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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2023 Week 12

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Nov. 14, 2023, 1:28 a.m.

Overall Rationale: NEW STUFF: As we get later and later into the season, I’m finding my current process of just repeating the same intro/methodology without further elaborating on why certain teams are where (aside from giving my love to the G5s) feels lazy to me. If you do want to see that frequently-repeated text, you can do so here on my ballot from last week’s poll: https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/53503/. Feel free to ask me about links to other ballots of mine as well! Moving on, let’s talk about how I see teams currently (feel free to skip to my rankings/honorable mentions/drop-outs if you’d like). With respect to conference affiliations, this is how I see that hierarchy for this year: PAC-12 > B1G (Three)/SEC > ACC(+ND) > B12 >> AAC/MWC/Sun Belt > MAC/remaining FBS independents >> CUSA [insert the B1G West between the B12 and the G5s, if you’d like]. This is mostly based upon OoC play, conference depth, and general perception of team levels, with caveats made for conferences with higher in-conference games and more rigorous schedules (looking at you, 8-game SEC and ACC [even with ND]). Teams should not be punished because they got to play one less gimme/cupcake game they could win by 40. Or because they can only beat the teams that get put in front of them. Record matters, of course, but it’s not the entire story. Now, this does not preclude teams from conferences with a lower perceived standing this year from being higher than another with a similar record (Texas over Alabama, Oklahoma over Penn State, Iowa over North Carolina, etc.), but what it does mean is that, in cases where all else is roughly equal, I’ll give the edge to a team in a conference higher up (see LSU vs Kansas State, for example). Nor does this mean that a team from a conference near the bottom of the hierarchy can’t get ranked - I love the G5 teams too much to even consider this, like the CFP unfairly does. This does mean, however - despite my love for teams outside of the normal media spotlight - that teams are going to be granted more leeway in a harder conference that generates more losses; hence why the PAC-12 teams in particular are granted the benefit of the doubt. As always, I’m open to discussing my methodology and my ranks in further detail, or just letting someone point out I’m being hilariously inconsistent about them. One last thing: here’s how I see my team ranking hierarchy, split into the various tiers representative of each collection of teams. It is as follows: Top 5 (Undefeated P5s) > Oregon > 7-10 (1-loss P5s + undefeated JMU) > 11-14 (2-loss P5s with strong recent performances + undefeated Liberty) > 15-18 (2-loss P5s with bad recent losses, and 1-loss G5s) > 19-23 (3-loss P5 teams) > Iowa > 25 + Honorable Mentions + Drop-Outs (2+ loss P5s with bad losses, and 2-loss G5 teams [shoutout to the Jackrabbits, who are killing it once again]) Note: I’m still not entirely sure how to fix the whole formatting of this post/ballot/text. If anyone has any advice to get it to not look like a messy wall of text, please feel free to yell at me about that too. Anyway, continuing on to our rankings… | Teams Dropping Out: #15 Oklahoma State Cowboys [7-3], #16 Kansas Jayhawks [7-3], #18 Fresno State Bulldogs [8-2], #23 Tennessee Volunteers [7-3], #25 Air Force Falcons [8-2] | Honorable Mentions: North Carolina Tar Heels [8-2], UNLV Rebels [8-2], Troy Trojans [8-2], Memphis Tigers [8-2], South Dakota State Jackrabbits [FCS, 10-0]

