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jtchr33 Ballot for 2026 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 17, 2026, 11:30 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Oh god, oh no, what do I do.
Next few teams
Winner of Auburn/Baylor; not confident on either team, but this game can at least give an initial look and indication where the teams/conferences are headed.
Iowa: not convinced on anything until I see what their offence....attempts to do.
Clemson; only if they beat LSU
NDSU: why not.
Iowa State: let me dream, a team that will try to beat everyone with field goals.

Rank Team Reason
1 Oregon Ducks Very curious if they come back fighting for the top. If there is a year in the B1G, this may be Oregon's
2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hard to argue that they won't be good and that they won't win every game
3 Ohio State Buckeyes I think Indiana pissed them off a lot last year, could be a fun revenge tour. Schedule has some possible unseen trap games.
4 Georgia Bulldogs I have no idea how the SEC will go, but them and Texas should be the top.
5 Miami Hurricanes Honestly, biggest surprise in the CFP last year. If they keep that fight up, hard for me to see them fall much.
6 Texas Longhorns Just like Georgia, should be good, could make a good step up to take the conference and a win or two more in the CFP.
7 Indiana Hoosiers Cignetti wouldn't talk this much if he couldn't back it up. Want to see them prove it though, but it may take a bit to get there.
8 Ole Miss Rebels I never really could tell if I liked them in the CFP because they weren't the normal SEC playoff team or hated them because of SEC team. Either way, may be the under the radar SEC pick that does well in the CFP, I wouldn't complain (much) if they do it again.
9 BYU Cougars Very scary team. No one will want to see them this year, especially anyone outside the conference, could be like the ole miss or Miami of the CFP.
10 Alabama Crimson Tide Was wondering if Alabama was going to be in my top 10 when putting this together, welp this is where the ended up. Hard to see them compete for the top, but I could see this season get ugly again really quickly.
11 Michigan Wolverines Another team I don't really know what to do with besides say 'tier 2 of the B1G'
12 Texas A&M Aggies Are they out of their funny record cycle, or do we return to the meme again this season. Had a summer intern from them, he told me they will still be good, but I still have my doubts.
13 Texas Tech Red Raiders Talent is there, everything else is not. I have a feeling they are going to be the first team in the top 15 to drop out of the rankings this year due to loosing to one of their easy non conference games.
14 Penn State Nittany Lions Iowa State 2.0.........which was good, a few good extra pieces should ease the offensive transformation Campbell hopes to bring. Very concerned about defense, that was what kept Iowa State games; not having that great defense I think caps this team at a 9-3 season. Guessing most of their games will be pretty obvious, either win or lose by a lot.
15 Utah Utes Another dangerous big 12 team that is hungry for a conference title. Some year everything will come together for Utah and we will see their true potential. Maybe this year?
16 SMU Mustangs At least will admit I have a soft spot for them. Keep the ACC fun guys and scare everyone else.
17 Oklahoma Sooners Side eyes hard; still very unsure how you will end up. Don't expect to be here long.
18 Houston Cougars Utah comment applies here. Houston is the obvious dark horse big 12 pick. Can they actually live up or get to competing for the conference title? Very excited for the Utah game, two very similar teams and styles as of recent. Which one will prevail and have a great chance to make the CCG.
19 Tennessee Volunteers I never want to write this team on or off. Lets check in again after a few weeks to see what trajectory this team is headed.
20 TCU Horned Frogs The true big 12 dark horse. This should be a fun team to keep an eye on.
21 Washington Huskies I don't know what to do with these last 4 /5 teams. Kind of all clumped them together here and will revisit each week.
22 Louisville Cardinals ACC dark horse...assuming everything doesn't get weird in the ACC again.
23 USC Trojans I don't know why they were here...oh yeah, to keep Iowa out mostly. Don't know why many are ranking them higher, just get ready for all those 'fell for it again awards' when they are trying to reach a bowl game at the end of the year
24 LSU Tigers Really don't want to fall for it again with them, but will at least call myself out on it if it happens again.
25 Navy Midshipmen obligatory G5 inclusion. G5 is always hard to predict preseason. Them, UNLV, Tulane, NDSU, and others could easily break their way in here.

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