Ballot Type: Computer

Submitted: Jan. 9, 2018, 9:23 a.m.

Overall Rationale: For the first time in the four years I've done this poll, the number one heading into bowl season didn't make the playoff, and the eventual winner was outside my top four prior to bowl season. Due to the strength of schedule benefits built into the system, it's self-correcting and gives the teams that actually play the playoff games opportunities to win points that retroactively justify their inclusion. Even so, Alabama just barely squeaked by Georgia in the final poll here. Wisconsin and Georgia were the best teams all year long in this poll, but the added victory gave Alabama the edge needed to finish on top. 

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Alabama Crimson Tide
2	Georgia Bulldogs
3	Wisconsin Badgers
4	UCF Knights
5	Ohio State Buckeyes
6	Oklahoma Sooners
7	Clemson Tigers
8	Penn State Nittany Lions
9	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10	Auburn Tigers
11	USC Trojans
12	Boise State Broncos
13	FAU Owls
14	Michigan State Spartans
15	TCU Horned Frogs
16	Miami Hurricanes
17	Troy Trojans
18	Washington Huskies
19	Northwestern Wildcats
20	Oklahoma State Cowboys
21	Memphis Tigers
22	Stanford Cardinal
23	Toledo Rockets
24	Iowa Hawkeyes
25	Mississippi State Bulldogs

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Alabama Crimson Tide	0.00
2	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
3	Wisconsin Badgers	1.55
4	UCF Knights	0.00
5	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.00
6	Oklahoma Sooners	-0.34
7	Clemson Tigers	-0.30
8	Penn State Nittany Lions	0.00
9	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.23
10	Auburn Tigers	0.00
11	USC Trojans	0.00
12	Boise State Broncos	2.45
13	FAU Owls	3.18
14	Michigan State Spartans	0.00
15	TCU Horned Frogs	-1.37
16	Miami Hurricanes	-0.34
17	Troy Trojans	5.38
18	Washington Huskies	-0.17
19	Northwestern Wildcats	0.00
20	Oklahoma State Cowboys	-1.42
21	Memphis Tigers	0.12
22	Stanford Cardinal	0.00
23	Toledo Rockets	2.09
24	Iowa Hawkeyes	0.46
25	Mississippi State Bulldogs	-0.48

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
LSU Tigers	1.02
USF Bulls	0.62
NC State Wolfpack	0.42

Total Score: 21.96