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs (+2) [10-0] Credentials: Back-to-back National Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #1 [15-0] | 2023 Results So Far: 48-7 vs UT-Martin [FCS, 8-2], 45-3 vs Ball State [3-7], 24-14 vs South Carolina [4-6], 49-21 vs UAB [3-7], 27-20 @ Auburn [6-4], 51-13 vs Kentucky [6-4], 37-20 @ Vanderbilt [2-9], 43-20 vs Florida [5-5] (Jacksonville), 30-21 vs Missouri [8-2], 52-17 vs Ole Miss [8-2]
2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-1) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G East Runners-Up, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #4 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 23-3 @ Indiana [3-7], 35-7 vs Youngstown State [FCS, 6-4], 63-10 vs WKU [5-5], 17-14 @ Notre Dame [7-3], 37-17 vs Maryland [6-4], 41-7 @ Purdue [3-7], 20-12 vs Penn State [8-2], 24-10 @ Wisconsin [5-5], 35-16 @ Rutgers [6-4], 38-3 vs Michigan State [3-7]
3 Michigan Wolverines (+2) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G Champs, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #3 [13-1] | 2023 Results So Far: 30-3 vs East Carolina [2-8], 35-7 vs UNLV [8-2], 31-6 vs Bowling Green [6-4], 31-7 vs Rutgers [6-4], 45-7 @ Nebraska [5-5], 52-10 @ Minnesota [5-5], 52-7 vs Indiana [3-7], 49-0 @ Michigan State [3-7], 41-13 vs Purdue [3-7], 24-15 @ Penn State [8-2]
4 Washington Huskies (-) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #8 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-19 vs Boise State [5-5], 43-10 vs Tulsa [3-7], 41-7 @ Michigan State [3-7], 59-32 vs California [4-6], 31-24 @ Arizona [7-3], 36-33 vs Oregon [9-1], 15-7 vs Arizona State [3-7], 42-33 @ Stanford [3-7], 52-42 @ USC [7-4], 35-28 vs Utah [7-3]
5 Florida State Seminoles (-3) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #11 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 45-24 vs LSU [7-3] (Orlando), 66-13 vs Southern Miss [3-7], 31-29 @ Boston College [6-4], 31-24 @ Clemson [6-4], 39-17 vs Virginia Tech [5-5], 41-3 vs Syracuse [5-5], 38-20 vs Duke [6-4], 41-16 @ Wake Forest [4-6], 24-7 @ Pittsburgh [2-8], 27-20 vs Miami (FL) [6-4]
6 Oregon Ducks (-) [9-1] 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, 4-6], 38-30 @ Texas Tech [5-5], 55-10 vs Hawaii [4-7], 42-6 vs Colorado [4-6], 42-6 @ Stanford [3-7], 33-36 @ Washington [10-0], 38-24 vs Washington State [4-6], 42-6 @ Utah [7-3], 63-19 vs California [4-6], 36-27 vs USC [7-4]
7 Texas Longhorns (+1) [9-1] Credentials: 2022 Big XII Third Place, Alamo Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #25 [8-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-10 vs Rice [4-6], 34-24 @ Alabama [9-1], 31-10 vs Wyoming [6-4], 38-6 @ Baylor [3-7], 40-14 vs Kansas [7-3], 30-34 vs Oklahoma [8-2] (Dallas), 31-24 @ Houston [4-6], 35-6 vs BYU [5-5], 33-30(OT) vs Kansas State [7-3], 29-26 @ TCU [4-6]
8 Alabama Crimson Tide (+1) [9-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champ, Sugar Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #5 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-7 vs Middle Tennessee [3-7], 24-34 vs Texas [9-1], 17-3 @ South Florida [5-5], 24-10 vs Ole Miss [8-2], 40-17 @ Mississippi State [4-6], 26-20 @ Texas A&M [6-4], 24-21 vs Arkansas [3-7], 34-20 vs Tennessee [7-3], 42-28 vs LSU [7-3], 49-21 vs Kentucky [6-4]
