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sgtshenanigans Ballot for 2026 Week 9

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 25, 2026, 10:56 a.m.

Overall Rationale: I try to get my ballots in before the AP poll so that I can avoid any suspicion that my ballot is biased by the AP poll. I like to think that I am willing to make big changes to my ballot when new information comes out to avoid poll inertia.

Rank Team Reason
1 Miami Hurricanes The Hurricanes were number one last week and after stomping Pitt there really is no point in moving them. The Canes aren’t a juggernaut however so I think the playoffs are still shaping up to be quite interesting.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State moves up one after the bye week thanks to BYU losing. Indiana and Texas both got wins this week bolstering the Buckeyes a little even both of those teams struggled at times during their games.
3 UCLA Bruins UCLA wins again their wins aren't super impressive but they are undefeated at a time of the year where that is rare. Wisconsin getting the win over USC helps a little bit also.
4 Utah Utes Utah moves up 3 spots here thanks to remaining undefeated after a close loss to Houston and losses of teams in front of them. The Utes are king of the Big 12 hill for now.
5 Georgia Bulldogs Georgia move up 3 thanks to losses above them. While Auburn remains an anchor around Georgia's neck Alabama righting the ship helps a little here.
6 Kentucky Wildcats Feels like it's been some time since Kentucky fans could sort of breathe easy. Nice dominant win against Vandy this week. In additions many of the past teams Kentucky played had wins this week bolstering the Wildcats.
7 BYU Cougars After an emotional win against Notre Dame the Cougars look pretty bad on the road against UCF ultimately losing in overtime. The refs had a rough game but BYU should not have let it get to that point. I am giving some grace to BYU here as I feel as though a perplexing loss is not uncommon after an emotional win but BYU is holding on by a thread here.
8 Indiana Hoosiers Indiana needed overtime to score 13 points against Michigan. More proof that while Indiana's defense is among the elite their offense is a major weakness.
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish The Irish were on a bye week but despite teams ahead of them losing I left them at the same spot. BYU losing to UCF hurt quite a bit and I felt that Indiana and Kentucky deserved to move up more based on the schedules from earlier in the season.
10 Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern crushes Rutgers however Northwestern is possibly the most fraudulent team my top ten. They only have one loss but their wins look less inspiring every single week. Northwester finally starts to get into the meat of their schedule next week so we will find out if they are contenders or pretenders.
11 Ole Miss Rebels Ole Miss takes their second loss of the season and becomes my top two loss team. Once again Texas plays a game like two different teams dominating the first half and letting the Rebels back into the game in the 4th quarter. Ole Miss losses late on the road but like all season still feels like a bubble playoff team. However, if Ole Miss wants to stay in the Playoff picture Chambliss is going to have to do better at protecting the football 3 INT isn't going to win many games.
12 Tennessee Volunteers Once again the Volunteers prove they are a team in desperate need of a QB. Winnable game on the road that Tennessee let slip through their fingers. This loss may haunt them as the year goes on.
13 Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama struggled early against an aggies team have has been having a rough season. However Alabama rights the ship by taking the lead and pulling away in the fourth Quarter.
14 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake forest was on the BYE and my have been the biggest beneficiary of a bye this week. Miami wins which helps and teams ahead of them lost. However, the Demon Deacons lack any sort of signature win and their upcoming schedule doesn't provide many opportunities to prove themselves.
15 Texas Tech Red Raiders Texas Tech went on the road against the Cincinnati Bearcats and got dominated. After half time this game was not close. Texas Tech has looked fraudulent at times this season and they were finally fully exposed by Cincinnati.
16 Boise State Broncos Boise State crushes Washington state. After a loss from JMU the Broncos become my top ranked G6 school.
17 Texas Longhorns Once again the Longhorns have way to many weapons on Offense to play like they do. Despite dominating the first half Texas let Ole Miss back into the game. Arch is a mid at best QB throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.
18 Arizona Wildcats Arizona dominates a bad Iowa state team.
19 SMU Mustangs SMU dominates cal in the second half scoring 42 unanswered points. Like Wake forest SMU lacks any sort of signature win but will eventually have opportunities later in the season.
20 New Mexico Lobos The Lobos continue their magical season by knocking off G6 darling North Dakota State. Their loss to Oklahoma hasn't aged well this season but New Mexico still only has one loss.
21 LSU Tigers LSU has two losses which really are not that bad as far as losses go with Ole Miss and Kentucky being playoff teams in my rankings. That being said LSU like many teams this far down lacks any sort of signature win to make up for those losses. After their Bye week next week they will certainly have a chance to prove themselves against Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
22 Missouri Tigers Missouri had the BYE this week and benefits from a number of teams ahead of them losing. Missouri's win over Florida being the largest factor keeping the Tigers this high.
23 Wisconsin Badgers Wisconsin doesn't exactly win by showing off any kind of impressive offense or anything like that but they have been winning and have only lost to playoff teams so far. Fun rivalry test next weekend against Iowa.
24 Houston Cougars Cougars lose their second close game this season which hurts. To add insult to injury Texas Tech gets exposed making Houston's loss to them look worse. Conner Weigman put up yards in this game but needs to be more accurate with his passes to take Houston to the next level.
25 USC Trojans USC barely stays in the top 25 here after Wisconsin dominated on the score board and held the USC run game in check. Other teams within striking distance of the top 25 (in no particular order): Minnesota, Florida, Liberty, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, UTSA, Duke, Oklahoma St. Cincinnati, Iowa).

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