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quantum_jedi Ballot for 2026 Week 5

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Sept. 28, 2026, 4:03 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Resume ranking that evaluates teams based on who they beat/lost to. More points are awarded for beating good teams and less points are subtracted for losing to good teams. Preseason rankings are evaluated based on weighted previous two year's performance, returning production, and team talent composite. Beating an FCS opponent is awarded minimally, but losing is punished. Ranking score is modified by strength of opponent and travel distance to away games. Early season rankings are influenced heavily by strong non-conference wins (e.g., beating two decent teams is rewarded more than beating a single strong team and an FCS team) though this is biased by preseason rankings. Score accumulates throughout the season, so points are awarded based on the models perception of teams at the time. Higher weighting is given to big wins over losses.

Dang, the SEC is looking great so far! Big non-conference wins and very fun in-conference games so far.

Next five out: Pitt (38.00), Tennessee (37.52), UCLA (37.08), Virginia Tech (36.86), Kansas State (36.64)

Rank Team Reason
1 Texas Longhorns (66.13, +0) Another big win for the Longhorns, this time on the road in Knoxville. Honestly, Texas hasn't looked that good in any of their games but they are 4-0 with two of the, currently, best looking wins in the sport.
2 Georgia Bulldogs (54.35, +9) Speaking of looking the part, Georgia looks GOOD. Granted they haven't really played any serious opponents with obvious early season over-ranked Oklahoma and abysmal Arkansas, but the Dawgs are crushing every one in their path. Good luck Vandy...
3 Ole Miss Rebels (52.87, -1) Oof, Ole Miss got absolutely dominated by Florida. Missing Lacy is obviously big, but Ole Miss looked outclassed on all sides of the ball. Good time for a BYE week.
4 Florida Gators (52.86, +13) Wow, Florida looks frighteningly good. They rocket up the rankings this week with a bludgeoning of Ole Miss in the Swamp. Sumrall is a psychopath and the Gators look to keep rolling as they travel to a good Mizzou.
5 Alabama Crimson Tide (52.75, +3) Solid win for the Tide against a struggling South Carolina team. Alabama has a few issues to work before I'm totally convinced, but this looks to be DeBoer's best Alabama team yet. A must watch game next week with a visit to Starkville.
6 Indiana Hoosiers (51.15, +8) Indiana passes their first real test of the year with a road win over a good Northwestern. The Hoosiers need to be able to close out games against better teams, but a decent showing. Indiana should stay undefeated with a road trip to Rutgers coming up.
7 LSU Tigers (50.55, +9) Exactly what you want to see the Tigers do after an emotional loss the previous week. Massive win for the Tigers over an A&M team that might not actually be that good, but is definitely propping up several teams' resumes. FCS buy week coming up next.
8 Oregon Ducks (49.48, +7) Great team win for the Ducks over USC. I hope that Dante Moore can return fully healthy soon, but Dylan Raiola looked solid. Good time for a BYE week next and then a resurgent UCLA comes to Eugene.
9 Duke Blue Devils (48.75, -6) Duke crushed William & Mary, so not much to take away from this win. The Blue Devils drop simply because other teams beat FBS level opponents. Hard to take much away from this game. Up next is a BYE for Duke.
10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (48.57, -6) The Irish dominated in-state rival, Purdue. Like Duke, Notre Dame gets jumped by teams that beat serious opponents. The Irish are really good, but their schedule leaves a lot to be desired. Road trip to UNC up next.
11 Iowa Hawkeyes (46.63, +20) Huge win for the Hawkeyes over Michigan! They shoot up the rankings board with a Top 10 (by these rankings) on the road. Massive game next weekend with Ohio State coming to Iowa City (too bad it isn't a true night game in Kinnick).
12 Mississippi State Bulldogs (46.58, +12) Mississippi State keeps on winning and get a big win over the SEC's perfect resume booster in Mizzou. The Bulldogs are playing some good football right now and face a real test next week with Alabama traveling to Starkville.
13 Miami Hurricanes (46.13, -1) Miami vaporized Central Michigan. Not much to say about this result. Intriguing road game at Clemson next week.
14 Michigan Wolverines (43.81, -8) The final second giveth and the final second taketh. Michigan falls to Iowa on a last second touchdown. The Wolverines need to regroup for their first road game of the year at Minnesota.
15 Texas A&M Aggies (43.57, -8) Woof, the Aggies got dominated by LSU a week after being outclassed by Kentucky. No idea how A&M is still ranked after starting the 2-2, but losing to relatively strong teams is not punished as much as bad losses in this model. The Aggies have a chance at redemption with a home game against the Hogs next.
16 Ohio State Buckeyes (43.21, +6) Solid win for the Buckeyes over a floundering Illini squad. Huge game next week with a road trip to Iowa.
17 Auburn Tigers (42.88, +15) Big win for the Tigers over a Vandy team that this model was quite high on, hence the big jump in the rankings for Auburn. The Cardiac Cats have already played 3 one-possession games and we might get another one next week with a road trip to Knoxville.
18 Texas Tech Red Raiders (42.86, -8) Smashed Sam Houston, but that doesn't count for much these days as the Red Raiders get jumped by a number of teams with better wins. Texas Tech will try to keep on winning with a road trip to Boulder next week.
19 BYU Cougars (42.79, -10) Early season BYE week sees the Cougars drop a bit, since points are cumulative. Road trip to TCU is next.
20 Utah Utes (42.36, +5) Utah jumped out to a big lead over Iowa State and never looked back. The Utes are looking really good and get Kansas coming to Rice-Eccles next week.
21 Clemson Tigers (42.15, +6) I really don't know if Clemson is any good, but they earned a convincing road win against Cal. A real test looms with Miami visiting Clemson next week.
22 USC Trojans (41.67, -17) The Trojans have serious issues and need a serious reckoning to right the ship. This team looks the same as the last few years with a good offense, disappointing defense, and discipline problems. USC will look to get back on track with next week's home game against their "evil twin" in Washington (good defense, disappointing offense, and discipline problems).
23 Vanderbilt Commodores (41.51, -10) A tough loss against Auburn sees Vanderbilt tumble in these rankings. They will need to correct a number of issues if they hope to stay competitive with Georgia on the road.
24 Kentucky Wildcats (40.29, +4) Kentucky beat up South Alabama and is looking much improved this year under Will Stein. The Wildcats should move to 4-1 with a road trip to South Carolina next week.
25 Cincinnati Bearcats (38.99, +9) Great win for the Bearcats over a solid Kansas State team. Cincinnati moves to 4-0 and is looking solid. Interesting road game in the desert against Arizona is next. Should be a fun one.

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