9 James Madison Dukes (+1) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 Sun Belt East Joint-Champ, Final Record: 8-3 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Bucknell [FCS, 3-7], 36-35 @ Virginia [2-8], 16-14 @ Troy [8-2], 45-38 @ Utah State [5-5], 31-23 vs South Alabama [5-5], 41-13 vs Georgia Southern [6-4], 20-9 @ Marshall [5-5], 30-27 vs Old Dominion [4-6], 42-14 @ Georgia State [6-4], 44-6 vs UConn [1-9]
10 Louisville Cardinals (+2) [9-1] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 39-34 @ Georgia Tech [5-5], 56-0 vs Murray State [FCS, 2-8], 21-14 @ Indiana [3-7], 56-28 vs Boston College [6-4], 13-10 @ NC State [7-3], 33-20 vs Notre Dame [7-3], 21-38 @ Pittsburgh [2-8], 23-0 vs Duke [6-4], 34-3 vs Virginia Tech [5-5], 31-24 vs Virginia [2-8]
11 Oregon State Beavers (+3) [8-2] 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 [5-5], 55-7 vs UC Davis [FCS, 6-4], 26-9 vs San Diego State [3-7], 35-38 @ Washington State [4-6], 21-7 vs Utah [7-3], 52-40 @ California [4-6], 36-24 vs UCLA [6-4], 24-27 @ Arizona [7-3], 26-19 @ Colorado [4-6], 62-17 vs Stanford [3-7]
12 Oklahoma Sooners (+5) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-0 vs Arkansas State [5-5], 28-11 vs SMU [8-2], 66-17 @ Tulsa [3-7], 20-6 @ Cincinnati [3-7], 50-20 vs Iowa State [6-4], 34-30 vs Texas [9-1] (Dallas), 31-29 vs UCF [5-5], 33-38 @ Kansas [7-3], 24-27 @ Oklahoma State [7-3], 59-20 vs West Virginia [6-4]
13 Missouri Tigers (+6) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Joint 4th Place, Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 35-10 vs South Dakota [FCS, 8-2], 23-19 vs Middle Tennessee [3-7], 30-27 vs Kansas State [7-3], 34-27 vs Memphis [8-2], 38-21 @ Vanderbilt [2-9], 39-49 vs LSU [7-3], 38-21 @ Kentucky [6-4], 34-12 vs South Carolina [4-6], 21-30 @ Georgia [10-0], 36-7 vs Tennessee [7-3]
14 Liberty Flames (-1) [10-0] Credentials: 2022 Boca Raton Bowl Runners-Up, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 34-24 vs Bowling Green [6-4], 33-17 vs New Mexico State [7-3], 55-27 @ Buffalo [3-7], 38-6 @ FIU [4-6], 21-16 vs Sam Houston [2-8], 31-13 @ Jacksonville State [7-3], 42-35 vs Middle Tennessee [3-7], 42-29 @ WKU [5-5], 56-30 vs LA Tech [3-8], 38-10 vs Old Dominion [4-6]
15 Penn State Nittany Lions (-8) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 B1G East 3rd Place, Rose Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #7 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 38-15 vs West Virginia [6-4], 63-7 vs Delaware [FCS, 8-2], 30-13 @ Illinois [5-5], 31-0 vs Iowa [8-2], 41-13 @ Northwestern [5-5], 63-0 vs UMass [3-7], 12-20 @ Ohio State [10-0], 33-24 vs Indiana [3-7], 51-15 @ Maryland [6-4], 15-24 vs Michigan [10-0]
16 Ole Miss Rebels (-5) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-7 vs Mercer [FCS, 8-3], 37-20 @ Tulane [9-1], 48-23 vs Georgia Tech [5-5], 10-24 @ Alabama [9-1], 55-49 vs LSU [7-3], 27-20 vs Arkansas [3-7], 28-21 @ Auburn [6-4], 33-7 vs Vanderbilt [2-9], 38-35 vs Texas A&M [6-4], 17-52 @ Georgia [10-0]
17 Tulane Green Wave (+4) [9-1] Credentials: 2022 American Champs, Cotton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #9 [12-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-17 vs South Alabama [5-5], 20-37 vs Ole Miss [8-2], 21-3 @ Southern Miss [3-7], 36-7 vs Nicholls State [FCS, 5-4], 35-23 vs UAB [3-7], 31-21 @ Memphis [8-2], 35-28 vs North Texas [3-7], 30-28 @ Rice [4-6], 13-10 @ East Carolina [2-8], 24-22 vs Tulsa [3-7]
