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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2025 Final

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Jan. 22, 2026, 10:55 a.m.

Overall Rationale: It's the end of the season, I'm very tired (and very annoyed I didn't properly submit the pre-bowl ranking in time [don't worry, it didn't change anything really]), and also sick. Perfect conditions to complete this... and ESPN just took out SOR for the year. Great! SP+ it is, then. If there's any weirdness or odd rankings/justifications, let me know. || NORMAL STUFF: 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: I 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 Bill Connelly SP+ (in lieu of ESPN removing the SOR for the year and me not feeling satisfied with another alternative, even though SP+ is more of a power ranking). FCS team ranks are their placements in the weekly STATS Poll. | HONORABLE MENTIONS/NEXT 10 OUT: Duke Blue Devils [9-5, 6-2 ACC, ACC Champions], Michigan Wolverines [9-4, 7-2 B1G], Washington Huskies [9-4, 5-4 B1G], SMU Mustangs [9-4, 6-2 ACC], Arizona Wildcats [9-4, 6-3 Big 12], Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets [9-4, 6-2 ACC], Western Michigan Broncos [10-4, 7-1 MAC, MAC Champions], Old Dominion Monarchs [10-3, 6-2 Sun Belt], Wake Forest Demon Deacons [9-4, 4-4 ACC], Kennesaw State Owls [10-4, 6-2 CUSA, CUSA Champions] | DROPPING OUT: #19 Michigan Wolverines [9-4, 7-2 B1G], #20 Arizona Wildcats [9-4, 6-3 Big 12], #24 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets [9-4, 6-2 ACC] || 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: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/71981/ | WEEK 14: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/72467/ | WEEK 15: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/72536/ | WEEK 16/Pre-Bowls: N/A

Rank Team Reason
1 Indiana Hoosiers [16-0, 9-0 B1G] | SP+ Rank: #1 | RESULTS: W 27-14 vs Old Dominion [10-3], W 56-9 vs Kennesaw State [10-4], W 73-0 vs FCS Indiana State [3-9], W 63-10 vs #25 Illinois [9-4], W 20-15 @ #16 Iowa [9-4], W 30-20 @ #5 Oregon [13-2], W 38-13 vs Michigan State [4-8], W 56-6 UCLA [3-9], W 55-20 vs Maryland [4-8], W 27-24 @ Penn State [7-6], W 31-7 vs Wisconsin [4-8], W 56-3 @ Purdue [2-10], W 13-10 vs #3 Ohio State [12-2] (Indianapolis, B1G Championship Game), W 38-3 vs #10 Alabama [11-4] (Rose Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals), W 56-22 vs #5 Oregon [13-2] (Peach Bowl, CFP Semifinals), W 27-21 vs #2 Miami (FL) [13-3] (Miami, CFP Finals)
2 Miami Hurricanes [13-3, 6-2 ACC] (+9) | SP+ Rank: #9 | RESULTS: W 27-24 vs #12 Notre Dame [10-2], W 45-3 vs FCS Bethune-Cookman [6-6], W 49-12 vs South Florida [9-4], W 26-7 vs Florida [4-8], W 28-22 @ Florida State [5-7], L 21-24 vs Louisville [9-4], W 42-7 vs Stanford [4-8], L 20-26 (OT) vs SMU [9-4], W 38-10 vs Syracuse [3-9], W 41-7 vs NC State [8-5], W 34-17 @ Virginia Tech [3-9], W 38-7 @ Pittsburgh [8-5], W 10-3 @ #8 Texas A&M [11-2] (CFP First Round), W 24-14 vs #3 Ohio State [12-2] (Cotton Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals), W 31-27 vs #4 Ole Miss [13-2] (Fiesta Bowl, CFP Semifinals), L 21-27 vs #1 Indiana [16-0] (CFP Finals)
