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish +0
15 Vanderbilt Commodores +1
16 Michigan Wolverines +1
17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +1. Rise despite loss due to higher rating than Tulane
18 Tulane Green Wave +1. Would be the #12 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #5 Oregon in the first round
19 James Madison Dukes +2
20 USC Trojans -5. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (10 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 1 allowance)
21 Pittsburgh Panthers NEW. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (10 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 1 allowance)
22 Arizona State Sun Devils +2. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (10 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 1 allowance). Head-to-head over TCU
23 TCU Horned Frogs NEW. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (11 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 2 allowance). Head-to-head over SMU
24 Arizona Wildcats +1. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (10 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 1 allowance)
25 SMU Mustangs NEW. Deservedness allowance over North Texas (10 P4 games (P4) - 0 P4 games (G6) = 10 = 1 allowance). Next five: UNLV, San Diego State, USF (Deservedness over North Texas), ODU (Deservedness over North Texas), New Mexico (Deservedness over North Texas)

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