I say it every season but only because it's true: It's harder to go winless in college football than it is to go undefeated. I'm just the only one willing to give out a trophy for doing so.

Through three weeks of the season, there are still 37 undefeated teams on the FBS level. That's 28.9 percent of the 128 schools in FBS, nearly a third.

Do you know how many winless teams remain after three weeks?

Nine. That's it.

There are over four times as many undefeated teams as there are winless teams right now. So, you tell me, which is the more prestigious championship: the College Football Playoff or the Bottom 25? In your heart, you know the real answer.

Anyway, as for our rankings this week, we're still seeing some wild fluctuations with the numbers with such limited data, but things are starting to even out a bit. I'd say in another week or two, life in the Bottom 25 will become more stable, and for now we'll all just try to keep from getting dizzy tracking some major jumps and falls all around.

As always, here's a refresher on how these rankings work.

1. My opinion has absolutely nothing to do with the rankings. They are based on a mathematical formula of my creation. Keep this in mind before you call me an idiot, which I know you will.

2. There is true equality to start. Math doesn't play favorites. Before the season begins, defending national champion Alabama is just as good as our defending Bottom 25 champion UCF. The only factor that matters in the rankings is how you've performed on the field in 2016.

3. Wins and losses mean more than anything. I have a lot of different statistics involved, and I factor in strength of schedule (remember, everybody begins the season with the same SOS), but at the end of the day whether you won or lost is going to mean more than anything else. Also, my formula doesn't have much respect for FCS teams.

4. Things are strange early in the season. Remember, these rankings are based on data, and early in the season, there isn't much of a sample size. At this stage one result could have a major impact on your ranking if it's bad (or I suppose good) enough.

5. I won't share the formula. I just don't want to. I'm not a mathematician. I know my formula isn't perfect. I don't think a perfect formula can exist, so I don't share it because I don't care what anybody thinks about it. So don't ask.

Let's get rankin'.

25. UTEP, 1-2 (Previous: NR): The Miners are no stranger to the Bottom 25, but they make their first appearance of the 2016 season after suffering a 52-point loss at home to Army. I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around Army -- another Bottom 25 staple -- suddenly being a powerhouse.

This Week: 66-14 loss vs. Army | Next Week: vs. Southern Miss

24. Louisiana-Monroe, 1-2 (NR): The Warhawks loss to Georgia Southern wasn't a killer, as the formula has some respect for the Eagles right now. No, what actually put Louisiana-Monroe here was Oklahoma's loss to Ohio State. With the Sooners now at 1-2, it hurts Monroe's strength of schedule.

This Week: 23-21 loss at Georgia Southern | Next Week: at Auburn

23. Kansas, 1-2 (NR): Welcome back, Kansas. We've missed you. You were able to avoid us the first couple of weeks due to a season-opening win against Rhode Island, but when you have fewer Power Five wins than North Dakota State since 2010, it's only a matter of time before you come crawling back.

This Week: 43-7 loss at Memphis | Next Week: Bye

22. UNLV, 1-2 (NR): UNLV is an interesting case for me. The formula has them here in the Bottom 25, and it has the only say, but I don't think either of the Rebels' two losses are terrible in any kind of way. It's likely the final margin of defeat that's killing them more than anything.

This Week: 44-21 at Central Michigan | Next Week: vs. Idaho

21. Old Dominion, 1-2 (21): The Monarchs are entering a crucial part of their schedule, as the next three opponents are UTSA, Charlotte and UMass. If they don't want to be here all season long, they better pick up some wins.

This Week: 49-22 loss at NC State | Next Week: vs. UTSA

20. San Jose State, 1-2 (21): The Spartans weren't embarrassed by Utah at home on Saturday night, but the offensive line was. It gave up 10 sacks in the game.

This Week: 34-17 vs. Utah | Next Week: at Iowa State

19. Buffalo 0-2 (1): Here's an example of the fluctuation. Buffalo was No. 1 last week mostly due to the fact it had only played one game, and that game was a loss to FCS Albany. Simply playing a game against an FBS team -- even if it was a 38-14 loss -- boosted its overall stock, because statistically, the Bulls haven't been awful.

This Week: 38-14 loss at Nevada | Next Week: vs. Army

18. Georgia State, 0-3 (18): It has to hurt the Panthers to come so close to beating Wisconsin on the road only to fall short, but they can take some solace in knowing that the Bottom 25 considers them the best 0-3 team in the country right now.

This Week: 23-17 loss at Wisconsin | Next Week: Bye

17. Kent State, 1-2 (9): Call it a hunch, but with Alabama looming on the schedule this week, that big win over Monmouth won't prop the Flashes up very long.

