PlactusTX Ballot for 2026 Week 9
Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Oct. 25, 2026, 9:24 a.m.
Overall Rationale: First divide teams into tiers, then sort within each tier.
The chaos over the last couple weeks has caused tier 3 to balloon to the point where I couldn't keep all the teams there on the ballot. Northwestern was the unfortunate victim, pushed off the ballot despite winning. (Against Rutgers, who's terrible this year, but still.)
Dropped out: 14 Iowa, 19 Southern California, 20 Northwestern, 23 Auburn, 25 Oregon
First five out: Northwestern, Auburn, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Oklahoma
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
LW: 1 | Tier 1 | bye |
| 2 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
LW: 3 | Tier 1 | bye |
| 3 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
LW: 4 | Tier 1 | W Pittsburgh |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
LW: 5 | Tier 1 | W Michigan |
| 5 |
Utah Utes
|
LW: 8 | Tier 1 | W Houston |
| 6 |
UCLA Bruins
|
LW: 7 | Tier 1 | W Michigan State |
| 7 |
BYU Cougars
|
LW: 2 | Tier 2 | L Central Florida |
| 8 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
LW: 9 | Tier 2 | W Texas A&M |
| 9 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
LW: 12 | Tier 2 | W Vanderbilt |
| 10 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
LW: 6 | Tier 2 | L Cincinnati |
| 11 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
LW: 18 | Tier 2 | W Iowa State |
| 12 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
LW: 16 | Tier 2 | bye |
| 13 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
LW: 13 | Tier 2 | bye |
| 14 |
Texas Longhorns
|
LW: 22 | Tier 3 | W Mississippi |
| 15 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
LW: 10 | Tier 3 | L South Carolina |
| 16 |
Florida Gators
|
LW: 24 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 17 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
LW: 11 | Tier 3 | L Texas |
| 18 |
Missouri Tigers
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | bye |
| 19 |
LSU Tigers
|
LW: 15 | Tier 3 | W Auburn |
| 20 |
Houston Cougars
|
LW: 17 | Tier 3 | L Utah |
| 21 |
SMU Mustangs
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W California |
| 22 |
UTSA Roadrunners
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Tulane |
| 23 |
Boise State Broncos
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Washington State |
| 24 |
New Mexico Lobos
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W North Dakota State |
| 25 |
James Madison Dukes
|
LW: 21 | Tier 3 | L Appalachian State |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.43 |
| 2 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.46 |
| 3 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
-0.88 |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.02 |
| 5 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
UCLA Bruins
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.14 |
| 9 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.24 |
| 11 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
0.53 |
| 12 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-1.56 |
| 14 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.00 |
| 16 |
Florida Gators
|
0.15 |
| 17 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Missouri Tigers
|
1.35 |
| 19 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
SMU Mustangs
|
0.00 |
| 22 |
UTSA Roadrunners
|
0.53 |
| 23 |
Boise State Broncos
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
New Mexico Lobos
|
0.00 |
| 25 |
James Madison Dukes
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Northwestern Wildcats
|
1.28 |
Wisconsin Badgers
|
0.21 |
Oklahoma State Cowboys
|
0.06 |
Total Score: 7.83