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Xy13 Ballot for 2026 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 17, 2026, 12:13 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Looking forward at their schedule, roster, and coach. I'm looking at what I think their record will be, their chances to make the CFP, and how well they can do in the CFP. Some teams may be a "better team" but have a much harder path than others.

Rank Team Reason
1 Indiana Hoosiers Toughest Games - vs OSU, @ UM. Avoid - ORE, Penn St
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Curt Cignetti leads the reigning undefeated national champs with a much more talented roster, and a decent B1G schedule. New QB will be what determines a repeat or not.
2 Oregon Ducks Toughest Games - @ USC, @ OSU. Avoid - Indi, Penn St
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Dan Lanning has assembled one of the most elite rosters in all of CFB. If they can get through one of the relatively harder B1G schedules, they will be very tested and prepared for the playoffs. Could this be Oregon's year?
3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Toughest Games - @ BYU, vs Miami. Avoid - All
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Marcus Freeman has built the best roster ND has seen. Are they soft for opting out of the bowl game last year, or will they be coming back with a vengeance? Either way they should be in the playoffs. Only 2 games should pose a challenge to them, and even if they lose both they will probably remain in the top 12 and get their auto-spot.
4 Miami Hurricanes Toughest Games - @ Clem, @ ND, Avoid - GT, UF
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Mario Cristoball lost to Curt Cignetti and Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza by one possession in last years National Champion game. Favorites to win the ACC.
5 Georgia Bulldogs Toughest Games - vs OU, @ Bama, vs FL, @ Miss. Avoid - UT, A&M, LSU, Tenn
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After missing last years CFP, Kirby Smart brings this seasons highest blue chip ratio team up against a relatively easy SEC schedule.
6 Ohio State Buckeyes Toughest Games - @ TX, @ Indi, @ USC, vs ORE. Avoid - Penn St
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Lost a lot of their elite defense to the (1st round) draft last year. One of the relatively harder B1G schedules + Texas. Will they win the Natty, or go 7-5 and fire Ryan Day?
7 LSU Tigers Toughest Games - vs Clem, vs A&M, vs Bama, vs TX, @ Tenn. Avoid - UGA , OU, Miss
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Lane Kiffin the portal king and #1 player in the portal, ASU's Sam Leavitt, both arrive for their debut season in Baton Rouge. They host nearly all of their toughest games at home in death valley.
8 Texas Tech Red Raiders Toughest Games - vs HOU, vs ASU, vs AZ, @ OSU. Avoid - BYU, Utah
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Gambling QB having parted ways, TTU returns with the most talent B12 roster, and most of their tough games at home. Favorites for the B12 champ.
9 Texas Longhorns Toughest Games - vs OSU, @ Tenn, vs OU, @ LSU, @ A&M. Avoid - UGA
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Sark and Manning are back with the roster featuring the most top 100 players of them all. They face a grueling SEC schedule + OSU ooc. They will certainly be tested and prepared to face good teams, if, they can make the CFP.
10 Penn State Nittany Lions Toughest Games - vs USC, @ UM, @ UW. Avoid - ORE, Indi, OSU
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Matt Campbell picked a good debut season, and Franklin missed out. They avoid nearly all the heavy hitters in the B10, and host 2 of the 3 they do face. Let's see how half of Iowa State's roster would fare in the B10.
11 Alabama Crimson Tide Toughest Games - vs FSU*, vs UGA, @ Tenn, vs A&M, @ LSU. Avoid - TX, OU, Miss
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Coach KDB's recruiting was lacking for this year's recruiting class, but don't let that fool you. They already had a young team and focused most of their efforts on retaining talent.
12 BYU Cougars Toughest Games - vs AZ, vs ND, vs ASU, @ Utah. Avoid - TTU
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After nearly leaving Kalani Sitake returns, though having lost a coordinator to UM & Whittingham. They host most of their toughest matchups this season.
13 Texas A&M Aggies Toughest Games - @ LSU, @ Bama, vs Tenn, @ OU, vs TX. Avoid - UGA, Miss
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Let's see if Mike Elko was the Aggies cure for avoiding the 8-4 curse, or if it was an anomaly. Most of their toughest games are on the road this year.
