Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Nov. 25, 2025, 10:19 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Allow me to restate why my ballot is the way that it is. And yes, I apologize for a lot of the repeated information as well. REMINDER: In my top 25, I'm including at least a few spots for the G5 schools as an indicator of who I think is favored to make a run at the Playoffs out of those conferences. I also do not mind including high week-to-week ranking variance, so you'll see a lot of that too, even deep into a year. In addition, this poll, by nature, is meant to be overreactive. I'm not here to try to be predictive - I want this to be strictly resume, even if that resume consists of a single game. I'm not here trying to justify every single one of my top 25 staying in the top 25 week-to-week; that's just lame. And it's not the point of what I want to accomplish when doing these rankings. Feel free to look at last week or earlier renditions if you need further insight, but essentially this is strictly-resume (hence there being several teams lower or even unranked compared to the AP or Coaches' Polls) with some boost given to G5 schools overperforming. In addition, I do my best to completely rebuild this poll from scratch as to minimize poll inertia and promote fluidity in my rankings as needed. NOTE: I am attempting to do something a little more comprehensive with my individual team reasonings by adding both current records on a team's schedule and then said team's ESPN-based SOR. This may be reverted or altered in future weeks. FCS team ranks are their placements in the weekly STATS Poll. | HONORABLE MENTIONS/NEXT 10 OUT: Arizona Wildcats [8-3, 5-3 Big 12], Tennessee Volunteers [8-3, 4-3 SEC], Navy Midshipmen [8-2, 6-1 American], Washington Huskies [8-3, 5-3 B1G], Wake Forest Demon Deacons [8-3, 4-3 ACC], San Diego State Aztecs [9-2, 6-1 MWC], South Florida Bulls [8-3, 5-2 American], Iowa State Cyclones [7-4, 4-4 Big 12], Iowa Hawkeyes [7-4, 5-3 B1G], UNLV Rebels [9-2, 5-2 MWC] | DROPPING OUT: #21 Houston Cougars [8-3, 5-3 Big 12], #24 Illinois Fighting Illini [7-4, 4-4 B1G] || PRESEASON POLL: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/65801/ | WEEK 2: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/66202/ | WEEK 3: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/66437/ | WEEK 4: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/67064/ | WEEK 5: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/67721/ | WEEK 6: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/68281/ | WEEK 7: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/68792/ | WEEK 8: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/69352/ | WEEK 9: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/69911/ | WEEK 10: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/70249/ | WEEK 11: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/70942/ | WEEK 12: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/71383/ | WEEK 13/LAST WEEK: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/71981/
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
[11-0, 8-0 B1G] (+1) | SOR: #2 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-14 vs Old Dominion [8-3], W 56-9 vs Kennesaw State [8-3], W 73-0 vs FCS Indiana State [3-9], W 63-10 vs Illinois [7-4], W 20-15 @ Iowa [7-4], W 30-20 @ #6 Oregon [10-1], W 38-13 vs Michigan State [3-8], W 56-6 UCLA [3-8], W 55-20 vs Maryland [4-7], W 27-24 @ Penn State [5-6], W 31-7 vs Wisconsin [4-7] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Purdue [2-9] (Old Oaken Bucket) |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
[11-0, 8-0 B1G] (-1) | SOR: #3 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 14-7 vs #15 Texas [8-3], W 70-0 vs FCS Grambling State [7-4], W 37-9 vs Ohio [7-4], W 24-6 @ Washington [8-3], W 42-3 vs Minnesota [6-5], W 34-16 @ Illinois [7-4], W 34-0 @ Wisconsin [4-7], W 38-14 vs Penn State [5-6], W 34-10 @ Purdue [2-9], W 48-10 vs UCLA [3-8], W 42-9 vs Rutgers [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #17 Michigan [9-2] (The Game) |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
