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RaceScottRace Ballot for 2022 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 23, 2022, 10:46 p.m.

Overall Rationale: To start the year, I'm ranking what I think are simply the best teams in order. Not necessarily how I think they'll all be ranked come the end of the regular season. Like, I don't think we'll get an all SEC and Big Ten playoff, but I do think the four best teams in the country right now are from those two conferences. As the season progresses and we get hard results, then I'll vote based on resume and what the playoff pecking order should be. A couple of notables I left off: Texas & USC. Prove it to me first. I buy what's being sold about Miami, but not those two. I also would have included Wake if not for the dilemma they suddenly have at QB.

Rank Team Reason
1 Alabama Crimson Tide Loaded with talent. Nearly won the national title last year. No reason to think they can't and won't do it this year, again.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes Probably the best offense in America and now they have one of the game's best defensive minds leading their defense. I'd be scared if my school was in the Big Ten.
3 Georgia Bulldogs Still very talented. Built to last. Hard to imagine them not dominating the SEC East and be in the playoff hunt come late November, regardless of what happens in Atlanta.
4 Michigan Wolverines On paper, I still really like the Wolverines. I think they're legitimately the 4th best team in the country, even if there's a sizeable gap between them and the top two (like last year).
5 Clemson Tigers Hard to pick against Clemson and their stout defense. It's all about figuring out the offense, which I believe they will.
6 Utah Utes I love the Utes. They play with some dawg in them, if you know what I mean. They're the only team in the Pac 12 that was like that last year. It carried them to the Rose Bowl. They could be in the playoff hunt if they perform much better out of conference compared to last year.
7 Baylor Bears My Bears are loaded in the trenches. I've never seen a Baylor team so deep on the lines. While they lost some key pieces on defense, I think they'll be able to replace them and still have one of the best units in the country. All the questions are at the skill positions on offense. Basically a new corps of receivers and running backs--one of which has almost never been healthy despite his talent. Shapen has promise at QB, but he visited the medical tent in his only two starts last year. They've got to keep him healthy to win another title.
8 Michigan State Spartans I always like State, but that defense left me scratching my head last year. If they could just figure that out, I think they'd be a real dark horse this year, but it's hard to forget about that Big Noon beatdown to the Buckeyes.
9 Texas A&M Aggies A&M is one of the most talented teams in the country, but Jimbo can never put it together unless he has "his guy" at QB. Does he have a QB like that right now? I've yet to see proof, but no doubt that the Aggies are super talented and can climb these rankings with better quarterback play.
10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish I don't think Notre Dame is one of the elite teams in the country when it comes to talent. I don't think they're in the same stratosphere as Ohio State, and Week 1 will prove that. I also think having a first-year head coach will be harder than think, even if there's a lot of continuity there. But hey, if they prove me wrong, then they prove me wrong. The Irish are still much better than *most* teams they'll play.
11 Oregon Ducks I like the Ducks. I want to believe. Problem is, they got thwacked by Utah twice last year because, unlike the Utes, they lacked that dawg in them. Lanning might change that, though. He could be exactly who they need right now.
12 NC State Wolfpack Love NC State. Fun to watch. I'm glad they've gotten some preseason love. If Clemson doesn't figure their offensive issues out, NC State could be this year's Pitt out of the ACC.
13 Oklahoma State Cowboys Still really high on OSU, but not as high as some. I think losing Knowles and some leaders on defense causes them to take a step back. Though if Spencer Sanders plays more consistently this year, they can overcome that.
14 BYU Cougars Higher on BYU than most. I think them being out west and independent unfairly hurts their perception and preseason coverage. This is a really good football team that scares the daylights out of me with Baylor going to Provo in Week 2. I expect them to make a lot of noise this year yet again.
15 Houston Cougars The Coogs are much better than people think. This is a team that was overshadowed due to just how good Cincinnati was last year. I expect them to win more than 10 games yet again and be ranked around here come the end of the season.
16 Pittsburgh Panthers I still like Pitt. I think they've got a good program going that can sustain, but losing a couple of stars hurts. Better watch out for that Backyard Brawl game to start the season, though.
17 Arkansas Razorbacks How can you not love Pittman and respect what he's done at Arkansas? They're physical and blue collar like Arkansas should be. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win a game or two they're not supposed to this year.
18 Miami Hurricanes Of all the big-time programs looking to turn their luck around, Miami is the one I actually buy stock in. They've got a lot of talent. The FPI loves them. Mario is a U guy that understands the culture and what it takes to win there. I can easily see them having a top 25 team in year one.
19 Kansas State Wildcats K-State isn't getting nearly enough love compared to the top three in the Big 12. This despite them having the most All Big 12 preseason players on their team. I'm sipping the purple Kool-Aid and think Martinez will have a great year. Look for K-State to be a surprise team in the Big 12.
20 Kentucky Wildcats Stoops has built a consistently good program at UK, and now they're a legitimate dark horse to win the division, even if they don't have the talent Georgia does. I also respect him standing his ground after John Calipari ran his mouth. You go, coach.
21 Oklahoma Sooners This is one that will raise eyebrows, but I'm just not sold on OU in year one under Venables. I think he's THE guy. They absolutely made the right hire, and he's going to have a lot of success there. I just think year one will have a lot of growing pains because of the amount of turnover on the roster and among the coaches. They also don't have as a good of a quarterback as they've had in the past. I think on paper OU is like an 8 or 9 win team, but it wouldn't shock me to see them do a little better just because the conference schedule sets up very favorably for them this year.
22 Cincinnati Bearcats I still really like the Bearcats and obviously Fickell. I wouldn't put it past them to upset Arkansas Week 1. That said, unless they prove they can replace the pieces they lost off last year's dream team, I think they're second best this year in the AAC.
23 Tennessee Volunteers Good things are happening at Rocky Top again, but I think they'll be overshadowed a little bit by upstart Kentucky. I expect them to be a team that floats in and out of the top 25 this year.
24 Penn State Nittany Lions Last year was tough for Penn State. They made it onto my ballot over similar teams due to faith in James Franklin. I think he'll respond well to the pressure and avoid the hot seat.
25 North Carolina Tar Heels UNC has been getting overlooked after last year's disappointing season and upstarts like Pitt, NC State, and Wake coming along. I think they'll bounce back and be a bit more competitive than last year. Mack still knows how to win.

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