3 Ohio State Buckeyes [12-2, 9-0 B1G] (-1) | SP+ Rank: #2 | RESULTS: W 14-7 vs #13 Texas [10-3], W 70-0 vs FCS Grambling State [7-5], W 37-9 vs Ohio [9-4], W 24-6 @ Washington [9-4], W 42-3 vs Minnesota [8-5], W 34-16 @ #25 Illinois [9-4], W 34-0 @ Wisconsin [4-8], W 38-14 vs Penn State [7-6], W 34-10 @ Purdue [2-10], W 48-10 vs UCLA [3-9], W 42-9 vs Rutgers [5-7], W 27-9 @ Michigan [9-4], L 10-13 vs #1 Indiana [16-0] (Indianapolis, B1G Championship Game), L 14-24 vs #2 Miami (FL) [13-3] (Cotton Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals)
4 Ole Miss Rebels [13-2, 7-1 SEC] (+2) | SP+ Rank: #7 | RESULTS: W 63-7 vs Georgia State [1-11], W 30-23 @ Kentucky [5-7], W 41-35 vs Arkansas [2-10], W 45-10 vs #19 Tulane [11-3], W 24-19 vs LSU [7-6], W 24-21 vs Washington State [7-6], L 35-43 @ #6 Georgia [12-2], W 34-26 @ #11 Oklahoma [10-3], W 30-14 vs South Carolina [4-8], W 49-0 vs FCS The Citadel [4-8], W 34-24 vs Florida [4-8], W 38-19 @ Mississippi State [5-8], W 41-10 vs #19 Tulane [11-3] (CFP First Round), W 39-34 vs #6 Georgia [12-2] (Sugar Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals), L 27-31 vs #2 Miami (FL) [13-3] (Fiesta Bowl, CFP Semifinals)
5 Oregon Ducks [13-2, 8-1 B1G] (-) | SP+ Rank: #4 | RESULTS: W 59-13 vs FCS Champions #1 Montana State [14-2], W 69-3 vs Oklahoma State [1-11], W 34-14 @ Northwestern [7-6], W 41-7 vs Oregon State [2-10], W 30-24 (2OT) @ Penn State [7-6], L 20-30 vs #1 Indiana [16-0], W 56-10 @ Rutgers [5-7], W 21-7 vs Wisconsin [4-8], W 18-16 @ #16 Iowa [9-4], W 42-13 vs Minnesota [8-5], W 42-27 vs #22 USC [9-4], W 26-14 @ Washington [9-4], W 51-34 vs #18 James Madison [12-2] (CFP First Round), W 23-0 vs #7 Texas Tech [12-2] (Orange Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals), L 22-56 vs #1 Indiana [16-0] (Peach Bowl, CFP Semifinals)
6 Georgia Bulldogs [12-2, 7-1 SEC] (-2) | SP+ Rank: #6 | RESULTS: W 45-7 vs Marshall [5-7], W 28-6 vs FCS Austin Peay [7-5], W 44-41 (OT) @ Tennessee [8-5], L 21-24 vs #10 Alabama [11-4], W 35-14 vs Kentucky [5-7], W 20-10 vs Auburn [5-7], W 43-35 vs #4 Ole Miss [13-2], W 24-20 vs Florida [4-8] (Jacksonville), W 41-21 @ Mississippi State [5-8], W 35-10 vs #13 Texas [10-3], W 35-3 vs Charlotte [1-11], W 16-9 @ Georgia Tech [9-4] (Atlanta), W 28-7 vs #10 Alabama [11-4] (Atlanta, SEC Championship Game), L 34-39 vs #4 Ole Miss [13-2] (Sugar Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals)
7 Texas Tech Red Raiders [12-2, 8-1 Big 12] (-4) | SP+ Rank: #3 | RESULTS: W 67-7 vs FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff [4-8], W 62-14 vs Kent State [5-7], W 45-14 vs Oregon State [2-10], W 34-10 @ #14 Utah [11-2], W 35-11 @ #20 Houston [10-3], W 42-17 vs Kansas [5-7], L 22-26 @ Arizona State [8-5], W 42-0 vs Oklahoma State [1-11], W 43-20 vs Kansas State [6-6], W 29-7 vs #9 BYU [12-2], W 48-7 vs UCF [5-7], W 49-0 @ West Virginia [4-8], W 34-7 vs #9 BYU [12-2] (Arlington, Big 12 Championship Game), L 0-23 vs #5 Oregon [13-2] (Orange Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals)
