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steelcitygator Ballot for 2021 Week 2

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 7, 2021, 6:43 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Only taking Week 1 into consideration. Value who you play so if it's a weaker opponent you better have mauled em to consider them over someone who played a closer game to tougher competition. This "Most Deserving" method of ranking does lead to some pretty hard volatility the first 4-6 weeks as data points come in but I feel it gives a better late season ranking. Human version of some of the computer rankings in that aspect I suppose.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide 129 teams looked beatable in Week 1, and then there's Alabama. Absolutely thrashed what should end up a decent at worst Miami team. Not really much to truly say about this. Undisputed #1 to begin the year in my opinion.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes They were far from perfect, and Minnesota losing their best player didn't help, but they pulled away a bit at the end. Tough decision on #2 this week but they showed a pulse on Offense and tightened up defensively when they needed too. Everything behind Bama is very fluid right now though.
3 Georgia Bulldogs Glad to see UGA's 5th straight pre-season Heisman award paid off with a great display... Defense will be salty, offense is still Kirby's Georgia offense. Toughest game of the week so it was tough 2 or 3. Really more of a 2a, 2b seeing as they couldn't score an offensive touchdown and I think Ohio State showed more on both sides of the ball. Remember, only Week 1.
4 Clemson Tigers Told you I value who you played. Clearly a team that has an OL problem. But, with most of the nation showing apathy towards good offense, they still seem like a clear top team. Close loss to a top team won't ever hurt you too much, especially in Week 1. Certainly are leaving little room for error though.
5 UCLA Bruins Well this team is going to absolutely pound the rock in a fun way this year. I feel to many people forgot how much Kelly likes to absolute run the ball down your throat. Defense looked good too. Was down on LSU to begin the year already but UCLA doing it two weeks in a row in such a fashion is a statement.
6 Iowa Hawkeyes Indiana got a bit lucky last year. They probably will end up a Top 25 team. Iowa got a bit lucky with the defenses scored but this looks like one of those tuned up Iowa squads. QB play is a worry but find me a team without a worry.
7 Penn State Nittany Lions The defense is great. I don't think it was just bad offenses. The new look O was a better in the second half, taking shots and finding some push on the OL. One of the better wins of the weekend gives PSU a high ranking for now. Skeptical how well they stay up here.
8 Cincinnati Bearcats They didn't play a good opponent but they looked like the real deal. I would like to put them higher but can't due to opponent level. Due to an FCS opponent next week I don't see to much movement bar some early year chaos but look out, they are legit again.
9 Virginia Tech Hokies Well they didn't look great but the D looked good (running theme, I'm aware). Offense was awful, that said I think UNC will not be as bad as showed. OL is rough but Howell had no help and was pressured into a worse game than his talent. Solid start to the year for a hot seat candidate.
10 Ole Miss Rebels The defense seems... better? IDK, Louisville is way behind where I both thought they would be and where they should be. Without Lane on the sidelines though it was an absolutely professional performance. Intriguing times in Mississippi.
11 UCF Knights I was very impressed with their comeback win, no fanbase can be happier they had a coach poached than these fans. I'm not optimistic they keep this up all year but pretty high on Boise State this year. DL really is what turned it around for them. Still second fiddle to Cincinnati right now.
12 Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma did not have to be this low and I suspect won't stay here long. I'm not high on Tulane which dropped them below Ole Miss and UCF but they are a better team and will shoot up the rankings as the season rolls on. Need to see the D look like the end of last year though for those lofty preseason plaudits to be realized.
13 NC State Wolfpack They looked the part against a not great USF team. I was on the 9 win, top 25 NC State bandwagon before the year but this team could shape up to one of 2021's surprise teams based off some other Week 1 results. One to watch.
14 Wisconsin Badgers Similar to PSU, I think part of the O looking bad was just good D. Of course, the Wisconsin QB should be able to hand the ball off good as hell. And just a lack of passing went on. Tough way to start the year, that D and OL/RB combo will push and pull them into West contention most likely but it might not be an easy year up North.
15 Miami Hurricanes Absolutely beat to death. I must admit I didn't tune into the game because I knew it wouldn't be close but watching a condensed version of the game and my lord. They did get a little pressure but not many good things to point to. But they did step up to play a team everyone knows is a meat grinder until Saban retires so they slot in here.
16 Texas Longhorns Probably one of the more impressive wins this week. ULL is a good, well-disciplined team and Sark was drawing it up for them. Way to early to tell the long term effects of the hire but Game 1 is a success.
17 USC Trojans Good, not great week. SJSU is a very good team to be fair, a solid win overall. Slightly less dominating than Texas but a push between the two. I expect them to Helton it up at some point but the start you want.
18 Texas A&M Aggies They took care of business, Kent State is a team with good offense and they mostly handled it. A few bumps in the road but all the goals are in front of them.
19 Florida Gators Game was not as close as the score might indicate. Lots of questions in the passing game but OL/run game and D look improved. This is where it's tough to parse out a lot of teams early in the year (still better than last year!) but I expect them to figure stuff out and improve against USF before a huge matchup against Alabama in a stacked Week 3.
20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish They were very up and down. Defensive adjustments didn't make sense to me in the second half. Still skeptical about FSU's talent and ceiling after the past few years. Guess time will tell just what these two teams talent is but I have more questions than answers after Sunday night.
21 Michigan State Spartans IDK how real this result is, I feel it says more about what Northwestern will be this year than MSU. But still a very solid outing in Week 1. One of the top RB's in the country might be here again.
22 Michigan Wolverines Speaking of more solid than expected teams, Michigan might have a QB again. If so, maybe Harbaugh has a redemption arc to this fanbase. Probably stronger performance but weaker opponent than MSU keeps them just behind. Defense also looks back keeping the WMU offense in check, that should be a solid unit.
23 Maryland Terrapins I was a bit high on WVU this year, and still think the Defense looks pretty good. Even more a testament to Maryland this week. I expect them to be pretty inconsistent but with ability to beat or lose to just about everyone on their schedule every given week. Could be fun at least.
24 Nevada Wolf Pack Every year I espouse on how it's Cals year. They will finally figure out the offense/get returning production/get healthy and every year they disappoint me. That said, Nevada was projected as a top MWC team and looked the part in a lot of ways against a Cal team that does have an exceptional defense.
25 UTSA Roadrunners A lot expected Illinois to be 2-0 after upsetting Nebraska in Week 0 and UTSA had other plans. What a turnaround this program has had being so young. Building something here for sure. Couple interesting games but props for a strong Week 1 showing even if they drop off the polls for a while due to other teams performance.

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