Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Nov. 6, 2023, 1 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’ve seen 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: #16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish [7-3], #23 LSU Tigers [6-3], #24 UCLA Bruins [6-3] | Honorable Mentions: USC Trojans [7-3], Duke Blue Devils [6-3], SMU Mustangs [7-2], Iowa Hawkeyes [7-2], North Carolina Tar Heels [7-2], Memphis Tigers [7-2], UNLV Rebels [7-2]
Rank | Team | Reason |
---|---|---|
1 | Ohio State Buckeyes | (-) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G East Runners-Up, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #4 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 23-3 @ Indiana [3-6], 35-7 vs Youngstown State [FCS, 6-3], 63-10 vs WKU [5-4], 17-14 @ Notre Dame [7-3], 37-17 vs Maryland [5-4], 41-7 @ Purdue [2-7], 20-12 vs Penn State [8-1], 24-10 @ Wisconsin [5-4], 35-16 @ Rutgers [6-3] |
2 | Florida State Seminoles | (-) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #11 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 45-24 vs LSU [6-3] (Orlando), 66-13 vs Southern Miss [2-7], 31-29 @ Boston College [6-3], 31-24 @ Clemson [5-4], 39-17 vs Virginia Tech [4-5], 41-3 vs Syracuse [4-5], 38-20 vs Duke [6-3], 41-16 @ Wake Forest [4-5], 24-7 @ Pittsburgh [2-7] |
3 | Georgia Bulldogs | (+1) [9-0] Credentials: Back-to-back National Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #1 [15-0] | 2023 Results So Far: 48-7 vs UT-Martin [FCS, 7-2], 45-3 vs Ball State [2-7], 24-14 vs South Carolina [3-6], 49-21 vs UAB [3-6], 27-20 @ Auburn [5-4], 51-13 vs Kentucky [6-3], 37-20 @ Vanderbilt [2-8], 43-20 vs Florida [5-4] (Jacksonville), 30-21 vs Missouri [7-2] |
4 | Washington Huskies | (+1) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #8 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-19 vs Boise State [4-5], 43-10 vs Tulsa [3-6], 41-7 @ Michigan State [3-6], 59-32 vs California [3-6], 31-24 @ Arizona [6-3], 36-33 vs Oregon [8-1], 15-7 vs Arizona State [2-7], 42-33 @ Stanford [3-6], 52-42 @ USC [7-3] |
5 | Michigan Wolverines | (-2) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G Champs, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #3 [13-1] | 2023 Results So Far: 30-3 vs East Carolina [1-8], 35-7 vs UNLV [7-2], 31-6 vs Bowling Green [5-4], 31-7 vs Rutgers [6-3], 45-7 @ Nebraska [5-4], 52-10 @ Minnesota [5-4], 52-7 vs Indiana [3-6], 49-0 @ Michigan State [3-6], 41-13 vs Purdue [2-7] |
6 | Oregon Ducks | (-) [8-1] 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, 4-5], 38-30 @ Texas Tech [4-5], 55-10 vs Hawaii [3-7], 42-6 vs Colorado [4-5], 42-6 @ Stanford [3-6], 33-36 @ Washington [9-0], 38-24 vs Washington State [4-5], 42-6 @ Utah [7-2], 63-19 vs California [3-6] |
7 | Penn State Nittany Lions | (+2) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 B1G East 3rd Place, Rose Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #7 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 38-15 vs West Virginia [6-3], 63-7 vs Delaware [FCS, 7-2], 30-13 @ Illinois [4-5], 31-0 vs Iowa [7-2], 41-13 @ Northwestern [4-5], 63-0 vs UMass [3-7], 12-20 @ Ohio State [9-0], 33-24 vs Indiana [3-6], 51-15 @ Maryland [5-4] |
8 | Texas Longhorns | (-) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 Big XII Third Place, Alamo Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #25 [8-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-10 vs Rice [4-5], 34-24 @ Alabama [8-1], 31-10 vs Wyoming [6-3], 38-6 @ Baylor [3-6], 40-14 vs Kansas [7-2], 30-34 vs Oklahoma [7-2] (Dallas), 31-24 @ Houston [4-5], 35-6 vs BYU [5-4], 33-30(OT) vs Kansas State [6-3] |