8 Texas A&M Aggies [11-2, 7-1 SEC] (-1) | SP+ Rank: #10 | RESULTS: W 42-24 vs UTSA [7-6], W 44-22 vs Utah State [6-7], W 41-40 @ #12 Notre Dame [10-2], W 16-10 vs Auburn [5-7], W 31-9 vs Mississippi State [5-8], W 34-17 vs Florida [4-8], W 45-42 @ Arkansas [2-10], W 49-25 @ LSU [7-6], W 38-17 @ Missouri [8-5], W 31-30 vs South Carolina [4-8], W 48-0 vs FCS Samford [1-11], L 17-27 @ #13 Texas [10-3], L 3-10 vs #2 Miami (FL) [13-3] (CFP First Round)
9 BYU Cougars [12-2, 8-1 Big 12] (-) | SP+ Rank: #18 | RESULTS: W 69-0 vs FCS Portland State [1-11], W 27-3 vs Stanford [4-8], W 34-13 @ East Carolina [9-4], W 24-21 @ Colorado [3-9], W 38-24 vs West Virginia [4-8], W 33-27 (2OT) @ Arizona [9-4], W 24-21 vs #14 Utah [11-2], W 41-27 @ Iowa State [8-4], L 7-29 @ #7 Texas Tech [12-2], W 44-13 vs #24 TCU [9-4], W 26-14 @ Cincinnati [7-6], W 41-21 vs UCF [5-7], L 7-34 vs #7 Texas Tech [12-2] (Arlington, Big 12 Championship Game), W 25-21 vs Georgia Tech [9-4] (Pop-Tarts Bowl)
10 Alabama Crimson Tide [11-4, 7-1 SEC] (-) | SP+ Rank: #20 | RESULTS: L 17-31 @ Florida State [5-7], W 73-0 vs Louisiana-Monroe [3-9], W 38-14 vs Wisconsin [4-8], W 24-21 @ #6 Georgia [12-2], W 30-14 vs #17 Vanderbilt [10-3], W 27-24 @ Missouri [8-5], W 37-20 vs Tennessee [8-5], W 29-22 @ South Carolina [4-8], W 20-9 vs LSU [7-6], L 21-23 vs #11 Oklahoma [10-3], W 56-0 vs FCS Eastern Illinois [3-9], W 27-20 @ Auburn [5-7], L 7-28 vs #6 Georgia [12-2] (Atlanta, SEC Championship Game), W 34-24 @ #11 Oklahoma [10-3] (CFP First Round), L 3-38 vs #1 Indiana [16-0] (Rose Bowl, CFP Quarterfinals)
11 Oklahoma Sooners [10-3, 6-2 SEC] (-3) | SP+ Rank: #14 | RESULTS: W 35-3 vs FCS #2 Illinois State [12-5], W 24-13 vs Michigan [9-4], W 42-3 @ Temple [5-7], W 24-17 vs Auburn [5-7], W 44-0 vs Kent State [5-7], L 6-23 vs #13 Texas [10-3] (in Dallas), W 26-7 @ South Carolina [4-8], L 26-34 vs #4 Ole Miss [13-2], W 33-27 @ Tennessee [8-5], W 23-21 @ #11 Alabama [11-4], W 17-6 vs Missouri [8-5], W 17-13 vs LSU [7-6], L 24-34 vs #10 Alabama [11-4] (CFP First Round)
12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish [10-2] (-1) | SP+ Rank: #5 | RESULTS: L 24-27 @ #2 Miami (FL) [13-3], L 40-41 vs #8 Texas A&M [11-2], W 56-30 vs Purdue [2-10], W 56-13 @ Arkansas [2-10], W 28-7 vs Boise State [9-5], W 36-7 vs NC State [8-5], W 34-24 vs #22 USC [9-4], W 25-10 @ Boston College [1-11], W 49-10 vs #23 Navy [11-2], W 37-15 @ Pittsburgh [8-5], W 70-7 vs Syracuse [3-9], W 49-20 @ Stanford [4-8]
13 Texas Longhorns [10-3, 6-2 SEC] (-) | SP+ Rank: #17 | RESULTS: L 7-14 @ #3 Ohio State [12-2], W 38-7 vs San Jose State [3-9], W 27-10 vs UTEP [2-10], W 55-0 vs Sam Houston [2-10], L 21-29 @ Florida [4-8], W 23-6 vs #11 Oklahoma [10-3] (Dallas), W 16-13 (OT) @ Kentucky [5-7], W 45-38 (OT) vs Mississippi State [5-8], W 34-31 vs #17 Vanderbilt [10-3], L 10-35 @ #6 Georgia [12-2], W 52-37 vs Arkansas [2-10], W 27-17 vs #8 Texas A&M [11-2], W 41-27 vs Michigan [9-4] (Citrus Bowl)
