Back to poll results >>

Xy13 Ballot for 2026 Week 2

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 8, 2026, 3:59 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Week 0+1 Overreactions. Poll inertia from the preseason polls should be resisted at all costs. | Combination of Strength of Record, Eye Test, Statlines (Emphasis on QB play), and expected record based on remaining schedule.

Rank Team Reason
1 LSU Tigers {+6} [1-0] (51-10 W vs Clemson)
---
Lots of teams put up impressive scorelines against their week 1 cupcakes, but LSU absolutely dominated a top 15 talent composite Clemson so hard most people think it's over for Dabo now. Sam Leavitt didn't even have a remarkable game. They played harder and faster than pretty much every other team I saw. Their defense was suffocating and their run game was exercising it's will freely.
2 Miami Hurricanes {+3} [1-0] (45-6 W @ Stanford)
---
As above, this wasn't against southeastern middle chattenouga polytechnical a&m, but an ACC conference game. Mensah was immaculate with 401 passing yards, 90% completions, 5 TDs/0 INTs. An Early Heisman Leader.
3 USC Trojans {+13} [2-0] (42-26 W vs San Jose St, 39-0 W vs Frenso St)
---
Don't let the final fool you vs San Jose St. It was basically all garbage time points allowed vs their 3rd string defense. Maiava is another Early Heisman Leader, thru 2 games he is at 635 yds passing, 5 TDs / 0 INTs, 89% completion.
4 Texas Longhorns {+5} [1-0] (59-7 W vs Texas St)
---
Manning seemed good in a low pressure environment, let's see how they do hosting OSU next week. I give them the edge for homefield advantage. Should be hot for Ohio State players too. Winner will prob go to #1.
5 Ohio State Buckeyes {+1) [1-0] (56-3 W vs Ball St)
---
Well, it's OSU. Getting players drafted in the 1st round, and coordinators poached, seems to not matter, as usual. Big road game @ TX where it should be hot. Winner will prob go to #1.
6 Georgia Bulldogs {-1} [1-0] (63-3 W vs Tennessee St)
---
Stockton only had 202 yards, but did so with 93.8% completion, 3 TDs / 0 INTs.
7 Indiana Hoosiers {-6} [1-0] (52-16 W vs North Texas)
---
Hoover seems to have stepped into the Cignetti system well. I expected a little better rushing and defensive performance, but UNT was one of the potential G6 CFP bids last year.
8 Oklahoma Sooners {+6} [1-0] (51-0 W vs UTEP)
---
Everyone wants to see them pound Michigan this weekend after the officials gave them an extra second of clock, and the Bail Mary saves them from a 12-7 loss to Western Michigan.
9 Texas A&M Aggies {+5} [1-0] (50-0 W vs Missouri St)
---
A&M had a balanced offense with 269 passing yards to 236 rushing yards. Fans complained about lack of pocket protection, which lead to 2 sacks.
10 Oregon Ducks {-8} [1-0] (34-27 W vs Boise St)
---
Boise St seems to be Oregon kryptonite. That's a couple years of close games. Let's hope this was a blip and gave them a wake up call. Moore still played a great game at QB.
11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish {-8} [1-0] (41-13 W vs Wisconsin - Neutral Field)
---
Boy, ND STRUGGLED against Wisconsin (Who went '26 4-8, '25 5-7 in the last 2 years). They were on upset alert with a nearly tied game at halftime. Made the final look better than the game went in the 4th quarter though.
12 Penn State Nittany Lions {-2} [1-0] (45-0 vs Marshall)
---
I think I heard this was Rocco Becht's best game ever. Good sign, also one of their only 2 hard games looks like it got a lot easier. Bump to their CCG odds.
13 Alabama Crimson Tide {-2} [1-0] (48-10 W vs East Carolina)
---
0 passing TDs is wild. Russell is a good dual threat it would seem though.
14 BYU Cougars {-2} [1-0] (63-7 W vs Utah Tech)
---
Bachmeier featured an 80% completion rate. 4 forced turnovers is great, let's see if they can keep that momentum up.
15 Iowa Hawkeyes {-} [1-0] (40-0)
---
Does Iowa have an offense now?
16 Tennessee Volunteers {+1} [1-0] (56-9)
---
3 QBs with an average of 78% completion rating, 11.4 yd average, and 4 TDs / 0 INTs cumulative. It's nice to have backups, though the started accounted for 5 total TDs. They also managed to rush more than they passed.
17 SMU Mustangs {+3} [1-0] (27-24 W @ Florida St)
---
Power Outages aside, SMU imposed their will on FSU with 430 passing yards, the only one stopping them, was themselves. 2 INTs, 2 lost fumbles.
18 Florida Gators {+1} [1-0] (66-21 W vs FAU)
---
The offense is rolling, would like to see the defense improve some as they prepare for SEC play in a few weeks.
19 Arizona State Sun Devils {+4} [1-0] (70-7 W vs Morgan St)
---
I had no idea the coaches could agree to shorten the 4th quarter. Harris and Miller might be the best WR Duo in all of CFB. We gotta keep Hines Ward as our WR coach. Hard to tell how the QB did, he had some bum throws, and INT that got ruled incomplete inexplicably, and a lot of his passes were just screens. Still, 6 passing TDs leads CFB.
20 Utah Utes {NR} [1-0] (66-14 W vs Idaho)
---
Utah's first game without Whittingham in 21 years seems to have gone off without a hitch.
21 Washington Huskies {+4} [1-0] (24-10 vs Washington St - Rivalry Game)
---
Not the Offense we were expecting to see from UDub. I don't like Rivalry Games Week 1. F Conference Realignment.
22 Houston Cougars {NR} [1-0] (33-20 W vs Oregon St)
---
I had Houston just outside my preseason top 25, and they beat more than a cupcake in this opponent.
23 Texas Tech Red Raiders {-15} [1-0] (33-10 W vs Abilene Chrstn)
---
Solid W, but didn't quite live up to the hype they were having about running the conference. They will play a common opponent of Houston, Oregon St, this week, which will provide better comparisons.
24 Ole Miss Rebels {-2} [1-0] (41-38 W vs Louisville)
---
A win is a win, but frankly Louisville should've won this game, not Ole Miss. It wasn't a scandal like Michigan's game, but they lost a lot of stock in my view. Time expiring field goal saves an OT battle.
25 Boise State Broncos {NR} [0-1] (27-34 L @ #2 Oregon)
---
My 1 honorary losing record ranking, solely for how will they played against #2 Oregon, in Oregon's house. The game was on upset alert until the end.

Back to poll results >>