Ballot Type: Computer
Submitted: Sept. 14, 2026, 5:35 p.m.
Overall Rationale: Relying on a combination base of SP+ and ESPN FPI ratings, I've devised my own "Game Grader" type system which tracks a Power Score for each game (opponent adjusted).
I keep it simple, I’m relatively newer at this, but how did your offense fare against the opponent defense rating? How did your defense fare against the opponent offense rating?
All games are opponent adjusted using SP+ Off and Def ratings, and compared to season averages. If you scored twice the amount of points that an opponent defense has been letting up all year, that’s a good bonus. But if your defense allowed the opponent offense to score more than they usually do per year. That’s a slight negative. It all relatively compares and boils down to a game score for each team. Reduced scores against FCS teams.
EARLY SEASON RANKINGS ARE NOT THE MOST ACCURATE. Early season shutout's seem to cause issues as well as beating up weak competition. I've found the first 4-5 weeks can be pretty sporadic, but I guess that's how computer polls go sometimes. Once conference play hits, things look more normal.
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
3.69 |
| 3 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.27 |
| 4 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
8.28 |
| 5 |
Auburn Tigers
|
7.93 |
| 6 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.12 |
| 7 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-0.22 |
| 8 |
Virginia Cavaliers
|
1.67 |
| 9 |
USF Bulls
|
15.67 |
| 10 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.61 |
| 11 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Duke Blue Devils
|
2.60 |
| 14 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.71 |
| 15 |
Michigan State Spartans
|
9.95 |
| 16 |
UCLA Bruins
|
1.70 |
| 17 |
North Dakota State Bison
|
3.64 |
| 18 |
North Texas Mean Green
|
7.25 |
| 19 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
-1.25 |
| 20 |
North Carolina Tar Heels
|
4.84 |
| 21 |
Maryland Terrapins
|
3.79 |
| 22 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
1.50 |
| 24 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
-3.61 |
| 25 |
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Miami Hurricanes
|
4.15 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
4.32 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
1.86 |
BYU Cougars
|
2.53 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
1.27 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
1.44 |
Utah Utes
|
1.43 |
SMU Mustangs
|
1.14 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.43 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.47 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
Louisville Cardinals
|
0.15 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.06 |
Total Score: 98.54