How the Subjective Human Poll Voter Rank
With the 2026 FBS College Football season underway, the human subjective polls such as the AP, AFCA and Football Writers Association all rank college football starting with the pre-season poll, then concluding with the final poll at the end of the CFP National Championship game. However, with their pre-season rankings they have created a CONSCIOUS BIAS within their weekly rankings. The human voters fear that during ranking process, they might offend specific name brand conferences and programs associated with those name brand conferences. Those name brand conferences and name brand members are all from the Power 4 Conferences. The human polls rank by result based outcomes, name brands and name brand conferences. They lack the ability to rank FBS football programs in hierarchal order using other categorical variables to support their ranking reasons. Furthermore, the human subjective voters possess a significant CONSCIOUS BIAS against the Group of Six Conferences and their members in the early polls, all due to the fact they do not believe that these FBS football members from the Group of Six Conferences are NOT worthy of being ranked in their polls during the pre-season or this time of year. With the possible future 24-team playoff coming to fruition, the current human subjective voters from the AP, AFCA ,FWAA along with mainstream media outlets such as ESPN; are all ranking Power 4 Conference members only. These human subjective voters do NOT look past the numbers, they only look at wins by name brand programs and conferences with their outcome results no matter who the opponent is.
First Weekly Rankings Using the Profession Model Theory
The Professional Model Theory (PMT) is a proven method used by all of the professional leagues. They recognize that every league member has the ability to earn and make the playoffs based upon most points, win loss percentage records, winning their division or earning enough points or a good enough win loss percentage rate to make the playoff but with a lower seed. Making the playoffs for the MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL is not based upon brand name or which organization makes the most money for the league. The players and coaches know the criterion rules in how to make the playoffs for their specific league. Since 2013, I have been performing a MOCK 16-team Playoff field and weekly rankings using the PMT. Their is no bias associated with my weekly rankings or 16-team playoff selection process. Each playoff spot are earned by the teams on the field and not which media company contributes to a specific FBS conference to promote their successes, no matter what the teams records are. I rank based upon a multi-variate method, not a name brand method. Using other numerical qualitative and quantitative data collection to create an improved ranking based upon the PMT. I can explain every ranked position and there is always a struggle when two teams are close in ranking. Which indicates I can use a hierarchy of cyclical triad rules associated with multiple variables to provide a reason why Team A is ranked above Team B.
Week 4 Top 16 Rankings and Reasons
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | FCS GAME | HOME | AWAY | OVERALL | NON CONF |
| 1 B10 | UCLA | (4-0) | NO | (2-0) | (2-0) | (27-22) | (4-8) |
| 2 IND/ACC | N DAME | (4-0) | NO | (3-0) | (1-0) | (25-19) | (14-8) |
| 3 SEC | TEXAS | (4-0) | NO | (3-0) | (1-0) | (34-14) | (8-4) |
| 4 ACC | MIAM FL | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (32-11) | (6-2) |
| 5 SBC | J MADISON | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (21-23) | (6-6) |
| 6 MWC | N DKTA ST | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (18-27) | (6-8) |
| 7 SEC | MISS ST | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (30-14) | (3-5) |
| 8 ACC | VIRG TECH | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (27-17) | (3-5) |
| 9 AAC | STH FLA | (4-0) | YES | (2-0) | (2-0) | (22-21) | (4-8) |
| 10 SEC | FLORIDA | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (32-12) | (5-3) |
| 11 SEC | ALABAMA | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (31-13) | (4-4) |
| 12 B12 | TEX TECH | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (28-15) | (4-4) |
| 13 B12 | UTAH | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (28-15) | (3-5) |
| 14 B10 | IOWA | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (26-17) | (2-6) |
| 15 B10 | NEBRASKA | (4-0) | YES | (3-0) | (1-0) | (26-18) | (2-6) |
| 16 SEC | GEORGIA | (4-0) | YES | (4-0) | (0-0) | (26-18) | (2-6) |
REASONING Against the AP, AFCA, FWAA and Media Outlets
We “talk” about the Strength of Schedule (SOS) Concept but the human subjective poll voters provide SUBJEVTIVE CREDIT to those name brand programs who schedule FCS programs, only looking at the final result or outcome. The subjective polls also do not examine the other parts associated with the SOS such as number of home games and or number of home games in successive scheduling. Both of those factors should produce a NEGATIVE factorial in ranking. However, the human polls do not take that into account as much as I do in publishing my weekly rankings.
FCS Games should be determined as a NEGATIVE ranking SOS factor. Since published research indicates the results of those FBS/FCS games are significantly lopsided. To the FBS teams from those Power 4 Conferences and their members, GO SCHEDULE a traditional away game with a FBS opponent. Wait, ESPN wont let the PRIMARY name brand programs from the SEC leave the invisible fence in which they provide to the SEC. They would rather protect their programs, espousing they are the best programs.
As a independent certified researcher, I give credit to all FBS teams no matter which conference, name on the jersey or how much money they don’t bring into the television revenue. I do not possess a bias against any of the FBS teams. Each FBS team, players, coaches, staff and fan bases should receive credit for their efforts on the field. Not given a negative perception because they are from this conference associated with these other FBS members. That in itself is a CONSCIOUS BIAS that the AP, AFCA, FWAA and major media outlets hold against the Group of Six Conference and their members.
Georgia- has played 4 successive home games, not tested on the road yet. Already played an FCS opponent. Possesses a (2-6) non conference record associated with their non conference opponents. Thus indicating a weak SOS in the Non Conference Variable.
James Madison and North Dakota State- played 2 home and 2 away games. Both possess a (4-0) record and earned their ranked positions. Possesses a Non Conference record closer to (.500) and took scheduling risks on the road.
UCLA- Currently the best team after 4 games in the regular season. The AP, AFCA, FWAA and sports media members such as ESPN will not provide them the credit that the Bruins are due because they are not from the SEC or been given that fair confidence factor in subjective rankings.
Conclusion and Data Information
As we are at the quarter-mile pole of the FBS college football season, we currently possess 22 FBS teams which are 0-loss teams remaining. Which 2 teams will be left at the end of the regular season at 0-lossess. There are 4 FBS teams who have not earned their first win yet. Historically, there will be 1 FBS team who goes 0-wins or earns 1 win. I hope all of those FBS teams who do not have wins yet, earn one.
The FBS season is early. These rankings I publish will be more in-depth in data and variable used. I rank based upon the PMT and give each FBS team equal, fair and just due opportunity to compete for the playoff spots.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN WEEK 5 OF MY TOP 16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS……
Please comments and share this post with all the other college football fans. You can follow me on X: @cfbpoexpert or BlueSky: cfbpoexpert.bsky.social
All information on my blog page is INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTED and © Copyright Protected. All Rights Reserved.