| Houston | #38 | #20 | 11-2 | - Against Oklahoma (Harbin #20, the spot the committee gives Houston), Houston's beaten opponents earned 209.0 Level 1 points in all (251.5 for Oklahoma's), a Level 2 term of 14.6 to 17.3. Houston beat 6 teams with losing records (UConn 1-11, South Florida 2-10, Tulane 2-10, Navy 3-8 and 2 more) and FCS Grambling, which add little to Level 2; Oklahoma beat no team with 9+ wins. This accounts for 2.95 of the 4.87-point rating gap (61%).
- Houston lost the AAC title game to Cincinnati (13-0): it was its 13th game and earned 0 points, so its Level 1 average fell from 4.42 to 4.08 and Cincinnati's 13 games went into its divisor with nothing earned; without that game Houston would rate 19.03 instead of 17.47. This accounts for 1.56 of the 4.87-point rating gap (32%).
- Houston's wins earn less: 4.82 Level 1 points per win, against 6.00 for Oklahoma. 11 of its 11 wins came over teams worth less than a top-tier win (6.5): 10 over other FBS teams (5.0 each: Rice, Navy, Tulsa, Tulane and 6 more) and FCS Grambling (3.0); Oklahoma had 2 (1 over other FBS teams (5.0 each: Tulane) and FCS W Carolina (3.0)). This accounts for 1.03 of the 4.87-point rating gap (21%).
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| Arkansas | #33 | #21 | 8-4 | - Against San Diego St (Harbin #21, the spot the committee gives Arkansas), Arkansas's beaten opponents earned 216.0 Level 1 points in all (279.5 for San Diego St's), a Level 2 term of 14.9 to 19.3. Arkansas beat 3 teams with losing records (GA Southern 3-9, Rice 4-8 and Texas 5-7) and FCS AR-Pine Bluff, which add little to Level 2; San Diego St beat 2 teams with 9+ wins (Utah 10-3 and Air Force 9-3). This accounts for 4.38 points, more than the whole 3.31-point rating gap; other factors pull the other way.
- Arkansas lost 4 of its 12 games (Georgia 12-1, Ole Miss 10-2, Auburn 6-6 and Alabama 12-1), and every loss is a game worth 0 points in the Level 1 average: 8 of its 12 games earn points, against 11 of 12 for San Diego St (lost to Fresno St 9-3). This accounts for 1.35 of the 3.31-point rating gap (41%).
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| UTSA | #17 | - | 12-1 | - Against Miami (Harbin #26, the first spot outside the committee's top 25), UTSA beat no team with 9+ wins, so its beaten opponents earned 292.5 Level 1 points in all (244.5 for Miami's), a Level 2 term of 18.8 to 16.7; Miami beat 2 teams with losing records (Duke 3-9 and Georgia Tech 3-9) and FCS C Connecticut, which add little to Level 2. This accounts for 3.18 of the 3.21-point rating gap (99%).
- UTSA lost 1 of its 13 games (North Texas 6-6), against 5 of 12 for Miami (lost to Alabama 12-1, Michigan St 10-2, Virginia 6-6, North Carolina 6-6 and 1 more), and every loss is a game worth 0 points in the Level 1 average. This accounts for 1.83 of the 3.21-point rating gap (57%).
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| Wisconsin | #18 | - | 8-4 | - Against Miami (Harbin #26, the first spot outside the committee's top 25), Wisconsin beat 1 team with 9+ wins (Iowa 10-3), so its beaten opponents earned 271.0 Level 1 points in all (244.5 for Miami's), a Level 2 term of 18.6 to 16.7; Miami beat 2 teams with losing records (Duke 3-9 and Georgia Tech 3-9) and FCS C Connecticut, which add little to Level 2. This accounts for 1.82 of the 2.52-point rating gap (72%).
- Wisconsin lost 4 of its 12 games (Penn State 7-5, Notre Dame 11-1, Michigan 12-1 and Minnesota 8-4), against 5 of 12 for Miami (lost to Alabama 12-1, Michigan St 10-2, Virginia 6-6, North Carolina 6-6 and 1 more), and every loss is a game worth 0 points in the Level 1 average. This accounts for 0.50 of the 2.52-point rating gap (20%).
- Wisconsin beat 2 Harbin top-25 teams (Iowa #19 and Purdue #25) and 1 more in the top 50 (Army #44).
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| Louisiana | #16 | #23 | 12-1 | - Against Clemson (Harbin #23, the spot the committee gives Louisiana), Louisiana beat 1 team with 9+ wins (App State 10-3), so its beaten opponents earned 302.0 Level 1 points in all (251.5 for Clemson's), a Level 2 term of 19.2 to 17.2; Clemson beat 4 teams with losing records (UConn 1-11, Georgia Tech 3-9, Florida St 5-7 and Syracuse 5-7) and FCS SC State, which add little to Level 2. This accounts for 3.34 points, more than the whole 2.01-point rating gap; other factors pull the other way.
- Louisiana lost 1 of its 13 games (Texas 5-7), against 3 of 12 for Clemson (lost to Georgia 12-1, NC State 9-3 and Pitt 11-2), and every loss is a game worth 0 points in the Level 1 average. This accounts for 0.93 of the 2.01-point rating gap (46%).
- Louisiana's loss to 5-7 Texas counts no more in Harbin than a loss to a top-10 team; it is #23 in the committee ranking.
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| Kentucky | #29 | #22 | 9-3 | - Against NC State (Harbin #22, the spot the committee gives Kentucky), Kentucky's beaten opponents earned 218.0 Level 1 points in all (250.0 for NC State's), a Level 2 term of 15.1 to 17.4. Kentucky beat 3 teams with losing records (New Mexico St 2-10, Vanderbilt 2-10 and UL Monroe 4-8) and FCS Chattanooga, which add little to Level 2; NC State beat 1 team with 9+ wins (Clemson 9-3). This accounts for 2.22 points, more than the whole 2.22-point rating gap; other factors pull the other way.
- Kentucky has no win over a Harbin top-25 team (best win: LSU #49).
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