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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2023 Week 14

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Nov. 28, 2023, 3:20 a.m.

Overall Rationale: I’m going to be honest - I struggled quite a bit at differentiating certain teams within a given tier from one another, and a concerning lot of it came down to personal interpretation of the intangibles vs the stats, the eye test vs the resume, blowouts vs close games against good teams, and so on. Most of the teams on this list can be shifted up or down multiple spots, and I wouldn’t blink an eye. This final list isn’t what is likely to be the case after the CCGs this upcoming weekend, but based upon how I interpreted each team’s performance up until this point, it’s the best way I can currently rank them. In addition, I also considered the potential for upward/downward movement as a response to this weekend’s upcoming Conference Championship Games. Such is the way of CFB. As for any additional insight beyond what I’ve spewed about in the past couple of weeks/months - it’s pretty clear that there are several distinct tiers in this list. The 4 undefeated P5 teams are at the top, and I’ve done my best to organize them as such to emphasize how they’ve performed and how other teams’ performances have altered their own resumes. After that come the 1-loss P5 teams, who have been a hassle to sort and are now joined by a likely non-CFP team in Ohio State (though chaos could get them in as a #4 seed anyway). Speaking of Ohio State, they’re arguably better than the 3 teams in front of them, but I can’t consciously rank them higher because those 3 teams still have much greater chances of achieving the CFP berths than the Buckeyes. Moving on…after those 4 is a 4-team grouping of legit NY6 contenders, all of which have reasonable shouts to be pulled into the various 4 non-CFP elite bowls, though 1 or 2 is likely to slip into a less-prestigious bowl. Following them is a hodgepodge of teams representing some of the best the G5 has to offer this year, two of the hottest teams in the nation in Arizona and LSU, and a slumping Louisville, reeling from their loss to in-state rivals Kentucky. Starting at 20 is another group of decent P5-equivalent teams, including 2 (Iowa, Oklahoma State) of which I have no idea have found a way to end up in their conference championship game after a tumultuous season. Also, Notre Dame is here because God gives his most brutal losses to his toughest soldiers. SMU, Oregon State, and NC State also find themselves in this tier (as do many in the honorable mentions/dropouts) who either are better than their records state due to tough schedules, or are making the most out of a season with a few crucial losses that doomed them from achieving greater heights. I’m not confident I have the exact right order, but I feel like my general tiers are appropriate. Then again, it could just be me huffing some form of PAC-G5 copium. Regardless of the reality, feel free to ask me about them! | Teams Dropping Out: #22 Kansas State Wildcats [8-4], #25 UNLV Rebels [9-3] | Honorable Mentions: Troy Trojans [10-2], Miami (OH) RedHawks [10-2], Utah Utes [8-4], New Mexico State Aggies [10-3], Clemson Tigers [8-4], Kansas Jayhawks [8-4], Memphis Tigers [9-3], Appalachian State Mountaineers [8-4]

Rank Team Reason
1 Michigan Wolverines (+3) [12-0] Credentials: 2022 B1G Champs, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #3 [13-1] | 2023 Results So Far: 30-3 vs East Carolina [2-10], 35-7 vs UNLV [9-3], 31-6 vs Bowling Green [7-5], 31-7 vs Rutgers [6-6], 45-7 @ Nebraska [5-7], 52-10 @ Minnesota [5-7], 52-7 vs Indiana [3-9], 49-0 @ Michigan State [4-8], 41-13 vs Purdue [4-8], 24-15 @ Penn State [10-2], 31-24 @ Maryland [7-5], 30-24 vs Ohio State [11-1]
