bwburke94 Ballot for 2026 Preseason
Ballot Type: Computer
Submitted: Aug. 18, 2026, 3:17 a.m.
Overall Rationale: I went human poll last year to bad results, so I'm back on the computer for 2026, applying my 2024 methodology to the 2025 season. Although this algorithm only uses wins and losses, and this is not a predictive metric, values given are converted to a projected point spread vs. an average FBS team. First 5 out are SMU, South Florida, Arizona, Navy, and Iowa State. Bottom 10 (best to worst) are Eastern Michigan, UL Monroe, Ball State, Georgia State, Northern Illinois, Middle Tennessee, UTEP, Sam Houston, Charlotte, and UMass. Best bowl-ineligible team is #54 Auburn. Worst bowl-eligible team is #103 Central Michigan, although #106 Rice and #111 Appalachian State got into bowls via opt-outs and APR. Obviously, because I'm basing a preseason poll on last year's results, that may distort the ratings compared to this year's team strengths; Indiana is unlikely to repeat.
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
+23.79963428 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
+19.00028519 |
| 3 |
Oregon Ducks
|
+18.57839575 |
| 4 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
+18.44871692 |
| 5 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
+17.97579007 |
| 6 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
+16.06954827 |
| 7 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
+16.06556517 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
+15.96146644 |
| 9 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
+15.66974705 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
+15.03270873 |
| 11 |
Utah Utes
|
+14.87078528 |
| 12 |
USC Trojans
|
+12.8250352 |
| 13 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
+12.27642736 |
| 14 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
+12.07528568 |
| 15 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
+12.03281665 |
| 16 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
+11.39528614 |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
+11.34175484 |
| 18 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
+11.02069845 |
| 19 |
James Madison Dukes
|
+11.02031474 |
| 20 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
+10.72733024 |
| 21 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
+10.24696488 |
| 22 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
+10.06604747 |
| 23 |
Washington Huskies
|
+9.92036462 |
| 24 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
+9.77536514 |
| 25 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
+9.40108205 |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.40 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.58 |
| 7 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-0.68 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.73 |
| 9 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Utah Utes
|
1.27 |
| 12 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
5.46 |
| 16 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
4.72 |
| 17 |
Texas Longhorns
|
-2.60 |
| 18 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
7.00 |
| 19 |
James Madison Dukes
|
3.83 |
| 20 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
2.27 |
| 21 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
-0.80 |
| 23 |
Washington Huskies
|
-0.16 |
| 24 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
0.73 |
| 25 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
0.03 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
LSU Tigers
|
1.69 |
SMU Mustangs
|
0.79 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.59 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.53 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.31 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.29 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.06 |
Total Score: 35.50