[11-0, 7-0 SEC] (-) | SOR: #1 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 42-24 vs UTSA [6-5], W 44-22 vs Utah State [6-5], W 41-40 @ #11 Notre Dame [9-2], W 16-10 vs Auburn [5-6], W 31-9 vs Mississippi State [5-6], W 34-17 vs Florida [3-8], W 45-42 @ Arkansas [2-9], W 49-25 @ LSU [7-4], W 38-17 @ Missouri [7-4], W 31-30 vs South Carolina [4-7], W 48-0 vs FCS Samford [1-11] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #15 Texas [8-3] (Lone Star Showdown) |
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
[10-1, 7-1 SEC] (-) | SOR: #4 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-7 vs Marshall [5-6], W 28-6 vs FCS Austin Peay [7-5], W 44-41 (OT) @ Tennessee [8-3], L 21-24 vs #10 Alabama [9-2], W 35-14 vs Kentucky [5-6], W 20-10 vs Auburn [5-6], W 43-35 vs #7 Ole Miss [10-1], W 24-20 vs Florida [3-8] (Jacksonville), W 41-21 @ Mississippi State [5-6], W 35-10 vs #15 Texas [8-3], W 35-3 vs Charlotte [1-10] | THIS WEEK: Away vs #25 Georgia Tech [9-2] (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate) |
| 5 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
[10-1, 7-1 Big 12] (-) | SOR: #10 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 67-7 vs FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff [4-8], W 62-14 vs Kent State [4-7], W 45-14 vs Oregon State [2-9], W 34-10 @ #14 Utah [9-2], W 35-11 @ Houston [8-3], W 42-17 vs Kansas [5-6], L 22-26 @ #23 Arizona State [8-3], W 42-0 vs Oklahoma State [1-10], W 43-20 vs Kansas State [5-6], W 29-7 vs #8 BYU [10-1], W 48-7 vs UCF [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Away @ West Virginia [4-7] |
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
[10-1, 7-1 B1G] (+1) | SOR: #5 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 59-13 vs FCS #2 Montana State [9-2], W 69-3 vs Oklahoma State [1-10], W 34-14 @ Northwestern [6-5], W 41-7 vs Oregon State [2-9], W 30-24 (2OT) @ Penn State [5-6], L 20-30 vs #1 Indiana [11-0], W 56-10 @ Rutgers [5-6], W 21-7 vs Wisconsin [4-7], W 18-16 @ Iowa [7-4], W 42-13 vs Minnesota [6-5], W 42-27 vs #16 USC [8-3] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Washington [8-3] |
| 7 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
[10-1, 6-1 SEC] (-1) | SOR: #7 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 63-7 vs Georgia State [1-10], W 30-23 @ Kentucky [5-6], W 41-35 vs Arkansas [2-9], W 45-10 vs #22 Tulane [9-2], W 24-19 vs LSU [7-4], W 24-21 vs Washington State [5-6], L 35-43 @ #4 Georgia [10-1], W 34-26 @ #9 Oklahoma [9-2], W 30-14 vs South Carolina [4-7], W 49-0 vs FCS The Citadel [4-8], W 34-24 vs Florida [3-8] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Mississippi State [5-6] |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
[10-1, 7-1 Big 12] (-) | SOR: #6 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 69-0 vs FCS Portland State [1-11], W 27-3 vs Stanford [4-7], W 34-13 @ East Carolina [7-4], W 24-21 @ Colorado [3-8], W 38-24 vs West Virginia [4-7], W 33-27 (2OT) @ Arizona [8-3], W 24-21 vs #14 Utah [9-2], W 41-27 @ Iowa State [7-4], L 7-29 @ #5 Texas Tech [10-1], W 44-13 vs TCU [7-4], W 26-14 @ Cincinnati [7-4] | THIS WEEK: Home vs UCF [5-6] |
| 9 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
[9-2, 5-2 SEC] (-) | SOR: #8 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 35-3 vs FCS #17 Illinois State [8-4], W 24-13 vs #17 Michigan [9-2], W 42-3 @ Temple [5-6], W 24-17 vs Auburn [5-6], W 44-0 vs Kent State [4-7], L 6-23 vs #15 Texas [8-3] (in Dallas), W 26-7 @ South Carolina [4-7], L 26-34 vs #7 Ole Miss [10-1], W 33-27 @ Tennessee [8-3], W 23-21 @ #10 Alabama [9-2], W 17-6 vs Missouri [7-4] | THIS WEEK: Home vs LSU [7-4] |
| 10 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
[9-2, 6-1 SEC] (-) | SOR: #9 | RESULTS SO FAR: L 17-31 @ Florida State [5-6], W 73-0 vs Louisiana-Monroe [3-8], W 38-14 vs Wisconsin [4-7], W 24-21 @ #4 Georgia [10-1], W 30-14 vs #12 Vanderbilt [9-2], W 27-24 @ Missouri [7-4], W 37-20 vs Tennessee [8-3], W 29-22 @ South Carolina [4-7], W 20-9 vs LSU [7-4], L 21-23 vs #9 Oklahoma [9-2], W 56-0 vs FCS Eastern Illinois [3-9] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Auburn [5-6] (Iron Bowl) |
