PlactusTX Ballot for 2026 Week 3
Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Sept. 13, 2026, 2:23 a.m.
Overall Rationale: First divide teams into tiers, then sort within each tier.
For early season polls, tiers are based on preseason projected finish, with spot adjustments made to avoid teams being in a lower tier than someone they beat.
This week, this led to Oregon and Boise State dropping to tier 4, because keeping Oregon in Tier 3 would result in Tulsa and Oklahoma State being ranked.
Tiers will be completely reevaluated once there are enough results to do so, and then each week after.
Dropped out: 3 Oregon, 22 Oklahoma, 23 Illinois, 24 Arizona
First five out: Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arizona, Arizona State, Louisville
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
LW: 4 | W Ohio State | Tier 1 | Wins: T1, T5 |
| 2 |
LSU Tigers
|
LW: 2 | W Louisiana Tech | Tier 1 | Wins: T3, T5 |
| 3 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
LW: 1 | W Rice | Tier 1 | Wins: T3, T6 |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
LW: 5 | W Howard | Tier 1 | Wins: T5, T7 |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
LW: 7 | W Western Kentucky | Tier 1 | Wins: T6, I-AA |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
LW: 6 | L Texas | Tier 1 | Win: T6 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
LW: 11 | W Arizona State | Tier 2 | Wins: T3, T5 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
LW: 15 | W Arizona | Tier 2 | Wins: T3, I-AA |
| 9 |
SMU Mustangs
|
LW: 9 | W California-Davis | Tier 2 | Wins: T4, I-AA |
| 10 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
LW: 10 | W Kentucky | Tier 2 | Wins: T5, T6 |
| 11 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
LW: 13 | W Iowa State | Tier 2 | Wins: T5, T6 |
| 12 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
LW: 10 | W Florida A&M | Tier 2 | Wins: T5, I-AA |
| 13 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
LW: 14 | W Oregon State | Tier 2 | Wins: T5, I-AA |
| 14 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
LW: 12 | W Temple | Tier 2 | Wins: T6, T6 |
| 15 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
LW: NR | W Oklahoma | Tier 3 | Wins: T3, T4 |
| 16 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
LW: 16 | W Charlotte | Tier 3 | Wins: T3, T6 |
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
LW: 17 | W Norfolk State | Tier 3 | Wins: T4, I-AA |
| 18 |
USC Trojans
|
LW: 18 | W Louisiana | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, T5, T6 |
| 19 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
LW: 20 | W Central Florida | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, T5 |
| 20 |
Washington Huskies
|
LW: 19 | W Utah State | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, T6 |
| 21 |
Virginia Tech Hokies
|
LW: 25 | W Old Dominion | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, I-AA |
| 22 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
LW: NR | W Georgia Tech | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, I-AA |
| 23 |
Utah Utes
|
LW: NR | W Arkansas | Tier 3 | Wins: T5, I-AA |
| 24 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
LW: 21 | W Ohio | Tier 3 | Wins: T6, T6 |
| 25 |
Clemson Tigers
|
LW: NR | W Georgia Southern | Tier 3 | Win: T6 |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.54 |
| 3 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.53 |
| 9 |
SMU Mustangs
|
1.17 |
| 10 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
1.48 |
| 12 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
-0.84 |
| 13 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.79 |
| 16 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
-0.58 |
| 17 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
USC Trojans
|
-0.62 |
| 19 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
1.69 |
| 20 |
Washington Huskies
|
1.06 |
| 21 |
Virginia Tech Hokies
|
1.99 |
| 22 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
-0.54 |
| 23 |
Utah Utes
|
-0.75 |
| 24 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
0.56 |
| 25 |
Clemson Tigers
|
0.24 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Houston Cougars
|
0.43 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.47 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.15 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.06 |
Total Score: 14.49