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ColombianInIowa24 Ballot for 2026 Week 8

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 18, 2026, 7:09 p.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.

Update: This week I updated, to stop using last week's ranking as the only seed, but rather a more variable mix determined through markov processes. I was not happy at the lack of variation. This added a little more variability and was enough to push Georgia out of #1, as was my main goal. There are decently severe reprecussions to this approach that I will touch on in the actual rankings of individual teams. For me, having the correct #1 was more important this week than having a - in my mind - more consistent rank.

Rank Team Reason
1 BYU Cougars 13.31 - BYU is clearly number one after playing a tough game against the Fighting Irish. My model still gave the nod to Georgia with a lot of inertia, but I changed it for this. Confident in ranked status.
2 Georgia Bulldogs 13.56 - Losing to Auburn is always bad. The quality of wins is commendable though, and keeps them begrudgingly high. Confident in ranked status.
3 UCLA Bruins 15.88 - Beating Wisconsin is solid. Confident in ranked status.
4 Texas Tech Red Raiders 16.20 - Still looking dominant. Confident in ranked status.
5 James Madison Dukes 19.42 - Dominant Georgia State win, and games won makes them legitimate. Confident in ranked status.
6 Utah Utes 24.75 - Sloppy win, still is a win.
7 Houston Cougars 25.90 - Win over Oklahoma State, and close game against Texas Tech, ensures they benefit greatly from the B1G stuff happening (i.e. Nebraska/Oregon).
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 27.07 - It was still close, and there WAS 1 second left.
9 Indiana Hoosiers 27.27 - Quality wins > Quality losses. Unfortunately, this overcomes the HTH with Ohio State, which I feel a little disturbed by.
10 Ohio State Buckeyes 27.40 - Texas loss keeps looking worse, something not even a win over Indiana helps.
11 LSU Tigers 28.62 - This one shocks me, but the SEC is such a mess right now that nothing makes sense. I just wish they played OOC more so they wouldn't clog the Top 25. Again a HTH violation.
12 Ole Miss Rebels 29.47 - Less surprised by this.
13 Alabama Crimson Tide 29.99 - But more surprised by this... what is going on? HTH violation moves me to greatly disturbed.
14 Tennessee Volunteers 30.12 - I hate it as much as you Vols fans. Texas just sucks though.
15 Miami Hurricanes 30.40 - Yes, yes, Canes fans I know they didn't lose (though they should've if the ACC refs didn't want to rig the game). However, since last year, OT is counted as a tie and OT with FSU is not exactly impressive.
16 Oregon Ducks 32.95 - Surprised they sneak back in, but I guess I shouldn't be with Houston's ranking in this run.
17 Boise State Broncos 33.29 - See Oregon. Bye week.
18 Arizona Wildcats 34.33 - Big XII rankings boost has an acute impact on Arizona.
19 Texas Longhorns 34.85 - Horns down, lmao. Can't even push Florida up to the rankings.
20 Mississippi State Bulldogs 35.52 - Drubbing. LSU boost. Y'all disappointed me.
21 USC Trojans 35.61 - ???
22 Kentucky Wildcats 36.32 - See Miami (FL) and two OT. Not a good look.
23 Iowa Hawkeyes 37.27 - Ohio State loss ain't that bad.
24 North Dakota State Bison 38.63 - Climbing back in after a win, though UNLV loss has to hurt.

Conference Count:
Big XII: 5
SEC: 8
B1G: 7
SBC: 1
ACC: 1
Pac-12: 1
MWC: 1
25 Northwestern Wildcats 38.97 - Indiana loss hurts Northwestern, but not by enough to overcome other changes (see below).

Notable omissions: (#27) Florida, SEC confusion meant some had to be left out. (#28) Mizzou, see Florida. (#29) Wake Forest, hurt by Miami (FL) tie.
Other omissions. (#40) SMU, still not convinced, though their record keeps them afloat.

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