| 11 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
[9-2] (-) | SOR: #12 | RESULTS SO FAR: L 24-27 @ #13 Miami (FL) [9-2], L 40-41 vs #3 Texas A&M [11-0], W 56-30 vs Purdue [2-9], W 56-13 @ Arkansas [2-9], W 28-7 vs Boise State [7-4], W 36-7 vs NC State [6-5], W 34-24 vs #16 USC [8-3], W 25-10 @ Boston College [1-10], W 49-10 vs Navy [8-2], W 37-15 @ #24 Pittsburgh [8-3], W 70-7 vs Syracuse [3-8] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Stanford [4-7] |
| 12 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
[9-2, 5-2 SEC] (+3) | SOR: #11 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-3 vs FCS Charleston Southern [5-7], W 44-20 @ Virginia Tech [3-8], W 31-7 @ South Carolina [4-7], W 70-21 vs Georgia State [1-10], W 55-35 vs Utah State [6-5], L 14-30 @ #10 Alabama [9-2], W 31-24 vs LSU [7-4], W 17-10 vs Missouri [7-4], L 31-34 @ #15 Texas [8-3], W 45-38 (OT) vs Auburn [5-6], W 45-17 vs Kentucky [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Tennessee [8-3] |
| 13 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
[9-2, 5-2 ACC] (+3) | SOR: #15 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-24 vs #11 Notre Dame [9-2], W 45-3 vs FCS Bethune-Cookman [6-6], W 49-12 vs South Florida [8-3], W 26-7 vs Florida [3-8], W 28-22 @ Florida State [5-6], L 21-24 vs Louisville [7-4], W 42-7 vs Stanford [4-7], L 20-26 (OT) vs #19 SMU [8-3], W 38-10 vs Syracuse [3-8], W 41-7 vs NC State [6-5], W 34-17 @ Virginia Tech [3-8] | THIS WEEK: Away @ #24 Pittsburgh [8-3] |
| 14 |
Utah Utes
|
[9-2, 6-2 Big 12] (-2) | SOR: #17 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 43-10 @ UCLA [3-8], W 63-9 vs FCS Cal Poly [4-8], W 31-6 @ Wyoming [4-7], L 10-34 vs #5 Texas Tech [10-1], W 48-14 @ West Virginia [4-7], W 42-10 vs #23 Arizona State [8-3], L 21-24 @ #8 BYU [10-1], W 53-7 vs Colorado [3-8], W 45-14 vs Cincinnati [7-4], W 55-28 @ Baylor [5-6], W 51-47 vs Kansas State [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Kansas [5-6] |
| 15 |
Texas Longhorns
|
[8-3, 5-2 SEC] (+2) | SOR: #13 | RESULTS SO FAR: L 7-14 @ #2 Ohio State [11-0], W 38-7 vs San Jose State [3-8], W 27-10 vs UTEP [2-9], W 55-0 vs Sam Houston [2-9], L 21-29 @ Florida [3-8], W 23-6 vs #9 Oklahoma [9-2] (Dallas), W 16-13 (OT) @ Kentucky [5-6], W 45-38 (OT) vs Mississippi State [5-6], W 34-31 vs #12 Vanderbilt [9-2], L 10-35 @ #4 Georgia [10-1], W 52-37 vs Arkansas [2-9] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #3 Texas A&M [11-0] (Lone Star Showdown) |
| 16 |
USC Trojans
|
[8-3, 6-2 B1G] (-3) | SOR: #16 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 73-13 vs Missouri State [7-4], W 59-20 vs Georgia Southern [5-6], W 33-17 @ Purdue [2-9], W 45-31 vs Michigan State [3-8], L 32-34 @ Illinois [7-4], W 31-13 vs #17 Michigan [9-2], L 24-34 @ #11 Notre Dame [9-2], W 21-17 @ Nebraska [7-4], W 38-17 vs Northwestern [6-5], W 26-21 vs Iowa [7-4], L 27-42 @ #6 Oregon [10-1] | THIS WEEK: Home vs UCLA [3-8] (Victory Bell) |
| 17 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
[9-2, 7-1 B1G] (+2) | SOR: #14 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 34-17 vs New Mexico [8-3], L 13-24 @ #9 Oklahoma [9-2], W 63-3 vs Central Michigan [7-4], W 30-27 @ Nebraska [7-4], W 24-10 vs Wisconsin [4-7], L 13-31 @ #16 USC [8-3], W 24-7 vs Washington [8-3], W 31-20 @ Michigan State [3-8], W 21-16 vs Purdue [2-9], W 24-22 @ Northwestern [6-5], W 45-20 @ Maryland [4-7] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #2 Ohio State [11-0] (The Game) |
| 18 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
[9-2, 6-1 ACC] (-) | SOR: #29 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 48-7 vs Coastal Carolina [6-5], L 31-35 @ NC State [6-5], W 55-16 vs FCS William & Mary [7-5], W 48-20 vs Stanford [4-7], W 46-38 (2OT) vs Florida State [5-6], W 30-27 (OT) @ Louisville [7-4], W 22-20 vs Washington State [5-6], W 17-16 (OT) @ North Carolina [4-7], W 31-21 @ California [6-5], L 9-16 vs Wake Forest [8-3], W 34-17 @ Duke [6-5] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Virginia Tech [3-8] (Commonwealth Cup) |
