Back to poll results >>

PSUMediaPA Ballot for 2022 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 22, 2022, 1 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Overall I have a few reasons for how I created my Top 10 and then the remaining 11-25. With Michigan losing key players I feel that Ohio State is probably going to have a much easier time winning the East than in previous seasons against Indiana and Michigan (where they lost). I put them #1 in the poll for a few reasons, talent and scheduling. OSU is playing Notre Dame for their first game of the year and I think that deserves a bit of extra drama by making them #1, added pressure and a reward for scheduling a tough team for the opening game. I place Georgia over Alabama for one simple reasons. They won the Championship, but realistically they are on about equal footing. I placed Oklahoma in at number 4 because I think the Sooners have something to prove and as they prepare to move into the SEC this might be their last chance at getting CFB playoff bid in awhile. Clemson will rebound this year and Notre Dame proved throughout the remainder of the year that it lost to a good Cincy team so I put them at #5 and #6. Texas A&M in my opinion needs to prove itself to be in the conversation, it beat Alabama last season, however they also lost to teams they shouldn't have lost to if they wanted to get a CFB playoff bid. Utah and OK State are next up at 8 & 9, OK State should be in the Top 10 in my opinion, they played very well last season and if they play similar to how they did last season they could swap placed with Oklahoma in this poll. As for Utah, they seem to have taken Oregon's place in the PAC-12, now let's see if they can hold it. Rounding out the top 10 I have Oregon, they have returning pieces but until I see them play Georgia I'm keeping them behind Utah. The remaining 15 I looked at previous games and talent that has left and been added to evaluate where they should be, as well as what their schedule looks like for their first few games. Baylor and Michigan I think will have to gain back some ground that they had from last season, so I'm going to start them at #11 and #12 to see how they do. NC State was a surprise team last season and if it wasn't for a loss to Mississippi State they could've been a Top 10 team. I have them at #13 to see if they can start playing like Clemson can against ECU and Texas Tech, if they can then the Wolfpack will move up the poll very fast. Ole Miss I have at #14 and a sleeper team, I think this is a team that could give the rest of the SEC West fits. Their schedule is extremely favorable to get them into the CFB playoff conversation with them missing out on an SEC opponent until Week 4. Wake Forest rounds out the Top 15, I don't have them higher because I fear that their lack of defense is going to be their Achilles heal again this season. Wisconsin takes #16, I think the Badgers will once again retake the title of being the team to beat in the Big 10 West. Pitt was a surprise team last season, now that they are on the radar they'll have a target on their back. However, they earned their spot in the Top 25 after the season they had in 2021. Michigan State is losing players and will have a tougher time with their schedule for this season to be as competitive in the Big 10 East, so I put them at #18. Kentucky will be one of the few teams that I think will be able to challenge Georgia in the East this season, I give them at #19 ranking to start them off, they don't have the talent that some of the West challengers have but they've got enough to compete for the East. The remaining Top 20-25 are guesses. Arkansas earned it's spot at #20 after their 2nd half comeback against Penn State in the Outback bowl. They'll be another sleeper like Ole Miss in the West. Cincinnati will be the team to beat for the American, however, I don't see their schedule being good enough to get them to the CFB Playoff again as a Big 5 school, nonetheless they come in at 21 after Arkansas the Arkansas vs. Cincy matchup will be a game that will knock one of these teams out of the Top 25 unfortunately if the game isn't close. I have USC further back than most other pollsters do, I just don't see the hype that others see I guess? Tennessee has the talent but they just lost games that they shouldn't have, I firmly believe they had no business losing to Purdue (hats off to the Boilermakers on winning the game). I've got Miami at #24, they've been over-ranked in previous seasons and I feel they need to earn it with a few wins this season and then I'll move them up. I really didn't want to do it but after looking at the other teams I decided to throw Iowa in at #25. They played well last season, but they lost games they shouldn't have against Purdue and got blown out by Michigan. I've got them at #25 and as the season progresses I believe they'll keep moving up, but they have a tough schedule with Michigan and Ohio State as 2/3 Big Ten East opponents.

Back to poll results >>