Ballot Type: Hybrid
Submitted: Jan. 10, 2023, 4:29 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Final notes: Deservedness keeps teams such as Texas out when I would have them over some of the teams in this poll. General notes: 1st layer (computer portion): SP+, opponents’ SP+, opponents’ opponents’ SP+, opponents’ win %, opponents’ opponents’ win %. 2nd layer (human portion): home/field/away, key injuries, P5/G5 status, watched game factors (ex: offensive/defensive line domination, rush yards after contact, average point of first contact, defensive penetration on non-inside screens, missed tackles, quarterback throwing release speed, overall turnovers, average starting field position, etc). 3rd layer (human portion): wins/losses vs higher-/lower-/non-ranked teams, recency of those results. 4th layer (computer portion): Deservedness = team cannot be ranked over another team with 2+ fewer losses (ex: 10-4 Utah can be ranked over 11-3 USC, but 10-4 Utah cannot be ranked over 12-2 Troy even if Utah beat Troy heads up, rankings have Utah over Troy, and/or I think Utah is better than Troy).
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Self-explanatory |
| 2 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
I think Michigan would win in a rematch, but heads up has to matter |
| 3 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
I think Michigan has more talent than TCU, but heads up has to matter |
| 4 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
I think Ohio State would have beaten TCU, but due to heads up results Ohio State is #4 |
| 5 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
Only losses were to Michigan (blowout) and Ohio state (close) |
| 6 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
Close-ish loss to Georgia and one loss to South Carolina doesn’t take away from the fact they were really good and have head to head and common opponent over Alabama |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
Needs to be penalized for losing heads up to Alabama and LSU |
| 8 |
Clemson Tigers
|
They were still a good team. People are saying they suck while comparing them to past Clemson teams |
| 9 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
Strong finish and their losses earlier in the season were due to those teams being healthy at those times (and fell off later) |
| 10 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
Have to give them head to head over USC |
| 11 |
USC Trojans
|
Still a very talented team - if they had closed out Tulane or won one of the Utah games, they’d be much higher |
| 12 |
Washington Huskies
|
Had a bad loss to Arizona State, but wins over teams like Texas make up for it |
| 13 |
Oregon State Beavers
|
Head to head over Oregon |
| 14 |
Oregon Ducks
|
Still a solid team |
| 15 |
Troy Trojans
|
Deservedness factor is the reason they’re above most of the 4-loss teams |
| 16 |
Utah Utes
|
Would be in the top 10 if not for Deservedness |
| 17 |
LSU Tigers
|
Would be ranked above Troy if not for Deservedness |
| 18 |
Kansas State Wildcats
|
Would be ranked above Troy if not for Deservedness |
| 19 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
Would be ranked above Troy if not for Deservedness |
| 20 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
Would be ranked above Troy if not for Deservedness |
| 21 |
Minnesota Golden Gophers
|
Difference between Troy is minimal |
| 22 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
Difference between Troy is minimal |
| 23 |
Duke Blue Devils
|
Difference between Troy is minimal |
| 24 |
UCLA Bruins
|
Troy would still be ranked above UCLA even if no Deservedness was in play |
| 25 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
Next seven: 26 UTSA, 27 Fresno State, 28 South Alabama, 29 Boise State, 30 Air Force, 31 James Madison, 32 Texas. Deservedness keeping James Madison above 5+ loss teams |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 2 |
TCU Horned Frogs
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.69 |
| 6 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
-0.11 |
| 8 |
Clemson Tigers
|
1.01 |
| 9 |
Florida State Seminoles
|
0.51 |
| 10 |
Tulane Green Wave
|
0.00 |
| 11 |
USC Trojans
|
0.02 |
| 12 |
Washington Huskies
|
-0.38 |
| 13 |
Oregon State Beavers
|
0.19 |
| 14 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 15 |
Troy Trojans
|
0.26 |
| 16 |
Utah Utes
|
-0.69 |
| 17 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Kansas State Wildcats
|
-0.67 |
| 19 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Minnesota Golden Gophers
|
3.63 |
| 22 |
Pittsburgh Panthers
|
0.00 |
| 23 |
Duke Blue Devils
|
1.62 |
| 24 |
UCLA Bruins
|
-0.04 |
| 25 |
Cincinnati Bearcats
|
0.15 |
Omissions:
| Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
0.39 |
Fresno State Bulldogs
|
0.28 |
Total Score: 10.63