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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2023 Week 9

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Oct. 24, 2023, 9:52 a.m.

Overall Rationale: As a reminder, my methodology is pretty simple; I reward teams who win and drop teams who lose. I’m a big fan of teams who prove themselves against more elite competition and don’t care much for cupcake games, except when there’s something that the cupcake-eater does that merits additional attention. Pretty standard stuff. I’m also a really big fan of poll fluidity and of non-P5 teams, and so my poll may represent overreactions to a given Week’s results, especially early on. Pre-season rankings are nothing but guesswork and failed expectations, anyway. I also try to account for how well teams are doing before and after they play one another, and if there’s anything that’s changed about a team. A lot of it does come down to the dreaded eye test and grinding out wins vs domination, but again, nothing unique. This does mean that I tend to rank pretty harshly by record early on; you’ll see what I mean. As always, I’m unfortunately subject to the same sort of biases that plague every other pollster may end up with, so that could dramatically alter how I rank one team compared to certain sites, stats, or other polls. I do my best to balance out conference strength, opponent strength, strength of schedule, performance, and so on, but I’m not perfect. Feel free to yell at me if I’m way off on a team. Anyway, continuing on to our rankings… | Teams Dropping Out: #21 USC Trojans [6-2], #25 Iowa Hawkeyes [6-2] | Honorable Mentions: UNLV Rebels [6-1], Miami (FL) Hurricanes [5-2], UCLA Bruins [5-2], Kansas State Wildcats [5-2], Kansas Jayhawks [5-2], SMU Mustangs [5-2], Georgia State Panthers [6-1], Arizona Wildcats [4-3]

Rank Team Reason
1 Ohio State Buckeyes (+1) [7-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G East Runners-Up, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #4 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 23-3 @ Indiana [2-5], 35-7 vs Youngstown State [FCS, 4-3], 63-10 vs WKU [4-3], 17-14 @ Notre Dame [6-2], 37-17 vs Maryland [5-2], 41-7 @ Purdue [2-5], 20-12 vs Penn State [6-1]
2 Michigan Wolverines (+3) [8-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G Champs, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #3 [13-1] | 2023 Results So Far: 30-3 vs East Carolina [1-6], 35-7 vs UNLV [6-1], 31-6 vs Bowling Green [4-4], 31-7 vs Rutgers [6-2], 45-7 @ Nebraska [4-3], 52-10 @ Minnesota [4-3], 52-7 vs Indiana [2-5], 49-0 @ Michigan State [2-5]
3 Florida State Seminoles (+1) [7-0] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #11 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 45-24 vs LSU [6-2] (Orlando), 66-13 vs Southern Miss [1-6], 31-29 @ Boston College [4-3], 31-24 @ Clemson [4-3], 39-17 vs Virginia Tech [3-4], 41-3 vs Syracuse [4-3], 38-20 vs Duke [5-2]
4 Oklahoma Sooners (-1) [7-0] Credentials: 6-7 Final Record in 2022 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-0 vs Arkansas State [3-4], 28-11 vs SMU [5-2], 66-17 @ Tulsa [3-4], 20-6 @ Cincinnati [2-5], 50-20 vs Iowa State [4-3], 34-30 vs Texas [6-1] (Dallas), 31-29 vs UCF [3-4]
5 Washington Huskies (-) [7-0] Credentials: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #8 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-19 vs Boise State [3-4], 43-10 vs Tulsa [3-4], 41-7 @ Michigan State [2-5], 59-32 vs California [3-4], 31-24 @ Arizona [4-3], 36-33 vs Oregon [6-1], 15-7 vs Arizona State [1-6]
