Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 12, 2026, 12:34 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Computer swap mechanisms with random swaps used to fill in unknowns based on past season data outcomes and then recombined in Monte Carlo. I added a model is confident in ranked status, to certify that all runs within a standard deviation from the mean resulted in a ranked status. Well shaken out, if a bit surprised with what is going on in 15-25. Very happy with who is in 25-30, variation wearing out. Not happy with SEC fest, but until the conference plays other teams, it'll remain.

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00 - Defeating the Crimson tide gives the model full confidence. This is the best team in the nation, until proven otherwise. The SEC is dominant by a substantial margin. Confident in ranked status.
2	Alabama Crimson Tide	11.18 - Loss to Georgia isn't treated all that bad, to my surprise. Confident in ranked status. Up next Tennessee!
3	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	12.48 - Dominant again. Confident in ranked status. Up next, BYU!
4	Mississippi State Bulldogs	13.72 - Bye week treats them well. Up next, LSU!
5	Indiana Hoosiers	14.78 - Win over Nebraska is a great signal. Up next, Ohio State!
6	UCLA Bruins	16.06 - Win over craziness in the Oregon train allows UCLA safety. Up next, Wisconsin!
7	Miami Hurricanes	17.72 - Miami (FL) laughs at the rest of ACC's misfortune.
8	Texas Tech Red Raiders	20.73 - BYE.
9	BYU Cougars	20.91 - Shaky win against my Cyclones :( Up next, Notre Dame!
10	James Madison Dukes	23.04 - Survive and advance.
11	Utah Utes	27.09 - Personal favorite for the Big XII title.
12	Missouri Tigers	28.15 - Established. Up next, Ole Miss!
13	Texas Longhorns	28.22 - Nice job, Manning.
14	Ohio State Buckeyes	29.09 - Meh. Up next, Indiana! (Caught off guard).
15	Nebraska Cornhuskers	31.67 - Despite losing to Indiana, they actually rise as the quality of wins increases.
16	Boise State Broncos	32.06 - Solid.
17	Houston Cougars	33.30 - I suspect they will show the Cowboys who are the real Big XII contender.
18	South Carolina Gamecocks	33.55 - There are consequences to treating overtime as ties, and ranking Mississippi State #4.
19	Tennessee Volunteers	34.03 - Up next, Alabama!
20	Kentucky Wildcats	34.04 - Two ties reminds one of Connecticut.
21	LSU Tigers	34.12 - Honestly shocked above Ole Miss. 4-1-1, with a better loss does do some explaining, but... I don't like it. I hope they get crushed against, up next, Mississippi State!
22	Wisconsin Badgers	34.82 - Up next, UCLA! What a stacked week.
23	Iowa Hawkeyes	35.48 - Silencing.
24	Ole Miss Rebels	36.01 - Losing to Florida ain't all that anymore. Up next, Mizzou! Conference count: SEC - 10 Notre Dame B1G - 6 ACC - 1 (lmao) Big XII - 4 SBC - 1 MWC - 1 AAC - 1
25	UTSA Roadrunners	37.00 - Oh? Notable omissions: (#26) Northwestern, cusp, hurt by poor performances by their past opponents. (#27) USC, cusp. (#31) Wake Forest, model hates the ACC. After Duke's performance, I do too. (#29) Oregon, not all that, eh? (#45) Oklahoma State, who hasn't impressed me yet. SMU, still sucks.

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
2	Alabama Crimson Tide	0.64
3	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.00
4	Mississippi State Bulldogs	2.12
5	Indiana Hoosiers	0.00
6	UCLA Bruins	0.47
7	Miami Hurricanes	-1.48
8	Texas Tech Red Raiders	0.00
9	BYU Cougars	0.00
10	James Madison Dukes	2.37
11	Utah Utes	0.00
12	Missouri Tigers	0.00
13	Texas Longhorns	-0.39
14	Ohio State Buckeyes	-1.24
15	Nebraska Cornhuskers	1.02
16	Boise State Broncos	0.88
17	Houston Cougars	0.00
18	South Carolina Gamecocks	7.10
19	Tennessee Volunteers	0.00
20	Kentucky Wildcats	0.00
21	LSU Tigers	0.21
22	Wisconsin Badgers	0.43
23	Iowa Hawkeyes	-0.77
24	Ole Miss Rebels	-1.15
25	UTSA Roadrunners	0.14

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
USC Trojans	0.67
Oklahoma State Cowboys	0.81
Wake Forest Demon Deacons	0.68
Northwestern Wildcats	0.41

Total Score: 22.97