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thatoneguyD13 Ballot for 2026 Week 6

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 4, 2026, 1:55 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Early season rankings are based largely on expected results versus other ranked teams, and as the season goes leans more heavily on results. By the end of the season, rankings are based entirely on resume. I lean heavily into head to head results and results against common opponents. I also sort teams into 6 tiers based on championship/playoff likelihood. Tier 1: Championship Frontrunners who are highly likely to make the playoffs, Tier 2: Playoff Teams who could conceivably win the championship but are behind Tier 1, Tier 3: Playoff Possibilities who are unlikely to compete for a championship, Tier 4: Teams with an outside shot at making the playoffs, Tier 5: Teams that can't make the playoffs except for winning conference or unprecedented chaos Tier 6: Teams that are eliminated from playoff contention. Tiers 5 and 6 don't enter into the top 25 until very late in the year.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Tier 1. So far the most dominant team but a big test this Saturday.
2 Texas Longhorns Tier 1.
3 Ohio State Buckeyes Tier 1. Team improving on both sides of the ball with best player in CFB on offense.
4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Tier 2.
5 Alabama Crimson Tide Tier 2. Huge win over Miss St vaults them into top 5. Win over Georgia might put them at #1.
6 Indiana Hoosiers Tier 2.
7 Miami Hurricanes Tier 2.
8 Texas Tech Red Raiders Tier 3.
9 BYU Cougars Tier 3.
10 Utah Utes Tier 3.
11 Tennessee Volunteers Tier 4.
12 Oklahoma State Cowboys Tier 4. Win over Oregon keeping them up here. If they lose again they'd probably drop out of top 25.
13 Oregon Ducks Tier 4.
14 Mississippi State Bulldogs Tier 4. Tough loss but other good wins keeping them up here
15 Missouri Tigers Tier 4.
16 Duke Blue Devils Tier 4.
17 Florida Gators Tier 4.
18 Ole Miss Rebels Tier 4.
19 LSU Tigers Tier 4.
20 Pittsburgh Panthers Tier 4. Injured QB factoring into drop despite win.
21 Kentucky Wildcats Tier 4.
22 Northwestern Wildcats Tier 4. Big win over PSU and close loss to Indiana are solid indicators that this is a good team.
23 Boise State Broncos Tier 4.
24 Iowa Hawkeyes Tier 4. Loss to OSU hurts less than their signature win being less impressive.
25 Nebraska Cornhuskers Tier 4.

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