6 Georgia Bulldogs (+1) [7-0] Credentials: Back-to-back National Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #1 [15-0] | 2023 Results So Far: 48-7 vs UT-Martin [FCS, 6-1], 45-3 vs Ball State [2-6], 24-14 vs South Carolina [2-5], 49-21 vs UAB [2-6], 27-20 @ Auburn [3-4], 51-13 vs Kentucky [5-2], 37-20 @ Vanderbilt [2-6]
7 Oregon Ducks (+3) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 Holiday Bowl Champs, PAC-12 Joint Third Place, Final AP Rank: #15 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 81-7 vs Portland State [FCS, 3-4], 38-30 @ Texas Tech [3-5], 55-10 vs Hawaii [2-6], 42-6 vs Colorado [4-3], 42-6 @ Stanford [2-5], 33-36 @ Washington [7-0], 38-24 vs Washington State [4-3]
8 Penn State Nittany Lions (-7) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 B1G East 3rd Place, Rose Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #7 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 38-15 vs West Virginia [4-3], 63-7 vs Delaware [FCS, 6-1], 30-13 @ Illinois [3-5], 31-0 vs Iowa [6-1], 41-13 @ Northwestern [3-4], 63-0 vs UMass [1-7], 12-20 @ Ohio State [7-0]
9 Texas Longhorns (-) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 Big XII Third Place, Alamo Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #25 [8-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-10 vs Rice [4-3], 34-24 @ Alabama [7-1], 31-10 vs Wyoming [5-2], 38-6 @ Baylor [3-4], 40-14 vs Kansas [5-2], 30-34 vs Oklahoma [7-0] (Dallas), 31-24 @ Houston [3-4]
10 Oregon State Beavers (+1) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 PAC-12 5th Place, Las Vegas Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #17 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-17 @ San Jose State [3-5], 55-7 vs UC Davis [FCS, 4-3], 26-9 vs San Diego State [2-5], 35-38 @ Washington State [4-3], 21-7 vs Utah [6-1], 52-40 @ Cal [3-4], 36-24 vs UCLA [5-2]
11 Alabama Crimson Tide (+1) [7-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champ, Sugar Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #5 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-7 vs Middle Tennessee [2-6], 24-34 vs Texas [6-1], 17-3 @ South Florida [4-4], 24-10 vs Ole Miss [6-1], 40-17 @ MS State [4-3], 26-20 @ Texas A&M [4-3], 24-21 vs Arkansas [2-6], 34-20 vs Tennessee [5-2]
12 Utah Utes (+4) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 PAC-12 Champs, Rose Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #10 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-11 vs Florida [5-2], 20-13 @ Baylor [3-4], 31-7 vs Weber State [FCS, 3-5], 14-7 vs UCLA [5-2], 7-21 @ Oregon State [6-1], 34-14 vs Cal [3-4], 34-32 @ USC [6-2]
13 Air Force Falcons (-) [7-0] Credentials: 2022 Joint Runners-Up in MW Mountain, Received Votes in Final AP Poll [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-7 vs Robert Morris [FCS, 2-5], 13-3 @ Sam Houston [0-7], 39-21 vs Utah State [3-5], 45-20 @ San Jose State [3-5], 49-10 vs San Diego State [3-5], 34-27 vs Wyoming [5-2], 17-6 @ Navy [3-4]
14 James Madison Dukes (+1) [7-0] Credentials: 8-3 Final Record in 2022 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Bucknell [FCS, 2-5], 36-35 @ Virginia [2-5], 16-14 @ Troy [5-2], 45-38 @ Utah State [3-5], 31-23 vs South Alabama [4-3], 41-13 vs Georgia Southern [5-2], 20-9 @ Marshall [4-3]
15 Ole Miss Rebels (-1) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-7 vs Mercer [FCS, 5-3], 37-20 @ Tulane [6-1], 48-23 vs Georgia Tech [3-4], 10-24 @ Alabama [7-1], 55-49 vs LSU [6-2], 27-20 vs Arkansas [2-6], 28-21 @ Auburn [3-4]
