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quantum_jedi Ballot for 2026 Week 8

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 19, 2026, 1:43 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Resume ranking that evaluates teams based on who they beat/lost to. More points are awarded for beating good teams and less points are subtracted for losing to good teams. Preseason rankings are evaluated based on weighted previous two year's performance, returning production, and team talent composite. Beating an FCS opponent is awarded minimally, but losing is punished. Ranking score is modified by strength of opponent and travel distance to away games. Early season rankings are influenced heavily by strong non-conference wins (e.g., beating two decent teams is rewarded more than beating a single strong team and an FCS team) though this is biased by preseason rankings. Score accumulates throughout the season, so points are awarded based on the models perception of teams at the time. Higher weighting is given to big wins over losses.

One of the most fun weeks of college football in a while. While talent and resources continue to accrue in the upper portion of the sport, this week reminded me of how much fun the sport can still be because the stakes every week are so high.

Next five out: Arizona (48.57), SMU (48.13), UNC (45.20), Mississippi State (44.97), Clemson (44.86)

Rank Team Reason
1 BYU Cougars (74.30, +6) Utter joy for BYU! Incredible win over Notre Dame in one of the most fun games of the year. BYU stays undefeated and tops the rankings this week.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes (74.13, +6) Fantastic win for the Buckeyes to topple Indiana's 22-game winning streak. Hope Sayin can be back soon, but as long as #4 is playing Ohio State will have a chance.
3 Georgia Bulldogs (73.82, -2) Well that was unexpected. Auburn exposed some serious flaws in Georgia, but good news for the Dawgs is that they have a lot of season left to figure it out and a BYE up next.
4 Miami Hurricanes (73.68, -2) Oh boy, Miami escapes with another last second victory (the anti-Nebraska?) and continues their winning ways.
5 Ole Miss Rebels (70.52, +4) Ole Miss steamrolls another team and looks awesome with Lacy back healthy. I think we're about to see Texas get embarrassed next week.
6 Kentucky Wildcats (67.76, +5) Was Dan Lanning just a Will Stein merchant? The Wildcats look so different than the last few years it's still an adjustment. With the 4th hardest Strength of Schedule to date and their only loss to Alabama, Kentucky looks to be a serious contender for the SEC title and a spot in the playoff.
7 Tennessee Volunteers (65.82, +10) I don't know if Tennessee is actually good but that was an amazing win for the Vols over Alabama. There are a lot of these teams in the SEC who look like world-beaters one week and then head-scratchers the next, but man it makes for fun watching.
8 UCLA Bruins (65.29, +5) What is it with JMU coaches? The Bruins look so much better and while not dominating they are grinding out disciplined, defense-led wins. This is a great foundation to build upon and the sky seems the limit for UCLA as long as Bob Chesney is there.
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (64.87, -5) Notre Dame fell just short against BYU in an absolutely thrilling game in Provo. The Irish are still looking for that signature win as right now it seems like UNC(!) might be their best win so far.
10 Alabama Crimson Tide (64.15, -7) Back-to-back emotional losses against the upper echelon of the SEC for the Tide. Is Alabama missing Coleman-Williams that badly or are they just among the upper-middle class of jumbled SEC teams? The Tide get a struggling A&M in Tuscaloosa next.
11 Indiana Hoosiers (63.89, -6) The Hooisers fell a yard short (or maybe long?) as Josh Hoover's last second pass carried Nick Marsh just out of the endzone. Indiana looks to have taken a step back from last year and have a lot to prove.
12 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (62.77, +3) What a run the Demon Deacons are on. 6-1, with only a close loss to #4 Miami, and in the thick of contention for a berth in the ACC Championship game.
13 LSU Tigers (60.81, +7) The Tigers get a huge jump in the rankings after smashing a Mississippi State without Kamario Taylor or Fluff Bothwell. Good showing by the Tigers, but should be taken with a grain of salt given the context. Very intriguing matchup next week as LSU travels to Auburn who is coming off a massive upset over Georgia.
14 Missouri Tigers (59.86, -8) As soon as I start to believe in Mizzou as a serious team they go and get absolutely embarrassed by Ole Miss. Another one of these middle tier SEC teams that I have no idea what to do with. Maybe I'll plot the Tigers ranking each week and get a fun see-saw curve.
15 Texas Tech Red Raiders (58.38, +3) Great showing by the Red Raiders as they smashed Arizona State. I think this is a better team than #15, but with a 101st ranked SOS and their only win of merit over Houston (and maybe Oregon State?) there is a lot to prove for Texas Tech. While they avoid BYU in the regular season, the Red Raiders will have a number of opportunities to climb in these rankings.
16 Houston Cougars (56.78, +8) One of the big climbers this week with a great win over Oklahoma State. The Coogs look great under Fritz and are near the top of what looks like a stacked Big12 this year.
17 Utah Utes (55.64, +2) Utah stays undefeated (barely), but with the 113th SOS they have a lot to prove before I start the consider Utah a serious contender. Imagine what the Holy War is going to feel like if both teams are undefeated in three weeks? But first Utah needs to get through a solid Houston team next.
18 Florida Gators (55.56, +5) Is Florida good again? Or is it that Texas is just bad? I have no idea what to do with this team (sensing a trend with the SEC here...) One week they beat Ole Miss (albeit without Lacy), the next they lose to South Carolina, then the next they beat Texas. I certainly don't envy the emotional journey that Gator fans have been on and it's barely halfway over. BYE week next and then Cocktail Party.
19 USC Trojans (55.09, -7) The BYE week finally caught up to the Trojans. We'll see if they were able to stabilize things a bit because they'll need everything to go right with Ohio State coming to the Coliseum.
20 Texas Longhorns (54.34, -10) This team has so many issues it's hard to know what to address, but the common thread certainly does seem to be Sark. Is this Texas' ceiling? The epic comeback win in Week 2 certainly seems to be more like an aberration the farther we progress. Can the Longhorns find that magic again? They might get a week of subversion as an injury-devastated Mississippi State comes to Austin.
21 Boise State Broncos (54.52, -7) Victims of the BYE week adjustment. Boise looks to be the class of the Pac-12 (that's still weird to say), but gets a potentially explosive Texas State next.
22 Iowa Hawkeyes (53.60, -6) Another BYE week adjustment. Floyd of Rosedale is up for grabs next.
23 James Madison Dukes (52.52, +2) James Madison stays undefeated with Billy Napier at the helm. The Dukes travel to App State next week and are in pole position for another Sun Belt title.
24 Auburn Tigers (51.76, +16) Monumental win for Auburn over Georgia. I don't know if Auburn is any good, but they're 4-2 against the 5th hardest schedule and get LSU coming to Jordan-Hare next week.
25 Oregon Ducks (51.48, +5) Oregon returns to the rankings with a gritty win over Nebraska. The Ducks are really missing Dante Moore who, rightfully, remains sidelined with a serious head injury. Oregon looks like a team that doesn't know what they're identity is. That could be due to two new coordinators getting their footing still, but there is still a lot the Ducks can achieve this year.

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