9 | Alabama Crimson Tide | (+1) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champ, Sugar Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #5 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-7 vs Middle Tennessee [2-7], 24-34 vs Texas [8-1], 17-3 @ South Florida [4-5], 24-10 vs Ole Miss [8-1], 40-17 @ Mississippi State [4-5], 26-20 @ Texas A&M [5-4], 24-21 vs Arkansas [3-6], 34-20 vs Tennessee [7-2], 42-28 vs LSU [6-3] |
10 | James Madison Dukes | (+3) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 Sun Belt East Joint-Champ, Final Record: 8-3 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Bucknell [FCS, 3-6], 36-35 @ Virginia [2-7], 16-14 @ Troy [7-2], 45-38 @ Utah State [4-5], 31-23 vs South Alabama [4-5], 41-13 vs Georgia Southern [6-3], 20-9 @ Marshall [4-5], 30-27 vs Old Dominion [4-5], 42-14 @ Georgia State [6-3] |
11 | Ole Miss Rebels | (+1) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-7 vs Mercer [FCS, 7-3], 37-20 @ Tulane [8-1], 48-23 vs Georgia Tech [5-4], 10-24 @ Alabama [8-1], 55-49 vs LSU [6-3], 27-20 vs Arkansas [3-6], 28-21 @ Auburn [5-4], 33-7 vs Vanderbilt [2-8], 38-35 vs Texas A&M [5-4] |
12 | Louisville Cardinals | (+2) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 39-34 @ Georgia Tech [5-4], 56-0 vs Murray State [FCS, 2-7], 21-14 @ Indiana [3-6], 56-28 vs Boston College [6-3], 13-10 @ NC State [6-3], 33-20 vs Notre Dame [7-3], 21-38 @ Pittsburgh [2-7], 23-0 vs Duke [6-3], 34-3 vs Virginia Tech [4-5] |
13 | Liberty Flames | (+4) [9-0] Credentials: 2022 Boca Raton Bowl Runners-Up, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 34-24 vs Bowling Green [5-4], 33-17 vs New Mexico State [7-3], 55-27 @ Buffalo [3-6], 38-6 @ FIU [4-5], 21-16 vs Sam Houston [1-8], 31-13 @ Jacksonville State [7-3], 42-35 vs Middle Tennessee [2-7], 42-29 @ WKU [5-4], 56-30 vs LA Tech [3-7] |
14 | Oregon State Beavers | (+1) [7-2] 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 [4-5], 55-7 vs UC Davis [FCS, 5-4], 26-9 vs San Diego State [3-6], 35-38 @ Washington State [4-5], 21-7 vs Utah [7-2], 52-40 @ California [3-6], 36-24 vs UCLA [6-3], 24-27 @ Arizona [6-3], 26-19 @ Colorado [4-5] |
15 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | (NEW) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 7-6 | 2023 Results So Far: 27-13 vs Central Arkansas [FCS, 6-3], 27-15 @ Arizona State [2-7], 7-33 vs South Alabama [4-5], 27-34 @ Iowa State [5-4], 29-21 vs Kansas State [6-3], 39-32 vs Kansas [7-2], 48-34 vs West Virginia [6-3], 45-13 vs Cincinnati [2-7], 27-24 vs Oklahoma [7-2] |
16 | Kansas Jayhawks | (+9) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 48-17 vs Missouri State [FCS, 3-6], 34-23 vs Illinois [4-5], 31-24 @ Nevada [2-7], 38-27 vs BYU [5-4], 14-40 @ Texas [8-1], 51-22 vs UCF [4-5], 32-39 @ Oklahoma State [7-2], 38-33 vs Oklahoma [7-2], 28-21 @ Iowa State [5-4] |
17 | Oklahoma Sooners | (-10) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-0 vs Arkansas State [5-4], 28-11 vs SMU [7-2], 66-17 @ Tulsa [3-6], 20-6 @ Cincinnati [2-7], 50-20 vs Iowa State [5-4], 34-30 vs Texas [8-1] (Dallas), 31-29 vs UCF [4-5], 33-38 @ Kansas [7-2], 24-27 @ Oklahoma State [7-2] |
18 | Fresno State Bulldogs | (+1) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 Mountain West Champs, LA Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #24 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 39-35 @ Purdue [2-7], 34-31(2OT) vs Eastern Washington [FCS, 4-5], 29-0 @ Arizona State [2-7], 53-10 vs Kent State [1-8], 27-9 vs Nevada [2-7], 19-24 @ Wyoming [6-3], 37-32 @ Utah State [4-5], 31-24 vs UNLV [7-2], 37-30 vs Boise State [4-5] |
19 | Missouri Tigers | (-1) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Joint 4th Place, Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 35-10 vs South Dakota [FCS, 7-2], 23-19 vs Middle Tennessee [2-7], 30-27 vs Kansas State [6-3], 34-27 vs Memphis [7-2], 38-21 @ Vanderbilt [2-8], 39-49 vs LSU [6-3], 38-21 @ Kentucky [6-3], 34-12 vs South Carolina [3-6], 21-30 @ Georgia [9-0] |
