POINTCAST 25 · 2026 · PUBLIC CLAIM TRACKER

KEEP
THE
RECEIPTS.

25 OPEN CLAIMS

Anybody can rank teams. This is where the reasons get graded. Every preseason sentence stays visible after the season starts.

THE GRADING KEY

Revision is allowed.
Disappearance isn’t.

OPEN The claim is waiting for relevant evidence.
ALIVE Evidence arrived and the claim still holds.
COMPLICATED The claim needs a public revision, not deletion.
PROVEN The required proof arrived.
DEAD The evidence broke the claim.

BOARD 002 · WEEK 5

The open book

Published September 29, 2026 · new claims await their stated next proof

01

SEC
Texas

CLAIM
A pressured road finish keeps Texas first.

NEXT PROOF
Turn a difficult road win into sustained scoring against another top opponent.

OPEN
02

SEC
Georgia

CLAIM
Georgia made the second chair look too small.

NEXT PROOF
Carry this control into a difficult road setting.

OPEN
03

SEC
Florida

CLAIM
Florida answered the question our No. 18 asked too quietly.

NEXT PROOF
Keep the physical edge when the opponent and venue change.

OPEN
04

Independent
Notre Dame

CLAIM
A road rout keeps Notre Dame in title weather.

NEXT PROOF
Show the same command against a more demanding opponent.

OPEN
05

SEC
Alabama

CLAIM
The offense is loud; the defensive bill got smaller.

NEXT PROOF
Repeat the cleaner two-sided game against a ranked SEC team.

OPEN
06

ACC
Miami

CLAIM
Miami handled the assignment and waits for a sharper one.

NEXT PROOF
Win a high-leverage conference game without relying on the opponent’s mistakes.

OPEN
07

Big Ten
Indiana

CLAIM
The champion survived; the margin invites a harder look.

NEXT PROOF
Create separation against the next quality opponent.

OPEN
08

Big Ten
Ohio State

CLAIM
Ohio State is moving from reputation toward repair.

NEXT PROOF
Take this defensive and offensive balance to Iowa.

OPEN
09

SEC
LSU

CLAIM
The response to Oxford was emphatic.

NEXT PROOF
Repeat the defensive control against an opponent with a stronger recent résumé.

OPEN
10

Big 12
BYU

CLAIM
BYU keeps its place while the live evidence catches up.

NEXT PROOF
Win the next demanding Big 12 game on the field.

OPEN
11

Big 12
Texas Tech

CLAIM
The scoreboard finally supplied separation.

NEXT PROOF
Turn the same scoring margin into control against a Big 12 contender.

OPEN
12

SEC
Ole Miss

CLAIM
Oxford counted; Gainesville set its limit.

NEXT PROOF
Respond away from home against a credible opponent with four-quarter composure.

OPEN
13

SEC
Mississippi State

CLAIM
The road surprise now has a home follow-up.

NEXT PROOF
Keep the unbeaten run through a higher-ranked opponent.

OPEN
14

Big Ten
Oregon

CLAIM
The repair job has a road receipt.

NEXT PROOF
Repeat the road quality against another conference heavyweight.

OPEN
15

Big 12
Utah

CLAIM
Utah keeps building its floor on the road.

NEXT PROOF
Beat a contender without losing that defensive discipline.

OPEN
16

Big Ten
Iowa

CLAIM
The last play made the road argument real.

NEXT PROOF
Give Ohio State a full-game test, not only a memorable finish.

OPEN
17

SEC
Tennessee

CLAIM
The loss to No. 1 still carries useful evidence.

NEXT PROOF
Turn competitive pressure into a win against another ranked opponent.

OPEN
18

Big 12
Houston

CLAIM
Houston made the close loss look less accidental.

NEXT PROOF
Beat a conference opponent with cleaner defensive control.

OPEN
19

Big Ten
USC

CLAIM
The defensive bill came due against Oregon.

NEXT PROOF
Hold a quality Big Ten offense below its preferred tempo and win.

OPEN
20

ACC
SMU

CLAIM
SMU steadied the record without closing the case.

NEXT PROOF
Beat an ACC contender on both sides of the ball.

OPEN
21

SEC
Kentucky

CLAIM
Kentucky’s A&M win deserves a seat at this table.

NEXT PROOF
Get a second conference win that stands on its own.

OPEN
22

BIG TEN
UCLA

CLAIM
An unbeaten road rout earns a first PointCast look.

NEXT PROOF
Show the same structure against a strong Big Ten team.

OPEN
23

BIG 12
Oklahoma State

CLAIM
A road win makes the comeback visible.

NEXT PROOF
Defeat a top-half Big 12 opponent without a fourth-quarter rescue.

OPEN
24

SEC
Missouri

CLAIM
The first loss narrows Missouri’s opening claim.

