Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Jan. 19, 2026, 11:01 p.m.
Overall Rationale: I use a methodology similar to that used by the voter polls that bases teams based primarily on wins/losses, but with other factors such as how those teams looked in their wins and losses, head to head, roster depth, etc, in play.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
(16-0) (no change) | W: 38-3 vs #11 Alabama (11-4) (Rose Bowl; in Pasadena) | W: 56-22 vs #7 Oregon (13-2) (Peach Bowl; in Atlanta) | W: 27-21 vs #10 Miami (13-3) (National Championship; in Miami) | |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
(13-3) (up 8) | W: 10-3 @ #5 Texas A&M (11-2) (Playoff R1) | W: 24-14 vs #3 Ohio State (12-2) (Cotton Bowl; in Dallas) | W: 31-27 vs #6 Ole Miss (13-2) (Fiesta Bowl; in Phoenix) | L: 21-27 vs #1 Indiana (16-0) (National Championship; in Miami) |
| 3 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
(13-2) (up 3) | W: 41-10 vs #16 Tulane (11-3) (Playoff R1) | W: 39-34 vs #2 Georgia (12-2) (Sugar Bowl; in New Orleans) | L: 27-31 vs #10 Miami (13-2) (Fiesta Bowl; in Phoenix) | |
| 4 |
Oregon Ducks
|
(13-2) (up 3) | W: 51-34 vs #17 James Madison (12-2) (Playoff R1) | W: 23-0 vs #4 Texas Tech (12-2) (Orange Bowl; in Miami) | L: 22-56 vs #1 Indiana (15-0) (Peach Bowl; in Atlanta) |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
(12-2) (down 3) | L: 34-39 vs #6 Ole Miss (13-1) (Sugar Bowl; in New Orleans) |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
(12-2) (down 3) | L: 14-24 vs #10 Miami (12-2) (Cotton Bowl; in Dallas) |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
(12-2) (down 3) | L: 0-23 vs #7 Oregon (13-1) (Orange Bowl; in Miami) |
| 8 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
(11-2) (down 3) | L: 3-10 vs #10 Miami (11-2) (Playoff R1) |
| 9 |
Texas Longhorns
|
(10-3) (up 4) | W: 41-27 vs #19 Michigan (9-4) (Citrus Bowl; in Orlando) |
| 10 |
BYU Cougars
|
(12-2) (up 4) | W: 25-21 vs #25 Georgia Tech (9-4) (Pop-Tarts Bowl; in Orlando) |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
(11-4) (no change) | W: 34-24 @ #8 Oklahoma (10-3) (Playoff R1) | L: 3-38 vs #1 Indiana (14-0) (Rose Bowl; in Pasadena) |
| 12 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
(10-2) (down 3) | Bye (Opted out of bowl) |
| 13 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
(10-3) (down 5) | L: 24-34 vs #11 Alabama (11-3) (Playoff R1) |
| 14 |
Utah Utes
|
(11-2) (up 1) | W: 44-22 vs Nebraska (7-6) (Las Vegas Bowl; in Las Vegas) |
| 15 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
(11-3) (up 5) | W: 13-7 vs #26 Missouri (8-5) (Gator Bowl; in Jacksonville) |
| 16 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
(10-3) (down 4) | L: 27-34 vs #27 Iowa (9-4) (ReliaQuest Bowl; in Tampa) |
| 17 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
(12-2) (up 5) | W: 49-47 vs San Diego State (9-4) (New Mexico Bowl; in Albuquerque) |
| 18 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
(11-2) (up 5) | W: 17-16 vs Army (6-6) (in Baltimore) | W: 35-13 vs Cincinnati (7-6) (Liberty Bowl; in Memphis) |
| 19 |
James Madison Dukes
|
(11-2) (down 2) | L: 34-51 @ #7 Oregon (12-1) (Playoff R1) |
| 20 |
USC Trojans
|
(9-4) (down 2) | L: 27-30 vs TCU (9-4) (Alamo Bowl; in San Antonio) |
| 21 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
(9-4) (up 6) | W: 34-27 vs #12 Vanderbilt (10-3) (ReliaQuest Bowl; in Tampa) |
| 22 |
SMU Mustangs
|
(9-4) (up 6) | W: 24-19 vs #21 Arizona (9-4) (Holiday Bowl; in San Diego) |
| 23 |
Houston Cougars
|
(10-3) (up 6) | W: 38-35 vs LSU (7-6) (Texas Bowl; in Houston) |
| 24 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
(9-4) (down 5) | L: 27-41 vs #13 Texas (10-3) (Citrus Bowl; in Orlando) |
| 25 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
(11-3) (down 9) | L: 10-41 @ #6 Ole Miss (12-1) (Playoff R1) | Next 5: #26: Arizona (9-4) (down 5) | #27: TCU (9-4) (was unranked) | #28: Duke (9-5) (up 2) | #29: Illinois (9-4) (was unranked) | #30: Georgia Tech (9-4) (down 5) | Fell out of T30: Tennessee (8-5) (was #24); Missouri (8-5) (was #26) | Biggest Riser: Miami (13-3) (10 -> 2) | Biggest Faller: Tulane (11-3) (16 -> 25) |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
-0.31 |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.62 |
| 10 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.04 |
| 16 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
0.47 |
| 18 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
0.87 |
| 19 |
James Madison Dukes
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
SMU Mustangs
|
1.64 |
| 23 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
-0.91 |