16 North Carolina Tar Heels [6-1] Credentials: 2022 ACC Coastal Champs, Received Votes in Final AP Poll [9-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 31-17 vs South Carolina [2-5] (Charlotte), 40-34(2OT) vs App State [3-4], 31-13 vs Minnesota [4-3], 41-24 @ Pittsburgh [2-5], 40-7 vs Syracuse [4-3], 41-31 vs Miami (FL) [5-2], 27-31 vs Virginia [2-5]
17 Louisville Cardinals (+1) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 39-34 @ Georgia Tech [3-4], 56-0 vs Murray State [FCS, 2-5], 21-14 @ Indiana [2-5], 56-28 vs Boston College [4-3], 13-10 @ NC State [4-3], 33-20 vs Notre Dame [6-2], 21-38 @ Pittsburgh [2-5]
18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1) [6-2] Credentials: 2022 Gator Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #18 [9-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-3 vs Navy [3-4] (Dublin), 56-3 vs Tennessee State [FCS, 5-2], 45-24 @ NC State [4-3], 41-17 vs Central Michigan [4-4], 14-17 vs Ohio State [7-0], 21-14 @ Duke [5-2], 20-33 @ Louisville [6-1], 48-20 vs USC [6-2]
19 Liberty Flames (-2) [7-0] Credentials: 8-5 Final Record in 2022 | 2023 Results So Far: 34-24 vs Bowling Green [4-4], 33-17 vs New Mexico State [5-3], 55-27 @ Buffalo [3-5], 38-6 @ FIU [4-4], 21-16 vs Sam Houston [0-7], 31-13 @ Jacksonville State [6-2], 42-35 vs Middle Tennessee [2-6]
20 Missouri Tigers (+3) [7-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Joint 4th Place, Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 35-10 vs South Dakota [FCS, 6-1], 23-19 vs Middle Tennessee [2-6], 30-27 vs Kansas State [5-2], 34-27 vs Memphis [5-2], 38-21 @ Vanderbilt [2-6], 39-49 vs LSU [6-2], 38-21 @ Kentucky [5-2], 34-12 vs South Carolina [2-5]
21 Fresno State Bulldogs (+1) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 Mountain West Champs, LA Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #24 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 39-35 @ Purdue [2-5], 34-31(2OT) vs Eastern Washington [FCS, 3-4], 29-0 @ Arizona State [1-6], 53-10 vs Kent State [1-7], 27-9 vs Nevada [1-6], 19-24 @ Wyoming [5-2], 37-32 @ Utah State [3-5]
22 Tulane Green Wave (+2) [6-1] Credentials: 2022 American Champs, Cotton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #9 [12-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-17 vs South Alabama [4-3], 20-37 vs Ole Miss [6-1], 21-3 @ Southern Miss [1-6], 36-7 vs Nicholls State [FCS, 3-3], 35-23 vs UAB [2-6], 31-21 @ Memphis [5-2], 35-28 vs North Texas [3-4]
23 Toledo Rockets (NEW) [7-1] Credentials: 2022 MAC Champions, Boca Raton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: Unranked [9-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 28-30 @ Illinois [3-5], 71-3 Texas Southern [FCS, 2-5], 21-17 vs San Jose State [3-5], 49-31 vs Western Michigan [2-6], 35-33 vs Northern Illinois [4-4], 41-24 @ UMass [1-7], 13-6 @ Ball State [2-6], 21-17 @ Miami (OH) [6-2]
24 Duke Blue Devils (-4) [5-2] Credentials: 2022 ACC Coastal Joint Runners-Up, Military Bowl Champs, Received Votes in Final AP Poll [9-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 28-7 vs Clemson [4-3], 42-7 vs Lafayette [FCS, 6-1], 38-14 vs Northwestern [3-4], 41-7 @ UConn [1-6], 14-21 vs Notre Dame [6-2], 24-3 vs NC State [4-3], 20-38 @ Florida State [7-0]
25 LSU Tigers (NEW) [6-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint Champs, Citrus Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #16 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-45 @ Florida State [7-0], 72-10 Grambling State [FCS, 3-4], 41-14 @ MS State [4-3], 34-31 vs Arkansas [2-6], 49-55 @ Ole Miss [6-1], 49-39 @ Missouri [6-1], 48-18 vs Auburn [3-4], 62-0 vs Army [2-5]

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