Back to poll results >>

thatoneguyD13 Ballot for 2026 Week 8

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 18, 2026, 8:43 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Early season rankings are based largely on expected results versus other ranked teams, and as the season goes leans more heavily on results. By the end of the season, rankings are based entirely on resume. I lean heavily into head to head results and results against common opponents. I also sort teams into 6 tiers based on championship/playoff likelihood. Tier 1: Championship Frontrunners who are highly likely to make the playoffs, Tier 2: Playoff Teams who could conceivably win the championship but are behind Tier 1, Tier 3: Playoff Possibilities who are unlikely to compete for a championship, Tier 4: Teams with an outside shot at making the playoffs, Tier 5: Teams that can't make the playoffs except for winning conference or unprecedented chaos Tier 6: Teams that are eliminated from playoff contention. Tiers 5 and 6 don't enter into the top 25 until very late in the year.

Rank Team Reason
1 BYU Cougars Tier 2. First time ever I don't have a Tier 1. BYU is undefeated with wins over #7 and #18, but I'm not sure if they're a championship team.
2 Miami Hurricanes Tier 2. Undefeated with win over #19.
3 Ohio State Buckeyes Tier 2. 5-1 with win over #20. Only loss is 1 point on road to #9. QB injury could be bad.
4 Texas Tech Red Raiders Tier 2. Wins over #14 and Or St look good.
5 Tennessee Volunteers Tier 2. 5-1 with Larger win over #11 than UGA and beat Auburn who beat them. Close lose to #9.
6 Georgia Bulldogs Tier 2. 5-1 with 4 dominant wins and a close win over #11.
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Tier 2.
8 Utah Utes Tier 3. Undefeated but no signature wins yet.
9 Texas Longhorns Tier 3. Possibly toughest schedule in country so far and are 5-2. Wins over #3 and #5 but losses to #25 and an unranked team.
10 Indiana Hoosiers Tier 3.
11 Alabama Crimson Tide Tier 3.
12 UCLA Bruins Tier 4.
13 Ole Miss Rebels Tier 4.
14 Houston Cougars Tier 4.
15 Northwestern Wildcats Tier 4.
16 Kentucky Wildcats Tier 4
17 LSU Tigers Tier 4.
18 Arizona Wildcats Tier 4.
19 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Tier 4.
20 Iowa Hawkeyes Tier 4.
21 SMU Mustangs Tier 4.
22 Mississippi State Bulldogs Tier 4.
23 Missouri Tigers Tier 4.
24 Oregon Ducks Tier 4.
25 Florida Gators Tier 4.

Back to poll results >>