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donald_flap Ballot for 2022 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 23, 2022, 10:30 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Judging teams based on staff changes and roster changes over the offseason.

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes Not bias talking for Ohio St, I believe them to be the best team in the league, as they had one of the best offenses in the league last year, with CJ Stroud returning from a record breaking year and the receiving core while not as experienced as last years, is still one of the best in the nation. The defense is where the real differences begin here, as Todd Knowles hopefully is bringing actual strategy to the Ohio State defense which was lacking last year. From what I see, they can only go up from last year.
2 Alabama Crimson Tide It’s Alabama, what more can you possibly say. They were number 1 for me until I thought deeper, but they could easily switch with Ohio State. They have the best players in the nation, with Bryce Young on offense and Will Anderson on Defense. This team is downright frightening in every way. Nick Saban is too good of a coach to waste all of this talent, and they will most absolutely crush every team in their way.
3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Not much to say here except their only major loses over the offseason were Kyle Hamilton and their HC, but I can’t see them going anywhere but up.
4 Utah Utes Utah is my playoff dark horse, after their performance in the Rose Bowl I think they are ready to make the next jump to championship competition, especially with Cameron Rising.
5 Texas A&M Aggies One word, NIL. This team would not even be close to the top 10 without their record breaking class, and with how much hype and drama it has caused. A&M is surely going to be a big threat in the coming weeks.
6 Michigan Wolverines Michigan has a lot to build on from last year. They were one of the biggest underdogs last year, and they proved everyone wrong by making it to the playoffs, only losing to eventual champion Georgia. I think Michigan will do very well, and be a possible B10 contender.
7 Baylor Bears Aranda and company have done a stellar job at Baylor, and with the QB problem solved, they are a sure B12 contender. However, it all depends if they can make it to the top-4, and if they can show that they belong there.
8 Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma State is riding the momentum of last years great performance, culminating in a NY6 bowl victory. I see them doing very well, and being an easy contender for the B12.
9 NC State Wolfpack NC State had a great year in 2021, and I expect them to build on that with even more flair. This team is good, and I can’t logically put them below teams with big question marks on and off the field.
10 Michigan State Spartans MSU lost Kenneth Walker, and while that may be a big loss, I think they are good enough to be top 10. This is, however, a year for Mel Tucker to solidify himself as a high quality coach.
11 Clemson Tigers Clemson is a little bit of a mess. Yes they have a top QB prospect of 2023 committed in the case of DJU being as bad as he has been, but that is unsure. All we can do is watch the games to make our judgements, but they are certainly not top 5.
12 Oregon Ducks I am very unsure about Oregon. They always have a new head coach but they are always consistent in how good they are, so I will be lenient on them. However, they have a lot to prove and I don’t see them being as good in the early season as they were last year.
13 Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma has a good deal of uncertainty with the upcoming year. Lincoln Riley was a very offensively minded HC and Brett Venables is quite literally the opposite. I think this will be a season of growing pains, but eventually they will figure it out.
14 Georgia Bulldogs This is a very hot take, but personally I think Georgia does not have what it takes to be top 5. Some of the heaviest roster losses in the nation, with the bulk of their defense gone in the draft, and their RB and WR, they will disappoint early in the season. I do not see them repeating what they did last year.
15 Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky has improved very greatly over the last two years, and I see that pattern only moving forward for the Wildcats. A good QB and coach, with a solid defense will surely solidify them as a SEC threat.
16 Cincinnati Bearcats Cincinnati has proven themselves to be the best G5 team in the nation, but with their heavy roster losses I don’t see them going any higher.
17 Wisconsin Badgers Wisconsin was starting something great last year, and I think they will continue on that. They will be strong B1G competitors once again.
18 USC Trojans USC is coming off a bad year, but with all of the hype generated over the offseason with hiring Lincoln Riley, and getting Caleb Williams, Malachi Nelson, and Jordan Addison, there is no way this team doesn’t do well on the field.
19 Ole Miss Rebels Jaxson Dart is the only reason Ole Miss is this high, and with their pass heavy offense they are sure to be a contender.
20 Iowa State Cyclones This is a hot take, but I think that Iowa State is going to be quite good this year. A lot of their problems last year were caused by Brock Purdy playing too much hero ball, and I think with him gone the team will be more balanced.
21 Iowa Hawkeyes Iowa is a poll mainstay, and I see no reason to part from that notion. They are just all round looking good this year, although their lackluster offense may be an issue.
22 Miami Hurricanes Mario Cristobal is hoped to make a big impact on Miami, and I believe that he will. Tyler Van Dyke is too good alone to not be ranked, and the team as a whole has benefitted greatly from NIL.
23 Pittsburgh Panthers Without Kenny Pickett or Jordan Addison, I honestly don’t see this team getting far, if anywhere at all.
24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake Forest could be very good, but without their starter quarterback for an indefinite amount of time, I can’t see them going higher.
25 Arkansas Razorbacks With losing Treylon Burks, I am not sure that Arkansas will be as good as they were last year. However, they are a wild card and can easily shock me.

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