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ToeInDigDeep Ballot for 2026 Week 5

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 27, 2026, 5:49 p.m.

Overall Rationale: This ballot privileges wins, and recognizes the achievement of undefeated teams.

My contention is that early losses can and should challenge priors folks have about teams from preseason expectations and talent composites. We've already seen a number of favorites get upset, and I contend that wins really do matter and losses can invite reconsideration or at least allow space for the teams that have won to rise to the top of the rankings.

Teams that have close losses to challenging opponents will rise in the next weeks, and and no one is being "punished" for not being ranked. There are only 22 teams who are undefeated already, so this group is pretty special!

There will continue be a lot of movement throughout the season, but these teams are the ones who have won in the biggest contests on the field of play so far.

Perhaps more so than other submissions, I see all the conferences as being important and make room at the lower end of the ballot for strong performances or expectations from non-Autonomy conferences, so I include some expected conference champions or those with high expectations for the season.

Again, this will change wildly throughout the season in response to what happens on the field of play and I make an effort to avoid biases and poll inertia, even when it provides ballot submissions that differ from other national polls.

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