ESPN has released the info on a new computer model update, highlighting the “strength of record” of the top teams in college football. Unlike strength of schedule, this one seems to have fans a little happier.

The ESPN Strength of Record metric measures how difficult it would be for an average Top 25 team to achieve a specific team’s W-L record or better against the exact schedule they have played. How it reaches that conclusion is a guarded secret.

Nevertheless, the results are in. Here’s the ranking:

  1. Georgia
  2. Indiana
  3. UCLA
  4. Kentucky
  5. Alabama
  6. Notre Dame
  7. Texas
  8. Miami
  9. Texas Tech
  10. Mississippi State
  11. BYU
  12. Wake Forest
  13. Iowa
  14. Ole Miss
  15. Ohio State
  16. Wisconsin
  17. USC
  18. Utah
  19. Houston
  20. Missouri

Current top-20 in strength of record six games into the 2026 college football season: pic.twitter.com/8EVsyN7RGK

— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) October 11, 2026

Fans Weigh In

While there are still plenty of complaints over how the model functions and some deride it for still being “flawed,” plenty of fans delighted in seeing what they feel is a better metric than some other models and AP voters.

“Wait, everyone told me IU doesn’t play anyone?” one fan wrote on X.

“Indiana strength of record to date is number 2. Strength of schedule is 52,” another noted.

“Take Texas out of too 10 & IU is 1 Georgia 2,” wrote a third.

“I was told by reliable sources Texas Tech had the easiest schedule in recorded history???”

“SOR is the king of statistics for those that play a cupcake schedule.”

“Combine that w/ win/loss record, home/away & point differential & you got fact & data based rankings. Sounds like a simple job for AI don’t need polls or media involved any more.”

“Rankings like this, especially when you consider a team’s best win, only loss, and overall dominance, are why I don’t understand how OSU is above Alabama right now.”

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti reacts in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti reacts in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It still feels way too early to get a true gauge of who the top teams in college football are. No team has played more than half a schedule yet and some of the rankings are still based on a combination of preseason expectations and a large swath of non-conference games against non-power teams.

We might not get the kind of data to really rank these teams properly until the end of October or even mid-November.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Oct 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Source: Yahoo Sports