2 Washington Huskies (-) [12-0] Credentials: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #8 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-19 vs Boise State [7-5], 43-10 vs Tulsa [4-8], 41-7 @ Michigan State [4-8], 59-32 vs California [6-6], 31-24 @ Arizona [9-3], 36-33 vs Oregon [11-1], 15-7 vs Arizona State [3-9], 42-33 @ Stanford [3-9], 52-42 @ USC [7-5], 35-28 vs Utah [8-4], 22-20 @ Oregon State [8-4], 24-21 vs Washington State [5-7]
3 Georgia Bulldogs (-2) [12-0] Credentials: Back-to-back National Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #1 [15-0] | 2023 Results So Far: 48-7 vs UT-Martin [FCS, 8-3], 45-3 vs Ball State [4-8], 24-14 vs South Carolina [5-7], 49-21 vs UAB [4-8], 27-20 @ Auburn [6-6], 51-13 vs Kentucky [7-5], 37-20 @ Vanderbilt [2-10], 43-20 vs Florida [5-7] (Jacksonville), 30-21 vs Missouri [10-2], 52-17 vs Ole Miss [10-2], 38-10 @ Tennessee [8-4], 31-23 @ Georgia Tech [6-6]
4 Florida State Seminoles (+1) [12-0] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #11 [10-3] | 2023 Results So Far: 45-24 vs LSU [9-3] (Orlando), 66-13 vs Southern Miss [3-9], 31-29 @ Boston College [6-6], 31-24 @ Clemson [8-4], 39-17 vs Virginia Tech [6-6], 41-3 vs Syracuse [6-6], 38-20 vs Duke [7-5], 41-16 @ Wake Forest [4-8], 24-7 @ Pittsburgh [3-9], 27-20 vs Miami (FL) [7-5], 58-13 vs North Alabama [FCS, 3-8], 24-15 @ Florida [5-7]
5 Oregon Ducks (+1) [11-1] 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, 5-6], 38-30 @ Texas Tech [6-6], 55-10 vs Hawaii [5-8], 42-6 vs Colorado [4-8], 42-6 @ Stanford [3-9], 33-36 @ Washington [12-0], 38-24 vs Washington State [5-7], 42-6 @ Utah [8-4], 63-19 vs California [6-6], 36-27 vs USC [7-5], 49-13 @ Arizona State [3-9], 31-7 vs Oregon State [8-4]
6 Texas Longhorns (+1) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 Big XII Third Place, Alamo Bowl Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #25 [8-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-10 vs Rice [6-6], 34-24 @ Alabama [11-1], 31-10 vs Wyoming [8-4], 38-6 @ Baylor [3-9], 40-14 vs Kansas [8-4], 30-34 vs Oklahoma [10-2] (Dallas), 31-24 @ Houston [4-8], 35-6 vs BYU [5-7], 33-30(OT) vs Kansas State [8-4], 29-26 @ TCU [5-7], 26-16 @ Iowa State [7-5], 57-7 vs Texas Tech [6-6]
7 Alabama Crimson Tide (+1) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champ, Sugar Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #5 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 56-7 vs Middle Tennessee [4-8], 24-34 vs Texas [11-1], 17-3 @ South Florida [6-6], 24-10 vs Ole Miss [10-2], 40-17 @ Mississippi State [5-7], 26-20 @ Texas A&M [7-5], 24-21 vs Arkansas [4-8], 34-20 vs Tennessee [8-4], 42-28 vs LSU [9-3], 49-21 vs Kentucky [7-5], 66-10 vs Chattanooga [FCS, 8-4], 27-24 @ Auburn [6-6]
8 Ohio State Buckeyes (-5) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 B1G East Runners-Up, CFP Participant, Final AP Rank: #4 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 23-3 @ Indiana [3-9], 35-7 vs Youngstown State [FCS, 8-4], 63-10 vs WKU [7-5], 17-14 @ Notre Dame [9-3], 37-17 vs Maryland [7-5], 41-7 @ Purdue [4-8], 20-12 vs Penn State [10-2], 24-10 @ Wisconsin [7-5], 35-16 @ Rutgers [6-6], 38-3 vs Michigan State [4-8], 37-3 vs Minnesota [5-7], 24-30 @ Michigan [12-0]
9 Penn State Nittany Lions (+1) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 B1G East 3rd Place, Rose Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #7 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 38-15 vs West Virginia [8-4], 63-7 vs Delaware [FCS, 9-3], 30-13 @ Illinois [5-7], 31-0 vs Iowa [10-2], 41-13 @ Northwestern [7-5], 63-0 vs UMass [3-9], 12-20 @ Ohio State [11-1], 33-24 vs Indiana [3-9], 51-15 @ Maryland [7-5], 15-24 vs Michigan [12-0], 27-6 vs Rutgers [6-6], 42-0 @ Michigan State [4-8]