NEXT PROOF
Answer the loss with a ranked-conference win.

OPEN
25

Pac-12
Boise State

CLAIM
The Broncos return with a credible road margin.

NEXT PROOF
Win a game that tests the Group of Six ceiling directly.

OPEN

Board 001 — September 23 claims

Those sentences remain attached to the board that published them. Ole Miss’s road proof is marked COMPLICATED after the 52–28 loss at Florida; other claims remain OPEN pending a specific review.

1
Texas
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The lead belongs to Texas; now make it travel.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Keep the offense functional when the crowd and the early score turn against it.
OPEN
2
Georgia
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A convincing road result earns the second chair.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Repeat that control against an opponent capable of forcing a close fourth quarter.
OPEN
3
Ole Miss
BOARD 001 CLAIM
We were too low. The succession argument now has a scoreboard.
The LSU win remains evidence, but the stated road-composure proof failed in the 52–28 loss at Florida on September 26. The claim is narrowed, not deleted.
PROOF REQUIRED
Carry the same composure into the next road test.
COMPLICATED
4
Notre Dame
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Still in the title conversation; this week we reward the sharper SEC evidence.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Win a game where the opponent forces the offense to change its first plan.
OPEN
5
Miami
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A road conference win matters more than an immaculate-looking home score.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Produce a complete defensive afternoon against a more demanding attack.
OPEN
6
Indiana
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The champion is handling its work; the next measuring stick must be taller.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Keep the same control when explosive plays are harder to find.
OPEN
7
Ohio State
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The ceiling survives. The preseason No. 1 entitlement does not.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Close the next high-level contest without needing a perfect passing afternoon.
OPEN
8
BYU
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Road production moves BYU ahead of our July caution.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Win when the offense cannot reach forty.
OPEN
9
Alabama
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Fifty points buy attention. Thirty-six allowed keep the receipt open.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Win a competitive game without needing a fifty-point rescue.
OPEN
10
Texas Tech
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Survival counts, but two points are not separation.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Create a clear advantage against the next serious conference test.
OPEN
11
LSU
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Oxford turns the installation story into an accountability story.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Finish the next tight conference game with a coherent final possession.
OPEN
12
USC
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Four wins are real. So is the defensive bill.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Close a strong opponent out without another shootout.
OPEN
13
Utah
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The post-Whittingham floor looks sturdier than our opening board allowed.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Carry that defensive discipline into a genuinely demanding conference game.
OPEN
14
Penn State
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The assembled roster is winning. Its hardest chemistry test is still ahead.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Show the same connection on third down in a close conference game.
OPEN
15
Tennessee
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The opening work is complete; the credibility test gets larger now.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Keep possessions stable when an elite opponent removes the easy throw.
OPEN
16
Louisville
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A ranked win earns a seat that the preseason board did not reserve.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Back up the breakthrough with a second complete conference performance.
OPEN
17
Iowa
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The offense has supplied a number worth noticing; the opponent limits the inference.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Move the ball when a conference defense can challenge every easy yard.
OPEN
18
Florida
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A road SEC win moves the reset beyond a press-conference promise.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Follow the breakthrough with a win that does not require forty-plus points.
OPEN
19
Michigan
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The unbeaten start keeps Michigan in view; the next comparison must be tougher.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Make the offense coherent against a defense that can force long downs.
OPEN
20
Oregon
BOARD 001 CLAIM
An enormous rebound is still a rebound. July’s No. 4 needs rebuilding.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Beat a strong conference opponent before reclaiming elite billing.
OPEN
21
Missouri
BOARD 001 CLAIM
Unbeaten gets Missouri onto the board; ten points keeps the claim modest.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Create separation without relying on the opponent to run out of possessions.
OPEN
22
Mississippi State
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A road SEC result deserves space before brand familiarity takes it back.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Repeat the road composure while reducing the defensive exposure.
OPEN
23
SMU
BOARD 001 CLAIM
The loss changes the position; it does not erase the entire case.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Win the next close game by getting a stop rather than demanding another score.
OPEN
24
Texas A&M
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A home loss spends most of the preseason benefit of the doubt.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Produce a response against serious opposition before asking for renewed trust.
OPEN
25
Houston
BOARD 001 CLAIM
A two-point road loss earns a closer look than a binary win column.
Board 001 claim retained. A rank movement alone does not grade the stated football proof.
PROOF REQUIRED
Turn the next close conference chance into an actual result.
OPEN

Board 000 — the original 25 claims

July 27, 2026. These specific football claims remain OPEN pending verification of their stated proof. A ranking change alone does not prove or disprove them.

