Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 17, 2026, 11:12 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Pre-season rankings are determined by a combination of polls, success last season, and major departures. Total vibes. Has very little bearing on future polls.

Main season rankings use the Brian Heidik Method: a win is a win is a win.It doesn't matter how you get there, so long as at the end of the day you are on top. This system can experience wild fluctuation week-to-week as it becomes harder to remain undefeated, and losses to undefeated teams carry more weight.

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Indiana Hoosiers
2	Ohio State Buckeyes
3	Miami Hurricanes
4	Texas Longhorns
5	Oregon Ducks
6	Georgia Bulldogs
7	Texas Tech Red Raiders
8	Texas A&M Aggies
9	BYU Cougars
10	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
11	Ole Miss Rebels
12	Alabama Crimson Tide
13	Utah Utes
14	Vanderbilt Commodores
15	SMU Mustangs
16	USC Trojans
17	Michigan Wolverines
18	Arizona Wildcats
19	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
20	Houston Cougars
21	James Madison Dukes
22	Tennessee Volunteers
23	Iowa Hawkeyes
24	Oklahoma Sooners
25	Clemson Tigers

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Indiana Hoosiers	0.40
2	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.00
3	Miami Hurricanes	0.48
4	Texas Longhorns	0.00
5	Oregon Ducks	-0.70
6	Georgia Bulldogs	-0.12
7	Texas Tech Red Raiders	0.29
8	Texas A&M Aggies	0.17
9	BYU Cougars	0.48
10	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	-0.78
11	Ole Miss Rebels	0.00
12	Alabama Crimson Tide	0.00
13	Utah Utes	0.85
14	Vanderbilt Commodores	6.09
15	SMU Mustangs	0.46
16	USC Trojans	0.00
17	Michigan Wolverines	0.00
18	Arizona Wildcats	3.18
19	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	5.75
20	Houston Cougars	0.00
21	James Madison Dukes	2.33
22	Tennessee Volunteers	0.00
23	Iowa Hawkeyes	0.00
24	Oklahoma Sooners	-2.87
25	Clemson Tigers	0.00

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
LSU Tigers	1.69
Washington Huskies	0.96
Penn State Nittany Lions	0.53
Louisville Cardinals	0.29
Missouri Tigers	0.06

Total Score: 28.48