PlactusTX Ballot for 2026 Week 8
Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Oct. 18, 2026, 3:54 a.m.
Overall Rationale: First divide teams into tiers, then sort within each tier.
Examining last week's ballot, I realized six tiers is no longer enough. With this week's craziness, that's even more true. The new tier came from redividing tiers 2 and 3. Looking at it like the season is over:
1. These teams should be in the playoff. The remaining P4 undefeateds are here, plus three teams who have great wins or a single, understandable loss. (8 teams)
2. The playoff bubble. Three in, three looking at their loss(es) and saying, "What if?" (6 teams)
3. These teams, with one exception, are clearly out of the playoff right now, but since the season's only half over, they've got enough games ahead of them to build a resume to get in and hope the chaos demon clears spots for them. The exception is James Madison, the sole remaining undefeated G6 team who has the inside track on the fifth conference champion spot. (7 teams)
4. The rest of Q1. The teams that have stayed ranked have wins over teams in higher tiers. (15 teams)
5-7. Q2-Q4. Not strict quartiles; I looked for the best breakpoints close to the boundaries. (37, 32, and 33 teams)
References to last week's rankings aren't to my published ballot but to a reimagined one using the seven-tier setup.
Dropped out: 13 Mississippi State, 17 Missouri, 23 Oklahoma State, 25 Minnesota
First five out: Mississippi State, Missouri, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Minnesota
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
LW: 4 | Tier 1 | W Indiana |
| 2 |
BYU Cougars
|
LW: 10 | Tier 1 | W Notre Dame |
| 3 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
LW: 1 | Tier 1 | L Auburn |
| 4 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
LW: 6 | Tier 1 | W Florida State |
| 5 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
LW: 3 | Tier 1 | L Ohio State |
| 6 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
LW: 9 | Tier 1 | W Arizona State |
| 7 |
UCLA Bruins
|
LW: 8 | Tier 1 | W Wisconsin |
| 8 |
Utah Utes
|
LW: 12 | Tier 1 | W Colorado |
| 9 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
LW: 2 | Tier 2 | L Tennessee |
| 10 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
LW: 11 | Tier 2 | W Alabama |
| 11 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
LW: 16 | Tier 2 | W Missouri |
| 12 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
LW: 14 | Tier 2 | W Oklahoma |
| 13 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
LW: 5 | Tier 2 | L Brigham Young |
| 14 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
LW: 15 | Tier 2 | bye |
| 15 |
LSU Tigers
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Mississippi State |
| 16 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W California |
| 17 |
Houston Cougars
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Oklahoma State |
| 18 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
LW: 24 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 19 |
USC Trojans
|
LW: 18 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 20 |
Northwestern Wildcats
|
LW: 19 | Tier 3 | W Michigan State |
| 21 |
James Madison Dukes
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Georgia State |
| 22 |
Texas Longhorns
|
LW: 7 | Tier 4 | L Florida |
| 23 |
Auburn Tigers
|
LW: NR | Tier 4 | W Georgia |
| 24 |
Florida Gators
|
LW: 21 | Tier 4 | W Texas |
| 25 |
Oregon Ducks
|
LW: 22 | Tier 4 | W Nebraska |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.47 |
| 2 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.56 |
| 4 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
-0.26 |
| 5 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.04 |
| 6 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
UCLA Bruins
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.68 |
| 10 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-0.94 |
| 14 |
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.25 |
| 16 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
Houston Cougars
|
-0.18 |
| 18 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
0.20 |
| 19 |
USC Trojans
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Northwestern Wildcats
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
James Madison Dukes
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Auburn Tigers
|
0.92 |
| 24 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
Boise State Broncos
SMU Mustangs