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Due_Connection179 Ballot for 2023 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 21, 2023, 1:42 p.m.

Overall Rationale: For the first four weeks of the season (basically the non-conference portion), I go by gut, transfers, and returning starters/coaches. Starting week 5, I strictly go by film from the current season for all of my ballots.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Reigning Champions will always be #1 in my preseason poll, for good or bad.
2 Michigan Wolverines Playoff team that is bringing back 81% of its starters from last season. Should be the clear Big Ten favorites.
3 LSU Tigers I currently believe that they will repeat as SEC West Champions, go 11-2, and be the other SEC school in the playoffs.
4 Washington Huskies This is my first true bold prediction. I have Washington going 12-1 with the only loss coming at USC. I also think they have the best QB in the country in Michael Penix Jr.
5 Alabama Crimson Tide I’m thinking it’s going to be another 10-2 season with a loss to LSU that keeps them out of the SEC Championship Game.
6 Utah Utes I have them going 11-2, both losses to Washington.
7 Florida State Seminoles A somewhat surprise if you asked me “who would win the ACC” just a couple months ago. Key transfers plus retaining a lot of their team makes me believe the Seminoles get back on top.
8 USC Trojans Caleb Williams is amazing, the defense not so much. I believe they have the offense to win every game, but defenses win championships.
9 Ohio State Buckeyes This was tough putting Ohio State 9th, but this is only the preseason. Really want to see what they do a QB, but their WRs are always solid and their defense “should” be improved as well.
10 Kansas State Wildcats I believe that Kansas State will be the Big XII Champion at 10-3. Problem is, there are a lot of good to really good teams in the Big XII and they might just take each other out this season.
11 Penn State Nittany Lions Everyone else is really a gut feeling right now. I kept TCU top 25 just for being runner up, but I fully believe they go around 7-5 or 8-4 this season. Other shockers: - Kentucky at 18 and Mississippi State at 19. I fully believe these two are the most underrated SEC schools who get zero love every preseason. - Notre Dame at 22 and Oklahoma at 23. Really here because of incoming classes and transfers. Both have 2nd year coaches. I also have both going 8-4 or 9-3.
12 Clemson Tigers
13 Tennessee Volunteers
14 Texas Longhorns
15 Oregon Ducks
16 Wisconsin Badgers
17 North Carolina Tar Heels
18 Kentucky Wildcats
19 Mississippi State Bulldogs
20 TCU Horned Frogs
21 Tulane Green Wave
22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
23 Oklahoma Sooners
24 Louisville Cardinals
25 Kansas Jayhawks

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