Rhizical Ballot for 2026 Preseason
Ballot Type: Computer
Submitted: Aug. 16, 2026, 10:12 p.m.
Overall Rationale: Final computer rankings of 2025.
Model summary:
This ranking runs on the optimal transport problem. Teams gather "mass" by playing games (more when they win), to which the Sinkhorn algorithm is applied to find the most optimal way to move each team's mass into each ranking slot. Only FBS vs FBS games considered. Factors of assigning mass are estimated quality of opponent (win record*strength of schedule^3) and point margin (up to 17).
Used final 2025 since it's similar to the Colley Matrix where it's blind to everything outside of the games, so with no games there's no ranking
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
|
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
|
| 3 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
|
| 4 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
|
| 5 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
|
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
|
| 7 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
|
| 8 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
|
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
|
| 10 |
Utah Utes
|
|
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
|
| 12 |
USC Trojans
|
|
| 13 |
Washington Huskies
|
|
| 14 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
|
| 15 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
|
| 16 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
|
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
|
| 18 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
|
| 19 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
|
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
|
| 21 |
USF Bulls
|
|
| 22 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
|
| 23 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
|
| 24 |
SMU Mustangs
|
|
| 25 |
Old Dominion Monarchs
|
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.40 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.88 |
| 3 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
1.10 |
| 4 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
-1.03 |
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
-1.37 |
| 7 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-0.68 |
| 8 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.01 |
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.48 |
| 10 |
Utah Utes
|
1.48 |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Washington Huskies
|
1.03 |
| 14 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
11.00 |
| 15 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
-0.22 |
| 16 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
8.73 |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
-2.60 |
| 18 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
3.58 |
| 19 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
2.89 |
| 20 |
James Madison Dukes
|
3.08 |
| 21 |
USF Bulls
|
4.13 |
| 22 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
-2.28 |
| 23 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
0.41 |
| 24 |
SMU Mustangs
|
-0.29 |
| 25 |
Old Dominion Monarchs
|
0.21 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
LSU Tigers
|
1.69 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
1.91 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.59 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.53 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.51 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.31 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.29 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.06 |
Total Score: 53.76