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quantum_jedi Ballot for 2026 Week 6

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 5, 2026, 12:45 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.

Starting to see some separation and the better teams are starting to distinguish themselves from the pack.

Next five out: Utah (43.42), Arizona (43.36), Clemson (43.27), JMU (42.73), Auburn (42.34)

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs (68.39, +1) The Dawgs assume the #1 spot in this week's rankings. A little back and forth in the first half against Vandy, but Georgia hit another gear in the second half and pulled away. Gargantuan game next week as the bulldogs head on over to Tuscaloosa.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide (67.39, +3) Absolute domination for the Tide as they rolled over Mississippi State. Coleman-Williams is living up to the hype and Alabama is cruising. DeBoer coached teams have always looked the part in big games, can the Tide keep it going with Georgia coming to Bryant-Denny?
3 Texas Longhorns (66.38, -2) On BYE this week. Red River is next for the Longhorns, which should be an easy win for Texas but you never know...
4 Miami Hurricanes (60.80, +9) Blasted Clemson on the road in Death Valley. Miami looks like they might be even better than last year.
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (59.00, +5) Managed to hang on and beat UNC, but that looked mighty dicey at times. The Irish should cruise next week with Stanford heading to South Bend.
6 Ohio State Buckeyes (58.08, +10) There was some discourse that Iowa could be a sneaky upset pick, but the Buckeyes were having none of that. Jeremiah Smith is incredible and Ohio State isn't trying to complicate anything and just keeps feeding Smith. Poor Maryland...
7 Indiana Hoosiers (55.50, -1) The Hoosiers rolled over Rutgers and have now won 21 straight games, however, the schedule difficulty is about to ramp up as Indiana travels to undefeated Nebraska next.
8 LSU Tigers (55.10, -1) Beat McNeese. Always nice to sneak a mid-season FCS game in before an SEC road trip, this time the Tigers travel to Lexington to play an intriguing Kentucky.
9 Ole Miss Rebels (-6) The Rebels were idle this week. Next week is a road trip to Vandy.
10 BYU Cougars (52.84, +9) Kind of dicey win for the Cougars over a struggling TCU. Good win on the road though and BYU stays undefeated on the year. BYU get Iowa State coming to Provo next.
11 Texas Tech Red Raiders (52.75, +7) Texas Tech keeps playing with fire and managed to eke out the win despite advanced metrics thinking that Colorado outplayed the Red Raiders. Offense needs to be better if Texas Tech hopes to be competitive with the truly good teams ahead of them.
12 USC Trojans (52.72, +10) In a game that both teams tried their best to lose, USC managed to lose less than Washington. USC is clearly not the #12 team, but their resume looks solid with their only loss being against a very good Oregon team. Big road trip next week to Penn State.
13 Missouri Tigers (52.29, +18) Perhaps I have been too harsh on the Tigers. They smashed what I thought was a resurgent Florida squad. Perhaps the middle of the SEC is really strong, but they could also all be meh. Regardless, great win for Mizzou who gets to stay home with a struggling A&M up next.
14 Florida Gators (52.07, -10) What a wild ride for the Gators this year. Huge emotional swings with big wins and big losses. Florida will look to get back to their previous form as South Carolina limps into the Swamp.
15 Texas A&M Aggies (51.74, +0) Good bounce back win for the Aggies over Arkansas. Nothing remarkable, but took care of business which is what you want to see. A big "prove-it" matchup next week as A&M travels to Mizzou.
16 Tennessee Volunteers (51.72, +11) Solid win for Tennessee who ran all over Auburn. Road trip to Arkansas is next and I expect the Vols to keep the ground game churning.
17 Pittsburgh Panthers (51.36, +9) Incredible ending to one of the most entertaining games of the year so far. Pitt gets a huge road win over the Hokies and now heads back home with UNC coming to town next.
18 Oregon Ducks (50.09, -10) The Ducks are a victim of the BYE week and drop in the rankings due to other teams amassing solids wins a jumping their score. Big time game next with a much improved UCLA coming into Eugene. We'll see if Dante Moore is OK to play, otherwise Oregon will have to rely on Dylan Raiola, who did look solid against USC.
19 Mississippi State Bulldogs (49.62, -7) Welp, that was a bit of a soul crushing loss. The Bulldogs just couldn't get out of their own way against Alabama and committed four turnovers. It doesn't get any easier for State with a huge road trip to LSU after a much needed BYE week next.
20 Kentucky Wildcats (49.43, +4) Really strong start for the Wildcats who notch their fourth win of the year. Will Stein has revitalized this program and will look to maintain their momentum with LSU coming to Lexington.
21 Duke Blue Devils (49.24, -12) Drop due to an early BYE week, but will get the payback later throughout the rest of the season. Road trip to Georgia Tech up next, and barring a collapse, look for the Blue Devils to move to 5-0.
22 Iowa Hawkeyes (47.07, -11) Tough loss for Iowa, but they looked a tier below Ohio State. Look for the Hawkeyes to bounce back with a road trip to Washington up next, who are somehow favored.
23 Baylor Bears (45.75, +11) Vaporized Arizona State. Baylor is looking so much better than last year. The Bears get a BYE up next.
24 Vanderbilt Commodores (44.33, -1) Vanderbilt stays in the rankings despite the loss to Georgia. Commodores hung in there for the first half, but had no response in the second. Vandy gets Ole Miss at home next.
25 Minnesota Golden Gophers (43.71, +21) Amazing win for the Gophers who beat Michigan at home for the first time since 1977! PJ Fleck is a madman, but has Minnesota playing very well. Road trip to Purdue up next.

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