Ralph Russo The Athletic (Brooklyn, NY) About: Ralph Russo is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, covering college football. Before joining The Athletic, he spent 20 years as the lead national college football writer for The Associated Press. He also previously worked as the AP's Mississippi-based sports writer and did a stint with The Denver Post. Ralph is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Fordham University.
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Jan 20, 2026 Final Rankings Rankings for Ralph Russo1 Indiana (66) 16-0 Actual: 1Highest: 1 - 66 Voters Lowest: 1 - 66 Voters 1650
2 Miami (FL) 13-3 Actual: 2Highest: 2 - 66 Voters Lowest: 2 - 66 Voters 1584
3 Ole Miss 13-2 Actual: 3Highest: 3 - 46 Voters Lowest: 5 - 6 Voters 1492
4 Georgia 12-2 Actual: 6Highest: 4 - 7 Voters Lowest: 7 - 3 Voters 1364
5 Ohio State 12-2 Actual: 5Highest: 3 - 9 Voters Lowest: 8 - Keith Farmer 1378
6 Oregon 13-2 Actual: 4Highest: 3 - 11 Voters Lowest: 6 - 13 Voters 1429
7 Texas Tech 12-2 Actual: 7Highest: 5 - Keith Farmer Lowest: 10 - 3 Voters 1232
8 Texas 10-3 Actual: 12Highest: 7 - 2 Voters Lowest: 14 - 6 Voters 952
9 Texas A&M 11-2 Actual: 8Highest: 7 - 10 Voters Lowest: 14 - Chad Bishop 1157
10 Notre Dame 10-2 Actual: 10Highest: 4 - Dylan Sinn Lowest: 16 - Chad Bishop 1049
11 Alabama 11-4 Actual: 9Highest: 7 - 2 Voters Lowest: 16 - Michael Lev 1065
12 BYU 12-2 Actual: 11Highest: 8 - 2 Voters Lowest: 14 - 2 Voters 961
13 Oklahoma 10-3 Actual: 13Highest: 9 - 3 Voters Lowest: 15 - 2 Voters 941
14 Utah 11-2 Actual: 14Highest: 10 - Chad Bishop Lowest: 18 - Robert Cessna 812
15 Iowa 9-4 Actual: 17Highest: 14 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 6 Voters 430
16 Virginia 11-3 Actual: 16Highest: 12 - Chad Bishop Lowest: 25 - Koki Riley 603
17 USC 9-4 Actual: 20Highest: 15 - 5 Voters Lowest: NR - 6 Voters 378
18 Vanderbilt 10-3 Actual: 15Highest: 13 - 3 Voters Lowest: 23 - 2 Voters 623
19 Michigan 9-4 Actual: 21Highest: 16 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 14 Voters 276
20 Houston 10-3 Actual: 22Highest: 16 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 12 Voters 270
21 Washington 9-4 Actual: 27Highest: 17 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 50 Voters 76
22 Illinois 9-4 Actual: 26Highest: 18 - 2 Voters Lowest: NR - 34 Voters 123
23 TCU 9-4 Actual: 25Highest: 16 - Spencer Ripchik Lowest: NR - 33 Voters 125
24 SMU 9-4 Actual: 28Highest: 18 - Kirk Kenney Lowest: NR - 47 Voters 69
25 Tulane 11-3 Actual: 18Highest: 15 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 2 Voters 404
Ranked Teams Not on Ballot: 19-James Madison 23-Navy 24-North Texas
