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ManiacalBlazer Ballot for 2026 Week 9

Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Oct. 25, 2026, 12:39 p.m.

Overall Rationale: See week 7 for a rundown on this poll.

Three more undefeated teams lose, and the race for the title is wide open. Something to keep in mind, movement at the top and the bottom of the rankings and ratings is more difficult than movement in between. Movement up is also more difficult for teams with weak schedules, as is movement down for teams with strong schedules.

Dropped: #19 Oregon, #21 Iowa
First ten out: SMU, Wisconsin, Oregon, Missouri, Iowa, Cincinnati, Boise State, North Dakota State, Liberty, Virginia Tech

Conference Rankings (average team rating) [rank, conf/school, rating, rankΔ, ratingΔ]
1. SEC 70.269, –, -0.457 (8 schools ranked)
2. Big Ten 66.910, +1, -0.045 (6 schools ranked)
3. Big XII 66.761, -1, -0.715 (6 schools ranked)
4. ACC 60.913, –, +0.173 (2 schools ranked)
5. American 50.974, +1, +0.832 (0 schools ranked)
6. Pac-12 50.580, -1, +0.067 (0 schools ranked)
7. SBC 48.409, –, +0.720 (1 school ranked)
8. MWC 47.086, –, +1.167 (1 school ranked)
9. CUSA 43.428, –, +1.047 (0 schools ranked)
10. MAC 39.963, –, +0.881 (0 schools ranked)
(Independents ranked 1 school)

Points Added Per Game (against average opponent):
1. Miami +20.2, –, +1.3
2. Georgia +14.1, +2, -0.1
3. Notre Dame +14.1, –, -0.5
4. North Texas +14.0, +4, +1.0
5. Ohio State +13.8, +4, +1.0

Points Erased Per Game (from average opponent):
1. Indiana -15.8, –, +0.3
2. TCU -13.1, +1, +0.3
3. Ohio State -12.8, +2, -0.1
4. Texas -12.7, -2, +1.6
5. North Dakota State -11.8, +1, -0.1

For the Sickos Committee's Consideration (points erased from both teams per game):
1. TCU -16.9, +1, -1.9
2. FIU -15.8, -1, +1.2
3. Utah State -15.5, –, -1.2
4. Oklahoma -12.2, +2, -0.2
5. Old Dominion -12.1, +4, -2.9

For WACBall Consideration (points added to both teams per game):
1. Colorado State +25.3, –, +2.9
2. North Texas +17.8, +2, +2.2
3. FAU +15.9, +5, +4.5
4. West Virginia +14.5, -1, -1.6
5. South Alabama +13.3, -3, -5.3

Rank Team Reason
1 Miami Hurricanes 91.026 (7-0) –, +2.323 52-23 win over Pitt
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 87.490 (6-1) –, +1.024 bye week, Texas and Illinois wins this week over previously Top-25 rated opponents elevated rating
3 Indiana Hoosiers 86.969 (7-1) –, +0.895 13-6 win over Michigan
4 LSU Tigers 83.816 (6-2) +5, +1.500 38-17 win over Auburn
5 Georgia Bulldogs 83.786 (6-1) -1, -0.486 bye week
6 UCLA Bruins 83.454 (7-0) +1, +0.563 28-10 win over Michigan State
7 Utah Utes 83.332 (7-0) +6, +1.658 21-13 win over Houston
8 Alabama Crimson Tide 83.051 (6-2) +3, +0.999 31-20 win over Texas A&M
9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 82.641 (6-1) -4, -1.234 bye week, BYU loss this week hurt rating
10 Texas Longhorns 79.587 (5-2) +7, +2.084 34-27 win over Ole Miss
11 Houston Cougars 78.914 (6-2) -3, -3.464 13-21 loss Utah
12 BYU Cougars 77.966 (6-1) -6, -5.700 31-39 loss UCF
13 James Madison Dukes 77.806 (7-1) -3, -4.468 31-34 loss App State
14 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 77.747 (6-1) +2, -0.367 bye week
15 Kentucky Wildcats 76.660 (7-1) +7, +2.169 34-17 win over Vanderbilt
16 Arizona Wildcats 76.146 (6-1) +9, +4.320 39-3 win over Iowa State
17 Texas Tech Red Raiders 75.889 (6-1) -5, -5.924 24-37 loss to Cincinnati, jinxed them last week
18 Northwestern Wildcats 75.277 (6-1) +6, +3.179 42-14 win over Rutgers
19 Tennessee Volunteers 75.205 (6-2) -5, -4.013 24-27 loss to South Carolina
20 New Mexico Lobos 74.971 (6-1) +8, +3.923 21-16 win over North Dakota State
21 Nebraska Cornhuskers 74.691 (5-2) -1, -0.199 bye week
22 Ole Miss Rebels 73.801 (5-2) -4, -3.681 27-34 loss to Texas
23 USC Trojans 72.572 (6-2) -8, -5.550 7-24 loss to Wisconsin
24 Oklahoma State Cowboys 72.412 (5-2) +6, +2.493 57-24 win over Colorado
25 Florida Gators 71.916 (5-2) -2, -0.444 bye week

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