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sleemoislife Ballot for 2023 Week 9

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 22, 2023, 1:40 p.m.

Overall Rationale: My opinion on what the best 25 teams are based on play on the field, record, and talent. Strength of schedule and big wins are also a factor.

Rank Team Reason
1 Michigan Wolverines Movement: none Reasoning: Lots of media buzz for U of M this past week due to yet another NCAA scandal. If this negative press had any impact on the game, it seemed to only make the Wolverines more focused in decimating their rival, with FanDuel now pegging JJ McCarthy as Heisman favorite. U of M has taken care of every opponent handily, earning my number one spot, although I can understand ranking other teams higher due to weak SOS. The three game stretch to close the season for Michigan will be telling Also, I can't help but mention MSU football's own scandal this week showing an image of a certain Austrian painter on their big screen. MSU can't seem to catch a break this year.
2 Georgia Bulldogs Movement: none Reasoning: The back-to-back defending champs enjoyed a much needed bye week. With other top teams sweating it out, an injury laden UGA was able to rest. It should be interesting to see how they perform down the stretch with Bower's being out for at least 4-6 weeks. UGA's depth and coaching should insulate them from this unfortunate loss and is the reason why I have them no. 2 in the country. However, similar to Michigan, they are coming up to the toughest three game stretch of their season against Missouri, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
3 Ohio State Buckeyes Movement: +2 Reasoning: OSU emerges from another top game with a win, this time at home. In a defensive battle in Columbus, OSU's defense continued to prove it's worth, holding PSU to only 12 points including a late TD. Due to their impressive wins against Notre Dame and now PSU, I have this team at no. 3 in the country. Day and OSU continue to dispel the narrative of softness in their program, with OSU leaning on a staunch defense to win this critical matchup. Michigan still has to play PSU on the road, but it is looking like the OSU - U of M game to close the year will again have major conference and playoff implications as OSU will likely be able to coast to that point.
4 Florida State Seminoles Movement: +2 Reasoning: FSU locks another impressive win against a solid Duke team. Unfortunate to see the Duke QB be forced to leave the game due to injury, but that doesn't take away from FSU's resume boost as they continue their playoff push. This win against a tough opponent coupled with the fact that other top teams struggled against crap teams has FSU climbing to the no. 4 spot in my ranking. On paper, FSU should be able to win out until the ACC title game with one of the easiest remaining schedules of any playoff contender. At this point, they are looking like one of the safer bets for securing a playoff spot, but still a lot of ball to be played.
5 Washington Huskies Movement: -1 Reasoning: In a disappointing performance at home to a lesser opponent, Washington pulls out an ugly win over ASU. They do have the excuse of coming off of the big Oregon game and at the end of the day a win is a win. Penix's poor performance also has him dropping in the Heisman odds. This has me dropping them one spot in my poll. Penix and the Huskies will have ample opportunity to make up for this with a tough three game slate against USC, Utah, and Oregon St.
6 Oklahoma Sooners Movement: -3 Reasoning: Unlike Washington, OU does NOT have the excuse of coming off a big game for their weak performance this week against inferior competition. Coming off a bye and at home, this type of game is hard to justify against a team that has yet to win a Big 12 game since it joined the conference. This has me moving them down three spots to no. 6 despite the impressive win against Texas. Again, on paper, OU has one of the easier paths to an undefeated regular season. This game does cast some doubt on their ability to pull this feat off. Luckily for OU, with their win over Texas and currently unblemished record, should they drop a regular season game and take the Big 12 crown there is still a good shot they sneak in the playoff.
7 Oregon Ducks Movement: +2 Reasoning: The Ducks bounce back with a win over a decent WSU team. Currently, I have the Ducks as the top one loss team in the country. If they are able to win out, they are absolutely deserving of a playoff spot. This will likely prove to be tough in a loaded Pac 12.
8 Penn State Nittany Lions Movement: -1 Reasoning: PSU remains just behind the top dogs in the Big 10. Offensively, the concerns about a lack of explosiveness were proven true on Saturday. They still have a chance at home to beat Michigan and remain in playoff contention, and a one score loss @OSU doesn't warrant me dropping them more than one in my ranking.
9 Texas Longhorns Movement: -1 Reasoning: Similar to OU, the Longhorns struggled to shake off a lesser Big 12 opponent coming off a bye week. Nonetheless, they pulled out the road win and their playoff ambitions remain intact. Still, being outgained by Houston after a bye week has me dropping them one in my poll.
10 Alabama Crimson Tide Movement: +1 Reasoning: Bama continues to pill up gritty wins against SEC opponents, moving into the top ten in my ranking. Don't look now, but it is looking like Bama will have a chance to dethrone the mighty Bulldogs to close the season in the SEC champ game. They just have to get past Kelly and a hot LSU offense first.
11 Oregon State Beavers Movement: +1 Reasoning: Oregon St. enjoys a bye week and remains above Utah due to the head to head in my poll.
12 Utah Utes Movement: +1 Reasoning: Utah pulls out a close one against Williams and USC and rises in my ranking.
13 Ole Miss Rebels Movement: +1 Reasoning: Ole Miss fends off another SEC opponent to stay in 2nd place in the SEC west, moving up one in my poll.
14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Movement: +2 Reasoning: Notre Dame enjoys a much deserved bye following a brutal four game stretch against ranked opponents. Not playing pays off, as they rise two in my ranking due to other teams falling.
15 LSU Tigers Movement: +2 Reasoning: LSU thrashes Army in a much needed shut out. They remain just below Notre Dame in my poll, but will surely jump them if they continue to win with their tougher remaining schedule.
16 Missouri Tigers Movement: +4 Reasoning: This is a team I may have previously underrated, with only one loss and a blowout win against the less important USC, Missouri sees the biggest climb in my ranking to no. 16
17 Duke Blue Devils Movement: -2 Reasoning: Duke sustains their first ACC loss and sees their QB go down again at an inopportune time with an injury. I view Duke as the clear second best team in the ACC, despite tough losses against ND and FSU.
18 UCLA Bruins Movement: +3 Reasoning: I remain high on the Pac 12 this year with UCLA's only losses two top, one loss opponents, I personally see them as a top 20 team.
19 USC Trojans Movement: -1 Reasoning: SC drops another game, but the close loss against a good Utah team only sees them drop a spot in my ranking.
20 Tennessee Volunteers Movement: -1 Reasoning: If it weren't for that loss against Florida, this team would be rated much higher. Instead they drop to two losses and no. 20 in my poll.
21 Louisville Cardinals Movement: +2 Reasoning: Another team benefiting in my ranking due to a bye week. We will see how this team responds to the Pitt loss.
22 North Carolina Tar Heels Movement: -12 Reasoning: I begrudgingly had this team in my top 10 last week, like most people. I did think this team would not finish second in the ACC, but did not expect a loss to UVA.
23 Air Force Falcons Movement: +1 Reasoning: Time for the g5 schools, Air Force has a better week than army and remains undefeated.
24 James Madison Dukes Movement: previously unranked Reasoning: The NCAA is a strange, strange institution
25 Tulane Green Wave Movement: none Reasoning: With JMU remaining undefeated, they jump the Green Wave. No offense to the Tulane faithful!

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