14 Oklahoma Sooners Toughest Games - @ UM, @ UGA, vs TX, vs A&M. Avoid - LSU, Tenn, Bama
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Brent Venables makes the CFP at OU before Lincoln Riley does at USC. The sooners avoid some of the SEC powerhouses, and host most of their big games at home. OOC with UM won't change conference standings, and should help resume regardless of result.
15 Iowa Hawkeyes Toughest Games - @ UM, vs OSU. Avoid - ORE, Indi, USC, Penn St
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The everlasting Ferentz will always be a potential threat to the B1G. One of the easier conference slates this year, except the 2 traditional blue bloods, they avoid most of the new powers. If they win out the rest, they could easily find themselves in CCG contention.
16 USC Trojans Toughest Games - vs ORE, @ Penn st, vs OSU, @ Indi. Avoid - UM
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Some people feel this is playoffs or bust for Lincoln Riley. I disagree, he just landed the #1 recruiting class, and has one of the harder B1G schedules.
17 Tennessee Volunteers Toughest Games - vs TX, vs Bama, @ A&M, vs LSU. Avoid - UGA, OU, Miss
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Josh Heupel and his Volunteers host most of their big SEC matchups in Neyland. Will their new QBs be able to adapt to his system? History points to yes. Let's see if his defenses have improved.
18 Clemson Tigers Toughest Games - @ LSU, vs Miami. Avoid - Yes?
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Dabo Swinney has just barely fallen out of the 50% blue chip ratio. But they have a relatively clear looking path to a CCG. Maybe Franklin's 1st year VT will be an obstacle for them.
19 Florida Gators Toughest Games - vs Miss, @ TX, vs UGA, vs OU. Avoid - LSU, A&M
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Jon Sumrall was in the CFP last year with Tulane, but this year he has a much more talent roster. Let's see if he will surprise the SEC. Most of his big games are in the swamp.
20 SMU Mustangs Toughest Games - @ FSU, @ ND. Avoid - Clem, Miami
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The Mustangs, despite no TV revenue, continue to be in the conference title race. They avoid most of the big names in the hunt, though do have some tough road matchups.
21 Michigan Wolverines Toughest Games - vs OU, vs Penn state, vs Indi, @ ORE, @ OSU. Avoid - USC
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I wasn't entirely sure why Michigan wasn't targetting Kyle Whittingham from the beginning of their coaching search. He was a menace with the ~#44 recruiting class. He already played their kind of football too. Let's see what he can do with the ~#14 class. This 1st year schedule is tough, but I could see him picking up a ring at this blue blood.
22 Ole Miss Rebels Toughest Games - vs LSU, @ TX, vs UGA, @ OU. Avoid - A&M, Tenn
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Pete Golding managed to nab some CFP wins before Lane Kiffin in a twist of fates. However, alot of the offensive production and staff is gone, we will see how Ole Miss holds up this year. Many of their big games are on the road.
23 Arizona State Sun Devils Toughest Games - @ A&M, @ TTU, @ BYU, @ AZ. Avoid - Utah
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Kenny Dillingham faces most of his toughest games on the road this year, not to mention a week 3 conference opener at Wembley Stadium in London. Despite having lost Sam Leavitt to LSU via Portal, and Jordyn Tyson to the 1st round of the draft; the Sun Devils roster has the most talent it has had under Dilly. A trend he has continued and improved each year of his tenure. QB1 is still undecided, but features good depth of QBs he has recruited to ASU, and a QB who portaled from the SEC that he recruited while Oregon's OC.
24 Florida State Seminoles Toughest Games - @ Bama, @ Miami, vs Clemson, vs FL.
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Mike Norvell's seat is Schrodinger's hot. It both is very hot, but they can't afford to fire him. He took them to undefeated P4 Champs, and got passed over in the 4 team CFP for a team with a loss, and the team hasn't recovered mentally from that. He still maintains a talented roster, and if he wins his big games this year, the Seminoles should be back in the CFP.
25 Washington Huskies Toughest Games - @ USC, vs Penn St, vs Indi, @ ORE. Avoid - UM, OSU.
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Surprisingly Fisch didn't end up at Florida, though they almost lost their QB to LSU, prior to some litigation stopping it. The huskies must visit strong longtime PAC-12 opponents this year.

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