PlactusTX Ballot for 2026 Week 10
Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Nov. 1, 2026, 1:21 a.m.
Overall Rationale: First divide teams into tiers, then sort within each tier.
There are about twenty teams that clearly deserve to be ranked, and then a few last spots to fill. With that mindset, I moved Liberty into tier 3, despite their schedule being soft and a loss to the one decent team they played. As before, the teams from tier 4 that are ranked are the ones with wins over tier 2 teams (yes, that moves Cincinnati onto the ballot despite their loss to Utah this week) or multiple wins over tier 3 teams.
Dropped out: 11 Arizona, 21 Southern Methodist, 25 James Madison
First five out: Oregon, South Carolina, James Madison, Arizona, Iowa
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
LW: 2 | Tier 1 | W Florida |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
LW: 3 | Tier 1 | W North Carolina |
| 3 |
Utah Utes
|
LW: 5 | Tier 1 | W Cincinnati |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
LW: 4 | Tier 1 | W Minnesota |
| 5 |
UCLA Bruins
|
LW: 6 | Tier 1 | W Nevada |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
LW: 1 | Tier 2 | L Southern California |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
LW: 8 | Tier 2 | bye |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
LW: 7 | Tier 2 | W Arizona State |
| 9 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
LW: 9 | Tier 2 | bye |
| 10 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
LW: 10 | Tier 2 | W Arizona |
| 11 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
LW: 13 | Tier 2 | W Navy |
| 12 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
LW: 12 | Tier 2 | W Virginia |
| 13 |
Texas Longhorns
|
LW: 14 | Tier 3 | W Mississippi State |
| 14 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
LW: 15 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 15 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
LW: 17 | Tier 3 | W Auburn |
| 16 |
Boise State Broncos
|
LW: 23 | Tier 3 | W Texas State |
| 17 |
Missouri Tigers
|
LW: 18 | Tier 3 | W Arkansas |
| 18 |
New Mexico Lobos
|
LW: 24 | Tier 3 | W San Jose State |
| 19 |
LSU Tigers
|
LW: 19 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 20 |
Houston Cougars
|
LW: 20 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 21 |
UTSA Roadrunners
|
LW: 22 | Tier 3 | bye |
| 22 |
Liberty Flames
|
LW: NR | Tier 3 | W Florida International |
| 23 |
USC Trojans
|
LW: NR | Tier 4 | W Ohio State |
| 24 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
LW: NR | Tier 4 | L Utah |
| 25 |
Florida Gators
|
LW: 16 | Tier 4 | L Georgia |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.48 |
| 2 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Utah Utes
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
UCLA Bruins
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
1.04 |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.33 |
| 8 |
BYU Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 9 |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
-0.92 |
| 12 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
0.00 |
| 13 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
0.00 |
| 16 |
Boise State Broncos
|
0.00 |
| 17 |
Missouri Tigers
|
0.40 |
| 18 |
New Mexico Lobos
|
0.78 |
| 19 |
LSU Tigers
|
-0.19 |
| 20 |
Houston Cougars
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
UTSA Roadrunners
|
0.41 |
| 22 |
Liberty Flames
|
2.74 |
| 23 |
USC Trojans
|
-0.73 |
| 24 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
1.22 |
| 25 |
Florida Gators
|
0.00 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
Iowa Hawkeyes
|
1.12 |
Arizona Wildcats
|
0.54 |
Northwestern Wildcats
|
0.20 |
Total Score: 11.09