1
Ohio State
ORIGINAL CLAIM
The highest quarterback–receiver ceiling in the sport, carrying the season’s nastiest road schedule.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Win an early road game without asking the passing game to be perfect.
OPEN
2
Notre Dame
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Unusual defensive continuity and fewer imaginary preseason dependencies than anyone else.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Show that the new run game can finish drives instead of merely protecting the defense.
OPEN
3
Texas
ORIGINAL CLAIM
The Arch Manning window is now; the unresolved run game keeps this from being No. 1.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Control one serious opponent on the ground when the box knows what is coming.
OPEN
4
Oregon
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Dante Moore, deep talent, championship capacity—and two new coordinators to assimilate.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Look like the same adult operation before the conference schedule becomes cruel.
OPEN
5
Georgia
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Back-to-back SEC champions receive institutional trust until the rebuilt secondary spends it.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Survive one explosive passing offense without retreating into conservative coverage.
OPEN
6
Indiana
ORIGINAL CLAIM
The undefeated champion deserves deference; repeating after turnover would change the sport permanently.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Run the same calm, grown-up offense with different people in the most important chairs.
OPEN
7
Miami
ORIGINAL CLAIM
A national finalist plus Darian Mensah creates an immediate return path; the defensive reconstruction is real.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Create pressure without selling out the secondary.
OPEN
8
LSU
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Lane Kiffin, Sam Leavitt, and the leading transfer class: enormous ceiling, delicious combustion potential.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Win a game that requires patience rather than a track meet.
OPEN
9
Texas Tech
ORIGINAL CLAIM
The Big 12 champion has a serious floor; quarterback health determines whether the ceiling survives.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Let Hammond be efficient without turning every drive into a medical suspense film.
OPEN
10
USC
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Five returning blockers, a huge recruiting class, and Gary Patterson. The excuse inventory is empty.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Tackle well and close a one-score conference game without theater.
OPEN
11
Alabama
ORIGINAL CLAIM
This is no longer a brand ranking. It is a referendum on whether Alabama can become physically frightening again.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Move a good defensive front when everybody in the stadium expects run.
OPEN
12
Penn State
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Matt Campbell and 39 transfers: either an intelligently assembled machine or a very expensive group project.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Look connected on third down before talent can cover the seams.
OPEN
13
Texas A&M
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Eleven straight wins proved the shape; the ending proved the fragility.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Finish a close game after the first plan stops working.
OPEN
14
Oklahoma
ORIGINAL CLAIM
A championship defense being asked to carry an offense that must finally become ordinary-good.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Create four reliable yards without requiring quarterback improvisation.
OPEN
15
Michigan
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Kyle Whittingham plus Bryce Underwood is the season’s strangest and most compelling culture experiment.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Give Underwood a coherent game rather than a weekly rescue assignment.
OPEN
16
BYU
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Consecutive 11-win seasons are evidence, not atmosphere.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Win when the offense is merely normal.
OPEN
17
Ole Miss
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Enough offensive continuity to matter; an entire post-Kiffin identity still to invent.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Show an offensive identity that is not a tribute act.
OPEN
18
Tennessee
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Jim Knowles can make the defense serious immediately. Nobody has earned certainty at quarterback.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Produce boring, repeatable quarterback decisions for four quarters.
OPEN
19
Clemson
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Potentially exceptional receivers, a new quarterback, and the clearest Dabo inflection point yet.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Turn receiver talent into explosive points before the crowd starts remembering 2018.
OPEN
20
Utah
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Can the infrastructure survive the end of the Whittingham era? We believe it can—barely.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Look unmistakably like Utah after the person most associated with “Utah football” is gone.
OPEN
21
Washington
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Quietly respected by models and preseason consensus; a perfect early candidate for “we noticed first.”
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Carry offensive efficiency across one cross-country conference trip.
OPEN
22
Florida
ORIGINAL CLAIM
Jon Sumrall inherits real talent and an SEC-sized proof requirement.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Beat a good opponent without making the new-coach story the entire offense.
OPEN
23
South Carolina
ORIGINAL CLAIM
LaNorris Sellers is the reason; whether anybody can protect him is the entire ranking.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Let a deep concept develop without asking Sellers to escape first.
OPEN
24
Boise State
ORIGINAL CLAIM
The outsider benchmark: the team that reveals whether this poll actually watches beyond the power brands.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Beat the kind of opponent whose logo normally wins the argument before kickoff.
OPEN
25
Iowa
ORIGINAL CLAIM
An elite imported runner, institutional defensive competence, and the possibility of extremely strange winning.
ORIGINAL PROOF REQUIRED
Score enough early that the punter does not become the offensive identity again.
OPEN

THE FINAL PRODUCT

At season’s end:
an autopsy, not a victory montage.

Every proven read, surviving doubt, public revision, and dead claim will remain attached to the board that opened it.

Open the permanent season ledger →

KEEPTHERECEIPTS.

Revision is allowed.Disappearance isn’t.