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TheJeemTeam Ballot for 2019 Preseason

Ballot Type: Hybrid

Submitted: Aug. 21, 2019, 7:10 p.m.

Overall Rationale: I utilize a simple computer poll of my own design to develop a preliminary ranking. From there I break the results into tiers based on where natural breaks occur. I then re-rank within the tiers to obtain my final rankings.These preseason rankings are composed of 4 factors of varying weights. It's 40% based on how good the team has been in recent years (SRS from CFB Reference), 20% based on Returning Production (Phil Steele's Returning Production), 35% based on 2-year Recruiting Rankings (247 Composite), and 5% Head coach experience (capped at 10 years).The in-season rankings will quickly phase in a performance-based metric, but the preseason component is always in it to at least a small degree. It will be below 25% of my rankings by the end of September and around 10% by the end of October.

Rank Team Reason
1 Clemson Tigers 1/3 in Tier A: Defending champion. Best QB in the country in my opinion.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide 2/3 in Tier A: Not far behind Clemson
3 Georgia Bulldogs 3/3 in Tier A: Could very well surpass Bama in the SEC West, but for now they're behind them in the ranking
4 Ohio State Buckeyes 1/1 in Tier B: I feel like my computer is overrating them. They still have a great shot of winning the Big 10 and making the playoff, but if I was doing a completely human poll, i'd probably put them in the 5-10 range.
5 LSU Tigers 1/1 in Tier C
6 Michigan Wolverines 1/4 in Tier D: I consider them the favorite in the Big 10 East, despite having them behind Ohio State.
7 Oregon Ducks 2/4 in Tier D: Not far behind Michigan, but more questions on Defense.
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3/4 in Tier D
9 Auburn Tigers 4/4 in Tier D
10 Oklahoma Sooners 1/2 in Tier E: Oklahoma is the favorite to win the Big 12 despite replacing Kyler Murray, losing almost their entire OLine, and still having questions on defense. Michigan State should be much better, but not better than Oklahoma.
11 Michigan State Spartans 2/2 in Tier E
12 Washington Huskies 1/5 in Tier F: Close choice between them and Texas. Went with Washington due them having a slightly better Defense in my opinion.
13 Texas Longhorns 2/5 in Tier F
14 Florida Gators 3/5 in Tier F
15 Penn State Nittany Lions 4/5 in Tier F
16 USC Trojans 5/5 in Tier F: Despite PSU losing a ton on offense and having an uncertain QB situation, I can't put USC above them despite the fact that they should be much improved from last years disappointing season. Getting back to contending for the Pac-12 will take a lot of ifs to go the right way for them.
17 Utah Utes 1/5 in Tier G
18 Texas A&M Aggies 2/5 in Tier G
19 Miami Hurricanes 3/5 in Tier G
20 South Carolina Gamecocks 4/5 in Tier G
21 Oklahoma State Cowboys 5/5 in Tier G
22 TCU Horned Frogs 1/3 in Tier H
23 Iowa Hawkeyes 2/3 in Tier H
24 Florida State Seminoles 3/3 in Tier H: Don't feel they should be anywhere near the rankings. Easy choice as last in this tier.
25 UCF Knights 1/4 in Tier I: Only G5 in my poll. I consider them much better than the other 3 teams that were in this tier (Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Mississippi State)

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