Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 11, 2026, 12:53 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Compile a list of the 25 teams with the best records. Best is fewest losses, and losses to teams on the list for having a better record (i.e. Indiana is undefeated, has one of the best records, Nebraska makes the list with their only loss being to Indiana. Oklahoma State has one loss, of which there are dozens of teams with one loss, to Tulsa, who was not on the list, so Oklahoma State does not have one of the best one-loss records. More wins > Fewer wins once the "losses to teams already included" metric runs out. Always better to lose to a team with a better record than a worse record. We follow this process down until we have 25 teams). This methodology rewards records, and strong non-conference scheduling, and inherently understands quality losses without incorporating preseason recruiting rankings or other metrics designed to overrate SEC teams. Once the list of teams is complete, rank holistically within based on strength of schedule, statistical performance, eye test, etc etc.

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Georgia Bulldogs
2	Indiana Hoosiers
3	Miami Hurricanes
4	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
5	Ohio State Buckeyes
6	Texas Tech Red Raiders
7	Utah Utes
8	UCLA Bruins
9	BYU Cougars
10	Kentucky Wildcats
11	James Madison Dukes
12	Alabama Crimson Tide
13	Iowa Hawkeyes
14	Houston Cougars
15	Nebraska Cornhuskers
16	Arizona Wildcats
17	USC Trojans
18	Tennessee Volunteers
19	Mississippi State Bulldogs
20	Northwestern Wildcats
21	Missouri Tigers
22	Wisconsin Badgers
23	Wake Forest Demon Deacons
24	Cincinnati Bearcats
25	Liberty Flames

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
2	Indiana Hoosiers	0.27
3	Miami Hurricanes	0.00
4	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.00
5	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.00
6	Texas Tech Red Raiders	0.32
7	Utah Utes	0.03
8	UCLA Bruins	0.00
9	BYU Cougars	0.00
10	Kentucky Wildcats	0.76
11	James Madison Dukes	2.13
12	Alabama Crimson Tide	-1.13
13	Iowa Hawkeyes	0.32
14	Houston Cougars	0.48
15	Nebraska Cornhuskers	1.02
16	Arizona Wildcats	1.88
17	USC Trojans	0.00
18	Tennessee Volunteers	0.00
19	Mississippi State Bulldogs	0.00
20	Northwestern Wildcats	0.00
21	Missouri Tigers	-1.23
22	Wisconsin Badgers	0.43
23	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	0.00
24	Cincinnati Bearcats	1.20
25	Liberty Flames	0.20

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
Texas Longhorns	3.98
Ole Miss Rebels	1.55
Oklahoma State Cowboys	0.81
Boise State Broncos	0.33

Total Score: 18.07