This Week: 27-7 win vs. Monmouth | Next Week: at Alabama

16. Northern Illinois, 0-3 (20): This is not the Northern Illinois we've all become familiar with in recent years. The Huskies should pick up a win this week against Western Illinois, but I have no idea what kind of performance we'll see come MAC play.

This Week: 42-28 loss vs. San Diego State | Next Week: vs. Western Illinois

15. Miami (OH), 0-3 (13): This team confuses me because it's actually played somewhat well in losses to Iowa and Western Kentucky, yet lost to Eastern Illinois as well.

This Week: 31-24 loss vs. Western Kentucky | Next Week: at Cincinnati

14. Virginia, 0-3 (5): Listen, Virginia, you may have lost again on Saturday, but you were my Underdog of the Week in Pick Six and you covered the spread. Good teams win, great teams cover when I make them my Underdog of the Week.

This Week:13-10 loss at UConn | Next Week: vs. Central Michigan

13. Illinois, 1-2 (22): Safe to say the honeymoon is over for Lovie Smith? The Illini were crushed by Western Michigan at home on Saturday, which means the Broncos are now a win over Northern Illinois away from completing the Illinois Sweep in 2016.

This Week: 34-10 loss vs. Western Michigan | Next Week: Bye

12. Florida International, 0-3 (14): I have a sneaking suspicion that there won't be a single week of the Bottom 25 that doesn't include FIU this season.

This Week: 21-13 loss at UMass | Next Week: vs. UCF

11. Syracuse, 1-2 (NR): Syracuse jumped out to a 17-0 lead on South Florida in the first quarter and then proceeded to be outscored 45-3 over the final 45 minutes. That has to hurt.

This Week: 45-20 loss vs. South Florida | Next Week: at UConn

10. North Texas, 1-2 (NR): Listen, nobody bats an eye if North Texas just loses 32-0 on the road to Florida. That's expected. But to lose 32-0 while totaling only 53 (!) yards of offense? Good god, man.

This Week: 32-0 loss at Florida | Next Week: at Rice

9. Charlotte, 1-2 (7): The bad news for Charlotte is it lost last week's Bottom 25 Game of the Week. The good news is it took part in the greatest kickoff in college football history.

This Week: 37-19 loss vs. Eastern Michigan | Next Week: at Temple

8. Hawaii, 1-3 (11): Thank you for finally deciding to take a week off, Hawaii. You have to own the record for distance traveled in the first month of the season.

This Week: 47-28 loss at Arizona | Next Week: Bye

7. Arkansas State, 0-3 (3): The Red Wolves lost on Friday night yet fell four spots in the rankings because they weren't horrible in the process. A win over Central Arkansas this week might even knock them out of the Bottom 10.

This Week: 34-20 loss at Utah State | Next Week: vs. Central Arkansas

6. Bowling Green, 1-2 (4): The Bowling Green offense we came to know and love under Dino Babers just isn't there without him. Through three games, the Falcons are averaging only 19.3 points per game.

This Week: 41-21 loss vs. Middle Tennessee | Next Week: at Memphis

5. Florida Atlantic, 1-2 (NR): FAU is a powerhouse that combines one of the worst offenses in the country with one of the worst defenses. This is a team to look out for in our Bottom 25 title race.

This Week: 63-7 loss at Kansas State | Next Week: vs. Ball State

4. Fresno State, 1-2 (17): Where have you gone, Derek Carr and Davante Adams?

This Week: 52-17 loss at Toledo | Next Week: vs. Tulsa

3. Idaho, 1-2 (25): Idaho makes a huge jump in the rankings this week after losing by 50 to a Washington State team that had been ranked No. 10 in the Bottom 25 last week.

This Week: 56-6 loss at Washington State | Next Week: at UNLV

2. Rice, 0-3 (8): The good news for Rice is that following its loss to Baylor the only thing anybody is talking about is it's band, and not it's 0-3 start. A further distraction is coming, as Rice will hit the road to take on North Texas in The Bottom 25's Game of the Century of the Week.

This Week: 38-10 loss vs. Baylor | Next Week: vs. North Texas

1. Iowa State, 0-3 (2): Iowa State takes over the No. 1 spot following its loss to TCU, but it won't be as easy to lose this week with San Jose State coming to town.

This Week: 41-20 loss at TCU | Next Week: vs. San Jose State

No longer ranked: Northwestern, Washington State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Rutgers, Eastern Michigan, UMass, Utah State, Kentucky