diff --git a/src/components/admin/round/ranking-dashboard.tsx b/src/components/admin/round/ranking-dashboard.tsx
index ef49b6f..e6c2537 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/round/ranking-dashboard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/round/ranking-dashboard.tsx
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ type JurorScore = {
 type SortableProjectRowProps = {
   projectId: string
   currentRank: number
-  entry: RankedProjectEntry | undefined
+  entry: (RankedProjectEntry & { originalIndex?: number }) | undefined
   projectInfo: ProjectInfo | undefined
   jurorScores: JurorScore[] | undefined
   onSelect: () => void
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ function SortableProjectRow({
     transition,
   }
 
-  // isOverridden: current position differs from AI-assigned rank
-  const isOverridden = entry !== undefined && currentRank !== entry.rank
+  // isOverridden: admin drag-reordered this project from its original snapshot position
+  const isOverridden = entry !== undefined && currentRank !== entry.originalIndex
 
   // Compute yes count from juror scores
   const yesCount = jurorScores?.filter((j) => j.decision === true).length ?? 0
@@ -372,11 +372,12 @@ export function RankingDashboard({ competitionId: _competitionId, roundId }: Ran
 
   // ─── rankingMap (O(1) lookup) ──────────────────────────────────────────────
   const rankingMap = useMemo(() => {
-    const map = new Map<string, RankedProjectEntry>()
+    const map = new Map<string, RankedProjectEntry & { originalIndex: number }>()
     if (!snapshot) return map
     const startup = (snapshot.startupRankingJson ?? []) as unknown as RankedProjectEntry[]
     const concept = (snapshot.conceptRankingJson ?? []) as unknown as RankedProjectEntry[]
-    ;[...startup, ...concept].forEach((entry) => map.set(entry.projectId, entry))
+    startup.forEach((entry, i) => map.set(entry.projectId, { ...entry, originalIndex: i + 1 }))
+    concept.forEach((entry, i) => map.set(entry.projectId, { ...entry, originalIndex: i + 1 }))
     return map
   }, [snapshot])