10 Oklahoma Sooners (+2) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-0 vs Arkansas State [6-6], 28-11 vs SMU [10-2], 66-17 @ Tulsa [4-8], 20-6 @ Cincinnati [3-9], 50-20 vs Iowa State [7-5], 34-30 vs Texas [11-1] (Dallas), 31-29 vs UCF [6-6], 33-38 @ Kansas [8-4], 24-27 @ Oklahoma State [9-3], 59-20 vs West Virginia [8-4], 31-24 @ BYU [5-7], 69-45 vs TCU [5-7]
11 Missouri Tigers (-) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Joint 4th Place, Final Record: 6-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 35-10 vs South Dakota [FCS, 9-2], 23-19 vs Middle Tennessee [4-8], 30-27 vs Kansas State [8-4], 34-27 vs Memphis [9-3], 38-21 @ Vanderbilt [2-10], 39-49 vs LSU [9-3], 38-21 @ Kentucky [7-5], 34-12 vs South Carolina [5-7], 21-30 @ Georgia [12-0], 36-7 vs Tennessee [8-4], 33-31 vs Florida [5-7], 48-14 @ Arkansas [4-8]
12 Ole Miss Rebels (+1) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 73-7 vs Mercer [FCS, 9-3], 37-20 @ Tulane [11-1], 48-23 vs Georgia Tech [6-6], 10-24 @ Alabama [11-1], 55-49 vs LSU [9-3], 27-20 vs Arkansas [4-8], 28-21 @ Auburn [6-6], 33-7 vs Vanderbilt [2-10], 38-35 vs Texas A&M [7-5], 17-52 @ Georgia [12-0], 35-3 vs LA-Monroe [2-10], 17-7 @ Mississippi State [5-7]
13 Tulane Green Wave (+2) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 American Champs, Cotton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #9 [12-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 37-17 vs South Alabama [6-6], 20-37 vs Ole Miss [10-2], 21-3 @ Southern Miss [3-9], 36-7 vs Nicholls State [FCS, 6-5], 35-23 vs UAB [4-8], 31-21 @ Memphis [9-3], 35-28 vs North Texas [5-7], 30-28 @ Rice [6-6], 13-10 @ East Carolina [2-10], 24-22 vs Tulsa [4-8], 24-8 @ FAU [4-8], 29-16 vs UTSA [8-4]
14 Louisville Cardinals (-5) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint 3rd Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 39-34 @ Georgia Tech [6-6], 56-0 vs Murray State [FCS, 2-9], 21-14 @ Indiana [3-9], 56-28 vs Boston College [6-6], 13-10 @ NC State [9-3], 33-20 vs Notre Dame [9-3], 21-38 @ Pittsburgh [3-9], 23-0 vs Duke [7-5], 34-3 vs Virginia Tech [6-6], 31-24 vs Virginia [3-9], 38-31 @ Miami (FL) [7-5], 31-38 vs Kentucky [7-5]
15 Arizona Wildcats (+1) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 5-7 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Northern Arizona [FCS, 5-6], 24-31 @ Mississippi State [5-7], 31-10 vs UTEP [3-9], 21-20 @ Stanford [3-9], 24-31 vs Washington [12-0], 41-43(3OT) vs USC [7-5], 44-6 @ Washington State [5-7], 27-24 vs Oregon State [8-4], 27-10 vs UCLA [7-5], 34-31 @ Colorado [4-8], 42-18 vs Utah [8-4], 59-23 @ Arizona State [3-9]
16 Liberty Flames (-2) [12-0] Credentials: 2022 Boca Raton Bowl Runners-Up, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 34-24 vs Bowling Green [7-5], 33-17 vs New Mexico State [10-3], 55-27 @ Buffalo [3-9], 38-6 @ FIU [4-8], 21-16 vs Sam Houston [3-9], 31-13 @ Jacksonville State [8-4], 42-35 vs Middle Tennessee [4-8], 42-29 @ WKU [7-5], 56-30 vs LA Tech [3-9], 38-10 vs Old Dominion [6-6], 49-25 vs UMass [3-9], 42-28 @ UTEP [3-9]
17 LSU Tigers (+3) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint Champs, Citrus Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #16 [10-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 24-45 @ Florida State [12-0], 72-10 Grambling State [FCS, 5-6], 41-14 @ Mississippi State [5-7], 34-31 vs Arkansas [4-8], 49-55 @ Ole Miss [10-2], 49-39 @ Missouri [10-2], 48-18 vs Auburn [6-6], 62-0 vs Army [5-6], 28-42 @ Alabama [11-1], 52-35 vs Florida [5-7], 56-14 vs Georgia State [6-6], 42-30 vs Texas A&M [7-5]
