DarthYoda2594 Ballot for 2026 Week 6
Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Oct. 4, 2026, 8:18 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Tier of "rankable" expanded slightly this week but only to #15. A couple of the teams I'm lower on (SMU, USC) stay out because they didn't show me enough in wins to overcome my bad perception of them, but at least USC's defense improved. I'm anxious to see how some of the teams with easier starting schedules (Baylor, Nebraska, Pitt to name a few) play against better competition - right now I'm trying to withhold moving them up too much off record alone. Dropped out: Mississippi State (13) - Loss was just too bad at home. They'll be fine, but recency is at least something of a factor and it doesn't get worse than that, Iowa (18) - Fine, just found more rankable teams. Win over michigan is basically nothing at this point, Virginia Tech (21), Kentucky (23) - Road win, but as uninspiring as possible. A&M win is nothing to me as well, Auburn (24). New this week: Missouri (16), Wake Forest (21), Wisconsin (22), Nebraska (23), Boise State (24). Next few out, in rough order: Mississippi State, Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern, NDSU, SMU, USC, Kentucky, Memphis, Arizona, Baylor
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
Everyone around them looks good - better than them even - but can't move them off #1 resume-wise when they beat who would otherwise be my #1 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
|
| 3 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
|
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
|
| 5 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
|
| 6 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
|
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
|
| 8 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
None of the top 8 moved, not because I felt like keeping them where they were but honestly I think the performances were almost exactly in line with where I already had them ranked. Maybe Notre Dame could be below Georgia, but I feel like that Wisconsin win keeps getting stronger. |
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
|
| 10 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
Florida loss got crushed, but I'm not sure that affects much for me - LSU win is still stronger, even at home |
| 11 |
LSU Tigers
|
|
| 12 |
Oregon Ducks
|
|
| 13 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
|
| 14 |
UCLA Bruins
|
|
| 15 |
Utah Utes
|
|
| 16 |
Missouri Tigers
|
Might be too high but as I said, drop off at #15 and I can't really justify having them behind Florida, at least on a one-week basis. |
| 17 |
Florida Gators
|
|
| 18 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
Couldn't really find a place to put them higher than this, but road top 40 win is nothing to sneeze at. And I'm not sure the Heintschel injury hurts them quite as much as you might expect - statistically, he has graded out horribly against good competition. |
| 19 |
Houston Cougars
|
|
| 20 |
Duke Blue Devils
|
|
| 21 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
|
| 22 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
|
| 23 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
|
| 24 |
Boise State Broncos
|
|
| 25 |
Oklahoma State Cowboys
|
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.33 |
| 3 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.23 |
| 8 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.33 |
| 11 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.05 |
| 13 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.31 |
| 14 |
UCLA Bruins
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Utah Utes
|
-0.44 |
| 16 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
0.00 |
| 19 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.33 |
| 20 |
Duke Blue Devils
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
0.49 |
| 22 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
0.43 |
| 23 |
Nebraska Cornhuskers
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Boise State Broncos
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Oklahoma State Cowboys
|
-0.23 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
0.69 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.47 |
USC Trojans
|
0.25 |
Total Score: 4.57