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MADBuc49 Ballot for 2026 Week 7

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Oct. 12, 2026, 7:07 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Week 7 notes: rare occurrence where recent results result in an unranked team losing gets ranked. WMU counted as having won Michigan game. General Notes: Methodology: FIRST layer (computer portion): SP+, opponents’ SP+, opponents’ opponents’ SP+, opponents’ win %, opponents’ opponents’ win %. SECOND layer (human portion): home/field/away, key injuries, P4/G6 status, watched game factors (ex: offensive/defensive line domination, rush yards after contact, average point of first contact, defensive penetration on non-inside screens, missed tackles, quarterback throwing release speed, overall turnovers, average starting field position, etc). THIRD layer (human portion): wins/losses vs higher-/lower-/non-ranked teams, recency of those results. FOURTH layer (computer portion): Deservedness = Team A cannot be ranked over Team B that has 2+ fewer losses (ex: 9-3 LSU can be ranked over 10-2 Missouri, but 9-3 LSU cannot be ranked over 11-1 Tulane even if LSU beat Tulane heads up, rankings have LSU over Tulane, and/or I think LSU is better than Tulane) unless Team B is giving a X loss allowance to Team A due to significantly fewer P4 games played. Loss allowances come into play when: P4 teams play 2 fewer P4 games than another P4 team (ex: 9-3 Arizona plays 10 P4 games, 11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P4 games, 10-8=2, 9-3 Arizona can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse); P4 teams play 6 fewer P4 games than a G6 team (11-1 Syracuse plays 8 P4 teams, 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P4 teams, 8-2=6, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Syracuse) unless the P4 team plays 0 P4 games then it is 7; G6 teams play 9 fewer P4 teams than a P4 team (ex: 9-3 South Carolina plays 10 P4 games, 11-1 Boise State plays 1 P4 games, 10-0=0, 9-3 South Carolina can be ranked over 11-1 Boise State); or G6 teams play 2 fewer P4 games than another G6 team (ex: 9-3 Charlotte plays 2 P4 games, 11-1 Liberty plays 0 P4 games, 2-0=2, 9-3 Charlotte can be ranked over 11-1 Liberty). If the game differential exceeds more than 2/6/9/2 in those scenarios, add another loss allowance for each additional P4 game played difference in that scenario. Further allowances given when a P4 team plays 8-9 P4 games and when a G6 team plays 0 P4 games (no P4 non-cons).

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs +2. Would be the #1 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #8 UCLA/#9 Utah in the Peach Bowl
2 Alabama Crimson Tide +2. Would be the #2 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #7 Indiana/#10 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl
3 Miami Hurricanes +2. Would be the #3 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #6 Ohio State/#11 Wake Forest in the Fiesta Bowl
4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish +2. Would be the #4 playoff seed in this scenario, playing the winner of #5 Texas/#12 Boise State in the Rose Bowl
5 Texas Longhorns -4. Would be the #5 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #12 Boise State in the first round
6 Ohio State Buckeyes -4. Would be the #6 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #11 Wake Forest in the first round
7 Indiana Hoosiers +0. Would be the #7 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #10 Texas Tech in the first round
8 UCLA Bruins +0. Would be the #8 playoff seed in this scenario, hosting #9 Utah in the first round
9 Utah Utes +1. Would be the #9 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #8 UCLA in the first round
10 Texas Tech Red Raiders +1. Would be the #10 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #7 Indiana in the first round
11 Wake Forest Demon Deacons +1. Would be the #11 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #6 Ohio State in the first round
12 Mississippi State Bulldogs +1
13 BYU Cougars +2
14 Northwestern Wildcats +0
15 Missouri Tigers +1
16 Ole Miss Rebels +2
17 Kentucky Wildcats NEW
18 Houston Cougars +2
19 Tennessee Volunteers +2
20 Iowa Hawkeyes +3
21 Nebraska Cornhuskers +3
22 Wisconsin Badgers NEW
23 Oklahoma State Cowboys NEW
24 Oregon Ducks NEW
25 Arizona Wildcats NEW. Boise State would be the #12 playoff seed in this scenario, playing at #5 Texas in the first round

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