Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Jan. 21, 2026, 9:38 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 who are highly likely to make the playoffs, Tier 2: Playoff Teams who could conceivably win the championship but are behind Tier 1, Tier 3: Playoff Possibilities who are unlikely to compete for a championship, Tier 4: Teams with an outside shot at making the playoffs, Tier 5: Teams that can't make the playoffs except for winning conference or unprecedented chaos Tier 6: Teams that are eliminated from playoff contention. Tiers 5 and 6 don't enter into the top 25 until very late in the year.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
|
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
|
| 3 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
|
| 4 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
|
| 5 |
Oregon Ducks
|
|
| 6 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
|
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
|
| 8 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
|
| 9 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
|
| 10 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
|
| 11 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
|
| 12 |
BYU Cougars
|
|
| 13 |
Utah Utes
|
|
| 14 |
Texas Longhorns
|
|
| 15 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
|
| 16 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
|
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
|
| 18 |
USC Trojans
|
|
| 19 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
|
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
|
| 21 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
|
| 22 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
|
| 23 |
Houston Cougars
|
|
| 24 |
USF Bulls
|
|
| 25 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.52 |
| 4 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.35 |
| 16 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
USC Trojans
|
0.15 |
| 19 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Navy Midshipmen
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
USF Bulls
|
1.00 |
| 25 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
-0.16 |