Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 18, 2023, 6:31 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Lots of movement early in the season. This week I continue to omit teams with a loss, as there are many undefeated teams who better merit recognition on my ballot. Alabama, LSU, Clemson, and Tennessee may well prove to be top-25 teams, but do not appear in my ballot this week. Instead I highlight some programs that have had strong early season performances that I consider worthy of down-ballot recognition. I remain less sold on some teams and conferences than many others are, and that is also reflected in my ballot submission.

• Ballot
• Analysis

Rank	Team	Reason
1	Washington Huskies
2	Ohio State Buckeyes
3	Georgia Bulldogs
4	USC Trojans
5	Michigan Wolverines
6	Penn State Nittany Lions
7	Oregon Ducks
8	Utah Utes
9	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10	Texas Longhorns
11	Florida State Seminoles
12	Oregon State Beavers
13	Ole Miss Rebels
14	Oklahoma Sooners
15	Syracuse Orange
16	Miami Hurricanes
17	Washington State Cougars
18	Colorado Buffaloes
19	Air Force Falcons
20	Memphis Tigers
21	North Carolina Tar Heels
22	Missouri Tigers
23	Fresno State Bulldogs
24	James Madison Dukes
25	Marshall Thundering Herd

Teams Ranked:

Rank	Team	Unusualness
1	Washington Huskies	0.75
2	Ohio State Buckeyes	0.48
3	Georgia Bulldogs	0.00
4	USC Trojans	0.04
5	Michigan Wolverines	0.00
6	Penn State Nittany Lions	0.00
7	Oregon Ducks	0.45
8	Utah Utes	0.26
9	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0.00
10	Texas Longhorns	-1.20
11	Florida State Seminoles	-1.07
12	Oregon State Beavers	0.00
13	Ole Miss Rebels	0.00
14	Oklahoma Sooners	0.00
15	Syracuse Orange	5.41
16	Miami Hurricanes	0.00
17	Washington State Cougars	0.06
18	Colorado Buffaloes	0.00
19	Air Force Falcons	6.04
20	Memphis Tigers	5.06
21	North Carolina Tar Heels	-0.37
22	Missouri Tigers	0.00
23	Fresno State Bulldogs	0.05
24	James Madison Dukes	1.14
25	Marshall Thundering Herd	0.25

Omissions:

Team	Unusualness
Duke Blue Devils	1.65
LSU Tigers	0.94
Alabama Crimson Tide	0.85
UCLA Bruins	0.41
Iowa Hawkeyes	0.20

Total Score: 26.68