Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 4, 2026, 2:08 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Trying to lean 50/25/25 on who I think has the best resume, with who I think would win on a neutral site, and in general how it looks like they’ll project in the back half of the season. Obviously bias comes in, no poll is ever 100% consistent, but I’m doing my best to keep hopium, inertia, and bias to a minimum.

Also considered (in alphabetical order) - Baylor, Boise State (Honorary #26) James Madison, Kentucky, New Mexico, Northwestern, SMU, USC, Wisconsin

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Texas Longhorns
2	Georgia Bulldogs
3	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4	Ohio State Buckeyes
5	Alabama Crimson Tide
6	Miami Hurricanes
7	Indiana Hoosiers
8	Ole Miss Rebels
9	LSU Tigers
10	Utah Utes
11	BYU Cougars
12	Oregon Ducks
13	Florida Gators
14	Texas Tech Red Raiders
15	Iowa Hawkeyes
16	UCLA Bruins
17	Mississippi State Bulldogs
18	Missouri Tigers
19	Wake Forest Demon Deacons
20	Duke Blue Devils
21	Oklahoma State Cowboys
22	North Dakota State Bison
23	Pittsburgh Panthers
24	Tennessee Volunteers
25	Nebraska Cornhuskers

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Texas Longhorns	0.00
2	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
3	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.00
4	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.05
5	Alabama Crimson Tide	0.00
6	Miami Hurricanes	-0.20
7	Indiana Hoosiers	0.00
8	Ole Miss Rebels	0.70
9	LSU Tigers	0.38
10	Utah Utes	0.00
11	BYU Cougars	0.00
12	Oregon Ducks	0.05
13	Florida Gators	0.25
14	Texas Tech Red Raiders	-0.46
15	Iowa Hawkeyes	0.68
16	UCLA Bruins	0.00
17	Mississippi State Bulldogs	0.00
18	Missouri Tigers	0.00
19	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	1.29
20	Duke Blue Devils	0.00
21	Oklahoma State Cowboys	0.00
22	North Dakota State Bison	0.00
23	Pittsburgh Panthers	0.00
24	Tennessee Volunteers	-0.49
25	Nebraska Cornhuskers	-0.04

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
USC Trojans	0.25
Houston Cougars	0.25

Total Score: 5.10