14 Utah Utes [11-2, 7-2 Big 12] (+1) | SP+ Rank: #8 | RESULTS: W 43-10 @ UCLA [3-9], W 63-9 vs FCS Cal Poly [4-8], W 31-6 @ Wyoming [4-8], L 10-34 vs #7 Texas Tech [12-2], W 48-14 @ West Virginia [4-8], W 42-10 vs Arizona State [8-5], L 21-24 @ #9 BYU [12-2], W 53-7 vs Colorado [3-9], W 45-14 vs Cincinnati [7-6], W 55-28 @ Baylor [5-7], W 51-47 vs Kansas State [6-6], W 31-21 @ Kansas [5-7], W 44-22 vs Nebraska [7-6] (Las Vegas Bowl)
15 Virginia Cavaliers [11-3, 7-1 ACC] (+6) | SP+ Rank: #31 | RESULTS: W 48-7 vs Coastal Carolina [6-7], L 31-35 @ NC State [8-5], W 55-16 vs FCS William & Mary [7-5], W 48-20 vs Stanford [4-8], W 46-38 (2OT) vs Florida State [5-7], W 30-27 (OT) @ Louisville [9-4], W 22-20 vs Washington State [7-6], W 17-16 (OT) @ North Carolina [4-8], W 31-21 @ California [7-6], L 9-16 vs Wake Forest [9-4], W 34-17 @ Duke [9-5], W 27-7 vs Virginia Tech [3-9], L 20-27 (OT) vs Duke [9-5] (Charlotte, ACC Championship Game), W 13-7 vs Missouri [8-5] (Gator Bowl)
16 Iowa Hawkeyes [9-4, 6-3 B1G] (NEW) | SP+ Rank: #12 | RESULTS: W 34-7 vs FCS Albany [2-10], L 13-16 @ Iowa State [8-4], W 47-7 vs UMass [0-12], W 38-28 @ Rutgers [5-7], L 15-20 vs #1 Indiana [16-0], W 37-0 vs Wisconsin [4-8], W 25-24 vs Penn State [7-6], W 41-3 vs Minnesota [8-5], L 16-18 vs #5 Oregon [13-2], L 21-26 @ #22 USC [9-4], W 20-17 vs Michigan State [4-8], W 40-16 @ Nebraska [7-6], W 34-27 vs #17 Vanderbilt [10-3] (ReliaQuest Bowl)
17 Vanderbilt Commodores [10-3, 6-2 SEC] (-3) | SP+ Rank: #11 | RESULTS: W 45-3 vs FCS Charleston Southern [5-7], W 44-20 @ Virginia Tech [3-9], W 31-7 @ South Carolina [4-8], W 70-21 vs Georgia State [1-11], W 55-35 vs Utah State [6-7], L 14-30 @ #10 Alabama [11-4], W 31-24 vs LSU [7-6], W 17-10 vs Missouri [8-5], L 31-34 @ #13 Texas [10-3], W 45-38 (OT) vs Auburn [5-7], W 45-17 vs Kentucky [5-7], W 45-24 @ Tennessee [8-5], L 27-34 vs #16 Iowa [9-4] (ReliaQuest Bowl)
18 James Madison Dukes [12-2, 8-0 Sun Belt] (-) | SP+ Rank: #27 | RESULTS: W 45-10 vs FCS Weber State [4-8], L 14-28 @ Louisville [9-4], W 31-13 @ Liberty [4-8], W 35-10 vs Georgia Southern [7-6], W 14-7 @ Georgia State [1-11], W 24-14 vs Louisiana [6-7], W 63-27 vs Old Dominion [10-3], W 52-20 @ Texas State [7-6], W 35-23 @ Marshall [5-7], W 58-10 vs Appalachian State [5-8], W 24-20 vs Washington State [7-6], W 59-10 vs Coastal Carolina [6-7], W 31-14 vs Troy [8-6] (Sun Belt Championship Game), L 34-51 @ #5 Oregon [13-2] (CFP First Round)
19 Tulane Green Wave [11-3, 7-1 American] (-2) | SP+ Rank: #45 | RESULTS: W 23-3 vs Northwestern [7-6], W 33-31 @ South Alabama [4-8], W 34-27 vs Duke [9-5], L 10-45 @ #4 Ole Miss [13-2], W 31-14 @ Tulsa [4-8], W 26-19 vs East Carolina [9-4], W 24-17 vs Army [5-6], L 26-48 @ UTSA [7-6], W 38-32 @ Memphis [8-4], W 35-24 vs Florida Atlantic [4-8], W 37-13 @ Temple [5-7], W 27-0 vs Charlotte [1-11], W 34-20 vs #21 North Texas [12-2] (American Championship Game), L 10-41 @ #4 Ole Miss [13-2] (CFP First Round)