18 James Madison Dukes (+1) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 Sun Belt East Joint Champs, Final Record: 8-3 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Bucknell [FCS, 4-7], 36-35 @ Virginia [3-9], 16-14 @ Troy [10-2], 45-38 @ Utah State [6-6], 31-23 vs South Alabama [6-6], 41-13 vs Georgia Southern [6-6], 20-9 @ Marshall [6-6], 30-27 vs Old Dominion [6-6], 42-14 @ Georgia State [6-6], 44-6 vs UConn [3-9], 23-26(OT) vs App State [8-4], 56-14 @ Coastal Carolina [7-5]
19 Toledo Rockets (-1) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 MAC Champions, Boca Raton Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: Unranked [9-5] | 2023 Results So Far: 28-30 @ Illinois [5-7], 71-3 Texas Southern [FCS, 3-8], 21-17 vs San Jose State [7-5], 49-31 vs Western Michigan [4-8], 35-33 vs Northern Illinois [6-6], 41-24 @ UMass [3-9], 13-6 @ Ball State [4-8], 21-17 @ Miami (OH) [10-2], 31-13 vs Buffalo [3-9], 49-23 vs Eastern Michigan [6-6], 32-31 @ Bowling Green [7-5], 32-17 @ Central Michigan [5-7]
20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 Gator Bowl Champs, Final AP Rank: #18 [9-4] | 2023 Results So Far: 42-3 vs Navy [5-6] (Dublin), 56-3 vs Tennessee State [FCS, 6-5], 45-24 @ NC State [9-3], 41-17 vs Central Michigan [5-6], 14-17 vs Ohio State [11-1], 21-14 @ Duke [7-5], 20-33 @ Louisville [10-2], 48-20 vs USC [7-5], 58-7 vs Pittsburgh [3-9], 23-31 @ Clemson [8-4], 45-7 vs Wake Forest [4-8], 56-23 @ Stanford [3-9]
21 Iowa Hawkeyes (+2) [10-2] 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 [6-6], 20-13 @ Iowa State [7-5], 41-10 vs Western Michigan [4-8], 0-31 @ Penn State [10-2], 26-16 vs Michigan State [4-8], 20-14 vs Purdue [4-8], 15-6 @ Wisconsin [7-5], 10-12 vs Minnesota [5-7], 10-7 @ Northwestern [7-5] (Wrigley Field), 22-0 vs Rutgers [6-6], 15-13 vs Illinois [5-7], 13-10 @ Nebraska [5-7]
22 SMU Mustangs (+2) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 7-6 | 2023 Results So Far: 38-14 vs LA Tech [3-9], 11-28 @ Oklahoma [10-2], 69-0 vs Prairie View [FCS, 6-5], 17-34 @ TCU [5-7], 34-16 vs Charlotte [3-9], 31-10 @ East Carolina [2-10], 55-0 @ Temple [3-9], 69-10 vs Tulsa [4-8], 36-31 @ Rice [6-6], 45-10 vs North Texas [5-7], 38-34 @ Memphis [9-3], 59-14 vs Navy [5-6]
23 Oklahoma State Cowboys (NEW) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 7-6 | 2023 Results So Far: 27-13 vs Central Arkansas [FCS, 7-4], 27-15 @ Arizona State [3-9], 7-33 vs South Alabama [6-6], 27-34 @ Iowa State [7-5], 29-21 vs Kansas State [8-4], 39-32 vs Kansas [8-4], 48-34 vs West Virginia [8-4], 45-13 vs Cincinnati [3-9], 27-24 vs Oklahoma [10-2], 3-45 @ UCF [6-6], 43-30 @ Houston [4-8], 40-34(2OT) vs BYU [5-7]
24 Oregon State Beavers (-7) [8-4] 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 [7-5], 55-7 vs UC Davis [FCS, 7-4], 26-9 vs San Diego State [4-8], 35-38 @ Washington State [5-7], 21-7 vs Utah [8-4], 52-40 @ California [6-6], 36-24 vs UCLA [7-5], 24-27 @ Arizona [9-3], 26-19 @ Colorado [4-8], 62-17 vs Stanford [3-9], 20-22 vs Washington [12-0], 7-31 @ Oregon [11-1]
25 NC State Wolfpack (NEW) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint-Third Place, Final Record: 8-5 | 2023 Results So Far: 24-14 @ UConn [3-9], 24-45 vs Notre Dame [9-3], 45-7 vs VMI [FCS, 5-6], 24-21 @ Virginia [3-9], 10-13 vs Louisville [10-2], 48-41 vs Marshall [6-6], 3-24 @ Duke [7-5], 24-17 vs Clemson [8-4], 20-6 vs Miami (FL) [7-5]. 26-6 @ Wake Forest [4-8], 35-28 @ Virginia Tech [6-6], 39-20 vs North Carolina [8-4]

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