20 | Utah Utes | (+1) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 PAC-12 Champs, Rose Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #10 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-11 vs Florida [5-4], 20-13 @ Baylor [3-6], 31-7 vs Weber State [FCS, 4-5], 14-7 vs UCLA [6-3], 7-21 @ Oregon State [7-2], 34-14 vs California [3-6], 34-32 @ USC [7-3], 6-42 vs Oregon [8-1], 55-3 vs Arizona State [2-7] |
21 | Tulane Green Wave | (-1) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 American Champs, Cotton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #9 [12-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-17 vs South Alabama [4-5], 20-37 vs Ole Miss [8-1], 21-3 @ Southern Miss [2-7], 36-7 vs Nicholls State [FCS, 4-4], 35-23 vs UAB [3-6], 31-21 @ Memphis [7-2], 35-28 vs North Texas [3-6], 30-28 @ Rice [4-5], 13-10 @ East Carolina [1-8] |
22 | Toledo Rockets | (-) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 MAC Champions, Boca Raton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: Unranked [9-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 28-30 @ Illinois [4-5], 71-3 Texas Southern [FCS, 2-7], 21-17 vs San Jose State [4-5], 49-31 vs Western Michigan [3-6], 35-33 vs Northern Illinois [4-4], 41-24 @ UMass [3-7], 13-6 @ Ball State [2-7], 21-17 @ Miami (OH) [7-2], 31-13 vs Buffalo [3-6] |
23 | Tennessee Volunteers | (NEW) [7-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Runners-Up, Orange Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #6 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 49-13 vs Virginia [2-7], 30-13 vs Austin Peay [FCS, 7-2], 16-29 @ Florida [5-4], 45-14 vs UTSA [6-3], 41-20 vs South Carolina [3-6], 20-13 vs Texas A&M [5-4], 20-34 @ Alabama [8-1], 33-27 @ Kentucky [6-3], 59-3 vs UConn [1-8] |
24 | Arizona Wildcats | (NEW) [6-3] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 5-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Northern Arizona [FCS, 3-6], 24-31 @ Mississippi State [4-5], 31-10 vs UTEP [3-7], 21-20 @ Stanford [3-6], 24-31 vs Washington [9-0], 41-43(3OT) vs USC [7-3], 44-6 @ Washington State [4-5], 27-24 vs Oregon State [7-2], 27-10 vs UCLA [6-3] |
25 | Air Force Falcons | (-14) [8-1] Credentials: 2022 Joint Runners-Up in MW Mountain, Final AP Rank: RV [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-7 vs Robert Morris [FCS, 3-6], 13-3 @ Sam Houston [1-8], 39-21 vs Utah State [4-5], 45-20 @ San Jose State [4-5], 49-10 vs San Diego State [3-6], 34-27 vs Wyoming [6-3], 17-6 @ Navy [3-5], 30-13 @ Colorado State [3-6], 23-3 vs Army [3-6] (no seriously, what the hell AF?) |
Teams Ranked:
Rank | Team | Unusualness |
---|---|---|
1 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 0.34 |
2 | Florida State Seminoles | 0.42 |
3 | Georgia Bulldogs | 0.00 |
4 | Washington Huskies | 0.00 |
5 | Michigan Wolverines | -0.04 |
6 | Oregon Ducks | 0.00 |
7 | Penn State Nittany Lions | 0.40 |
8 | Texas Longhorns | 0.00 |
9 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -0.10 |
10 | James Madison Dukes | 0.74 |
11 | Ole Miss Rebels | 0.00 |
12 | Louisville Cardinals | 0.00 |
13 | Liberty Flames | 1.26 |
14 | Oregon State Beavers | 0.00 |
15 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | 0.00 |
16 | Kansas Jayhawks | 0.00 |
17 | Oklahoma Sooners | 0.00 |
18 | Fresno State Bulldogs | 1.70 |
19 | Missouri Tigers | -0.06 |
20 | Utah Utes | -0.51 |
21 | Tulane Green Wave | 0.00 |
22 | Toledo Rockets | 1.02 |
23 | Tennessee Volunteers | -0.75 |
24 | Arizona Wildcats | 0.00 |
25 | Air Force Falcons | 0.00 |