18 Toledo Rockets (+4) [9-1] Credentials: 2022 MAC Champions, Boca Raton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: Unranked [9-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 28-30 @ Illinois [5-5], 71-3 Texas Southern [FCS, 3-7], 21-17 vs San Jose State [5-5], 49-31 vs Western Michigan [4-6], 35-33 vs Northern Illinois [4-6], 41-24 @ UMass [3-7], 13-6 @ Ball State [3-7], 21-17 @ Miami (OH) [8-2], 31-13 vs Buffalo [3-7], 49-23 vs Eastern Michigan [4-6]
19 Utah Utes (+1) [7-3] Credentials: 2022 PAC-12 Champs, Rose Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #10 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-11 vs Florida [5-5], 20-13 @ Baylor [3-7], 31-7 vs Weber State [FCS, 5-5], 14-7 vs UCLA [6-4], 7-21 @ Oregon State [8-2], 34-14 vs California [4-6], 34-32 @ USC [7-4], 6-42 vs Oregon [9-1], 55-3 vs Arizona State [3-7], 28-35 @ Washington [10-0]
20 Arizona Wildcats (+4) [7-3] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 5-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Northern Arizona [FCS, 4-6], 24-31 @ Mississippi State [4-6], 31-10 vs UTEP [3-7], 21-20 @ Stanford [3-7], 24-31 vs Washington [10-0], 41-43(3OT) vs USC [7-4], 44-6 @ Washington State [4-6], 27-24 vs Oregon State [8-2], 27-10 vs UCLA [6-4], 34-31 @ Colorado [4-6]
21 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NEW) [7-3] Credentials: 2022 Gator Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #18 [9-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-3 vs Navy [4-5] (Dublin), 56-3 vs Tennessee State [FCS, 6-4], 45-24 @ NC State [7-3], 41-17 vs Central Michigan [5-5], 14-17 vs Ohio State [10-0], 21-14 @ Duke [6-4], 20-33 @ Louisville [9-1], 48-20 vs USC [7-4], 58-7 vs Pittsburgh [2-8], 23-31 @ Clemson [6-4]
22 LSU Tigers (NEW) [7-3] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint Champs, Citrus Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #16 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-45 @ Florida State [10-0], 72-10 Grambling State [FCS, 5-5], 41-14 @ Mississippi State [4-6], 34-31 vs Arkansas [3-7], 49-55 @ Ole Miss [8-2], 49-39 @ Missouri [8-2], 48-18 vs Auburn [6-4], 62-0 vs Army [4-6], 28-42 @ Alabama [9-1], 52-35 vs Florida [5-5]
23 Kansas State Wildcats (NEW) [7-3] Credentials: 2022 Big 12 Champ, Sugar Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #14 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 45-0 vs SEMO [FCS, 4-6], 42-13 vs Troy [8-2], 27-30 @ Missouri [8-2], 44-31 vs UCF [5-5], 21-29 @ Oklahoma State [7-3], 38-21 @ Texas Tech [5-5], 41-3 vs TCU [4-6], 41-0 vs Houston [4-6], 30-33(OT) @ Texas [9-1], 59-25 vs Baylor [3-7]
24 Iowa Hawkeyes (NEW) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 B1G West Joint Runners-Up, Music Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: Unranked [8-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-14 vs Utah State [5-5], 20-13 @ Iowa State [6-4], 41-10 vs Western Michigan [4-6], 0-31 @ Penn State [8-2], 26-16 vs Michigan State [3-7], 20-14 vs Purdue [3-7], 15-6 @ Wisconsin [5-5], 10-12 vs Minnesota [5-5], 10-7 @ Northwestern [5-5] (Wrigley Field), 22-0 vs Rutgers [6-4]
25 SMU Mustangs (NEW) [8-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 7-6 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-14 vs LA Tech [3-8], 11-28 @ Oklahoma [8-2], 69-0 vs Prairie View [FCS, 5-5], 17-34 @ TCU [4-6], 34-16 vs Charlotte [3-7], 31-10 @ East Carolina [2-8], 55-0 @ Temple [3-7], 69-10 vs Tulsa [3-7], 36-31 @ Rice [4-6], 45-10 vs North Texas [3-7]

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