| 19 |
SMU Mustangs
|
[8-3, 6-1 ACC] (NEW) | SOR: #34 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 42-13 vs FCS East Texas A&M [3-9], L 45-48 (2OT) vs Baylor [5-6], W 28-10 @ Missouri State [7-4], L 24-35 @ TCU [7-4] (Battle for the Iron Skillet), W 31-18 vs Syracuse [3-8], W 34-10 vs Stanford [4-7], W 35-24 @ Clemson [6-5], L 12-13 @ Wake Forest [8-3], W 26-20 vs #13 Miami (FL) [9-2], W 45-13 @ Boston College [1-10], W 38-6 vs Louisville [7-4] | THIS WEEK: Away @ California [6-5] |
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
[10-1, 7-0 Sun Belt] (-) | SOR: #29 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 45-10 vs FCS Weber State [4-8], L 14-28 @ Louisville [7-4], W 31-13 @ Liberty [4-7], W 35-10 vs Georgia Southern [5-6], W 14-7 @ Georgia State [1-10], W 24-14 vs Louisiana [5-6], W 63-27 vs Old Dominion [8-3], W 52-20 @ Texas State [5-6], W 35-23 @ Marshall [5-6], W 58-10 vs Appalachian State [5-6], W 24-20 vs Washington State [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Away @ Coastal Carolina [6-5] |
| 21 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
[10-1, 6-1 American] (+1) | SOR: #23 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 51-0 vs FCS #25 Lamar [8-4], W 33-30 (OT) @ Western Michigan [7-4], W 59-10 vs Washington State [5-6], W 45-38 (OT) vs Army [5-5], W 36-22 vs South Alabama [4-7], L 36-63 vs South Florida [8-3], W 55-17 vs UTSA [6-5], W 54-20 @ Charlotte [1-10], W 31-17 vs Navy [8-2], W 53-24 @ UAB [3-8], W 56-24 @ Rice [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Temple [5-6] |
| 22 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
[9-2, 6-1 American] (+1) | SOR: #22 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 23-3 vs Northwestern [6-5], W 33-31 @ South Alabama [4-7], W 34-27 vs Duke [6-5], L 10-45 @ #7 Ole Miss [10-1], W 31-14 @ Tulsa [4-7], W 26-19 vs East Carolina [7-4], W 24-17 vs Army [5-5], L 26-48 @ UTSA [6-5], W 38-32 @ Memphis [8-3], W 35-24 vs Florida Atlantic [4-7], W 37-13 @ Temple [5-6] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Charlotte [1-10] |
| 23 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
[8-3, 6-2 Big 12] (+2) | SOR: #19 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 38-19 vs FCS Northern Arizona [7-5], L 20-24 @ Mississippi State [5-6], W 34-15 vs Texas State [5-6], W 27-24 @ Baylor [5-6], W 27-24 vs TCU [7-4], L 10-42 @ #14 Utah [9-2], W 26-22 vs #5 Texas Tech [10-1], L 16-24 vs Houston [8-3], W 24-19 @ Iowa State [7-4], W 25-23 vs West Virginia [4-7], W 42-17 @ Colorado [3-8] | THIS WEEK: Home vs Arizona [8-3] (Territorial Cup) |
| 24 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
[9-2, 6-1 ACC] (NEW) | SOR: #32 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 61-9 vs FCS Duquesne [5-5], W 45-17 vs Central Michigan [7-4], L 24-31 (OT) @ West Virginia [4-7], L 27-34 vs Louisville [7-4], W 48-7 vs Boston College [1-10], W 34-31 @ Florida State [5-6], W 30-13 @ Syracuse [3-8], W 53-34 vs NC State [6-5], W 35-20 @ Stanford [4-7], L 15-37 vs #11 Notre Dame [9-2], W 42-28 @ #25 Georgia Tech [9-2] | THIS WEEK: Home vs #13 Miami Hurricanes [9-2] |
| 25 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
[9-2, 6-2 ACC] (-11) | SOR: #27 | RESULTS SO FAR: W 27-20 @ Colorado [3-8], W 59-12 vs FCS Gardner-Webb [7-5], W 24-21 vs Clemson [6-5], W 45-24 vs Temple [5-6], W 30-29 (OT) @ Wake Forest [8-3], W 35-20 vs Virginia Tech [3-8], W 27-18 @ Duke [6-5], W 41-16 vs Syracuse [3-8], L 36-48 @ NC State [6-5], W 36-34 @ Boston College [1-10], L 28-42 vs #24 Pittsburgh [8-3] | THIS WEEK: "Home" vs #4 Georgia [10-1] (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate) |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.04 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.04 |
| 13 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.30 |
| 16 |
USC Trojans
|
0.32 |
| 17 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.00 |
| 19 |
SMU Mustangs
|
1.60 |
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
0.07 |
| 24 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
-0.24 |