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jthomas694 Ballot for 2023 Week 5

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 25, 2023, 12:17 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Rankings should primarily be reflective of resume, what the team has accomplished on the field, and secondarily be a power ranking of what to expect from the future. This week is particularly difficult as there are a lot of teams that to me are very close in terms of resume

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs Ranked number one as I don't think there is a clear cut top team through this point and they are the reigning champions. There's eight teams I considered for the top spot. Kirby was calm against South Carolina at halftime because he knew he could flip the switch and win the game. They're treating games like practices right now and will be very prepared for the bigger challenges.
2 Texas Longhorns Has the top strength of record in the country with a road win over Alabama, however how they dominated a Baylor team that had this game circled makes this a different Texas team than years past. Very impressed with how they handled what they should handle there
3 Michigan Wolverines Game control has been strong and have the top scoring defense in the country. The schedule is what it is and to me, they've looked similar to Georgia in terms of treating games like practices. The overall resume isn't strong enough to justify keeping them ahead of Texas at this point to me.
4 Ohio State Buckeyes Road win against Notre Dame was thrilling, arguably the best game of the year. Went on the road and beat a legit Notre Dame team that's strong on both sides of the ball. Ohio State's defense is legit - holding Notre Dame to just 14 points and there are enough elements on offense to believe that they can round that out.
5 Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State has been in near complete control of the games they've played this year. Similar to Ohio State in a strong defense that needs to round out the offense. I don't know that I trust this offense as much as I trust Ryan Day and they don't have that elite win to push them past the other three teams.
6 Florida State Seminoles Strong strength of record with a neutral site win over LSU and a road win over Clemson, but they've been outgained by more than 100 yards in their last two outings, including against a terrible Boston College team. Credit where it's due as limiting mistakes and taking advantage of the other team's mistakes isn't lucky, but the lack of game control has me knocking their resume a bit.
7 Washington Huskies Have not played a game that is in any doubt. Complete control and the opposite of Penn State in that the offense is electric and the defense needs to round out. The only knock on them beyond that is that they haven't really been tested yet.
8 Oregon Ducks Oregon is close to Washington, but the close call against Texas Tech pushed them behind them. Utterly dominated Colorado up front, which they were supposed to.
9 USC Trojans Arguably played the worst schedule in the country so far, offensive juggernaut, defensively questionable. Can't put them ahead of any of the eight teams that have established themselves as much more legit contenders.
10 Oklahoma Sooners I think very highly of Oklahoma, but the offense has not gelled against their tougher opponents, neither of which are incredibly impressive. The defense is legit, the offense grades well in FPI and SP+, but I would like to see some more before I move them up
11 Utah Utes Utah is a legit football team in need of a QB. I don't know how long I can keep them up this high without Cam Rising. Defensively legit, offensively have survived. Cam Rising could make this team a legit contender if he's healthy and mentally right. But this team can fall apart if he doesn't return soon.
12 Duke Blue Devils Duke is a very solid team. Good in all three phases. Controlled their last three games and beat Clemson week one. I might have them too high based on that, but I think they're a good balanced football team that's 13-4 under Mike Elko. That gets the benefit of the doubt.
13 Miami Hurricanes Well rounded and talented team. I think the Texas A&M win is tough to evaluate at this point. They've looked really good, and that should continue.
14 Washington State Cougars I am still somewhat skeptical of Washington State, but two very solid wins have them up at 14
15 North Carolina Tar Heels UNC's defense has not looked as good as it did week one, but they're a very solid and talented football team. Elements that I really like and elements that I just don't trust yet.
16 Missouri Tigers Neither SP+ nor FPI like Missouri. They have two very solid wins and escaped against Middle Tennessee. We're going to find out who they are soon enough, but they have a very high strength of record so they deserve to be this high.
17 Kentucky Wildcats Arguably played the weakest schedule in the country to this point. I think they're talented enough offensively to belong here and I trust Stoops to get this team where it needs to be defensively. They haven't looked phenomenal in the first half of their games. Saturday is a test of who they really are.
18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish I think Notre Dame is a legit playoff contender who is probably better than ten of the teams ahead of them. But I have a hard time putting them any higher given the loss.
19 LSU Tigers I have no idea what to think of LSU. They struggled with Arkansas and I have questioned FSU more each of the last two weeks. Mississippi State is not a good football team, especially in pass defense. LSU is talented enough. And they have two SEC wins so they're higher than Alabama
20 Alabama Crimson Tide What is Alabama's ceiling with Jalen Milroe? They have a legit defense and enough talent offensively. I don't take too much away from the USF game and I think they were impressive in handling Ole Miss, but I worry that Alabama's lack of a pass game is going to keep them from being competitive with the top ten teams.
21 Syracuse Orange They have a legit defense and Schrader has played well so far. I don't know that I expect it to continue as they play the tougher part of their schedule that is coming now.
22 Maryland Terrapins Maryland has looked good beating up a soft schedule so far. I don't know that I expect them to last in this poll but I'll give it to them here
23 Kansas Jayhawks Kansas is 4-0 and this is likely a one and done situation for them. I give a lot of credit to being undefeated especially with two not terrible Power 5 teams.
24 Fresno State Bulldogs Have looked good against bad Power 5 teams. Eastern Washington might actually be the best team they've played so far
25 Louisville Cardinals Louisville is 4-0 with three Power 5 wins.

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