20 Houston Cougars [10-3, 7-2 Big 12] (+5) | SP+ Rank: #40 | RESULTS: W 27-0 vs FCS #7 Stephen F. Austin [11-3], W 35-9 @ Rice [5-7], W 36-20 vs Colorado [3-9], W 27-24 (OT) @ Oregon State [2-10], L 11-35 vs #7 Texas Tech [12-2], W 39-17 @ Oklahoma State [1-11], W 31-28 vs Arizona [9-4], W 24-16 @ Arizona State [8-5], L 35-45 vs West Virginia [4-8], W 30-27 @ UCF [5-7], L 14-17 vs #24 TCU [9-4], W 31-24 @ Baylor [5-7], W 45-38 vs LSU [7-6] (Texas Bowl)
21 North Texas Mean Green [12-2, 7-1 American] (+1) | SP+ Rank: #22 | RESULTS: W 51-0 vs FCS #25 Lamar [8-5], W 33-30 (OT) @ Western Michigan [10-4], W 59-10 vs Washington State [7-6], W 45-38 (OT) vs Army [5-6], W 36-22 vs South Alabama [4-8], L 36-63 vs South Florida [9-4], W 55-17 vs UTSA [7-6], W 54-20 @ Charlotte [1-11], W 31-17 vs #23 Navy [11-2], W 53-24 @ UAB [4-8], W 56-24 @ Rice [5-7], W 52-25 vs Temple [5-7], L 20-34 @ #19 Tulane [11-3] (American Championship Game), W 49-47 vs San Diego State [9-4] (New Mexico Bowl)
22 USC Trojans [9-4, 7-2 B1G] (-6) | SP+ Rank: #16 | RESULTS: W 73-13 vs Missouri State [7-6], W 59-20 vs Georgia Southern [7-6], W 33-17 @ Purdue [2-10], W 45-31 vs Michigan State [4-8], L 32-34 @ #25 Illinois [9-4], W 31-13 vs Michigan [9-4], L 24-34 @ #12 Notre Dame [10-2], W 21-17 @ Nebraska [7-5], W 38-17 vs Northwestern [7-6], W 26-21 vs #16 Iowa [9-4], L 27-42 @ #5 Oregon [13-2], W 29-10 vs UCLA [3-9], L 27-30 (OT) vs #24 TCU [9-4] (Alamo Bowl)
23 Navy Midshipmen [11-2, 7-1 American] (-) | SP+ Rank: #47 | RESULTS: W 52-7 vs FCS VMI [1-11], W 38-24 vs UAB [4-8], W 42-23 @ Tulsa [4-8], W 21-13 vs Rice [5-7], W 34-31 vs Air Force [4-8], W 32-31 @ Temple [5-7], L 17-31 @ #21 North Texas [12-2], L 10-49 @ #12 Notre Dame [10-2], W 41-38 vs South Florida [9-4], W 28-17 @ Memphis [8-4], W 17-16 vs Army [7-6], W 35-13 vs Cincinnati [7-6] (Liberty Bowl)
24 TCU Horned Frogs [9-4, 6-3 Big 12] (NEW) | SP+ Rank: #37 | RESULTS: W 48-14 @ North Carolina [4-8], W 42-21 vs #12 FCS Abilene Christian [9-5], W 35-24 vs SMU [9-4], L 24-27 @ Arizona State [8-5], W 35-21 vs Colorado [3-9], L 28-41 @ Kansas State [6-6], W 42-36 vs Baylor [5-7], W 23-17 @ West Virginia [4-8], L 17-20 vs Iowa State [8-4], L 13-44 @ #9 BYU [12-2], W 17-14 @ #20 Houston [10-3], W 45-23 vs Cincinnati [7-6], W 30-27 vs #22 USC [9-4] (Alamo Bowl)
25 Illinois Fighting Illini [9-4, 5-4 B1G] (NEW) | SP+ Rank: #24 | RESULTS: W 52-3 vs FCS Western Illinois [4-8], W 45-19 @ Duke [9-5], W 38-0 vs Western Michigan [10-4], L 10-63 @ #1 Indiana [16-0], W 34-32 vs #22 USC [9-4], W 43-27 @ Purdue [2-10], L 16-34 vs #3 Ohio State [12-2], L 25-42 @ Washington [9-4], W 35-13 vs Rutgers [5-7], W 24-6 vs Maryland [4-8], L 10-27 vs Wisconsin [4-8], W 20-13 vs Northwestern [7-6], W 30-28 vs Tennessee [8-5] (Music City Bowl)

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