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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2023 Week 15 & Bowls

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Dec. 5, 2023, 9:38 a.m.

Overall Rationale: Well, it’s certainly been one hell of a weekend in the CFB world. After a season that continually verged on fully immersing itself in a web of chaos, we ended up with all top teams continually finding ways to win, even when not looking great. And after an entertaining Conference Championship Weekend, the field can now be fully analyzed and placed upon the combination of factors I’ve mentioned before for Week 14/last week (https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/55415/), Week 12 (https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/54304/), and Week 11 (https://poll.redditcfb.com/ballot/53503/). Unfortunately, when seasons lack chaos, we end up with the unfortunate outcome that there were 7 P5 teams with resumes and performances meriting a shot at the national championship, but with only 4 of them being allowed to do so under the current system. And there’s an undefeated G5 team to consider as well! Ultimately, I have ranked these teams as consistently as a single flawed person can - so expect unforeseen biases, crappy justifications, and unreasonable analysis on your favorite teams. Ask away! | Teams Dropping Out: #19 Toledo Rockets [11-2], #23 Oklahoma State Cowboys [9-4] | Honorable Mentions: Utah Utes [8-4], Clemson Tigers [8-4], Kansas State Wildcats [8-4], Kansas Jayhawks [8-4], Memphis Tigers [9-3], Boise State Broncos [8-5], Ohio Bobcats [9-3], West Virginia Mountaineers [8-4]

Rank Team Reason
1 Washington Huskies (+1) [13-0] Credentials: 2022 Alamo Bowl Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #8 [11-2], 2023 PAC-12 Champion | 2023 Results So Far: 56-19 vs Boise State [8-5], 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 [11-2], 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], 34-31 vs Oregon [11-2] (Las Vegas, PAC-12 Title Game)
2 Michigan Wolverines (-1) [13-0] Credentials: 2021-2023 B1G Champions, CFP Participant, Final 2022 AP Rank: #3 [13-1] 2023 Results So Far: 30-3 vs East Carolina [2-10], 35-7 vs UNLV [9-4], 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], 26-0 vs Iowa [10-3] (Indianapolis, B1G Title Game)
3 Florida State Seminoles (+1) [13-0] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Runners-Up, Final AP Rank: #11 [10-3], 2023 ACC Champion | 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], 16-6 vs Louisville [10-3] (Charlotte, ACC Title Game)
4 Texas Longhorns (+2) [12-1] Credentials: 2022 Big XII Third Place, Alamo Bowl Runners-Up, Final 2022 AP Rank: #25 [8-5], 2023 Big XII Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 37-10 vs Rice [6-6], 34-24 @ Alabama [12-1], 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], 49-21 vs Oklahoma State [9-4] (Arlington, Big XII Title Game)
5 Alabama Crimson Tide (+2) [12-1] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champions, Sugar Bowl Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #5 [11-2], 2023 SEC Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 56-7 vs Middle Tennessee [4-8], 24-34 vs Texas [12-1], 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, 8-5], 27-24 @ Auburn [6-6], 27-24 vs Georgia [12-1] (Atlanta, SEC Title Game)
6 Georgia Bulldogs (-3) [12-1] Credentials: Back-to-back National Champions, Final 2022 AP Rank: #1 [15-0], 2023 SEC Runners-Up | 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], 24-27 vs Alabama [12-1] (Atlanta, SEC Title Game)
7 Ohio State Buckeyes (+1) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 & 2023 B1G East Runners-Up, CFP Participant, Final 2022 AP Rank: #4 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 23-3 @ Indiana [3-9], 35-7 vs Youngstown State [FCS, 8-5], 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 [13-0]
8 Oregon Ducks (-3) [11-2] Credentials: 2022 Holiday Bowl Champions, PAC-12 Joint Third Place, Final AP Rank: #15 [10-3], 2023 PAC-12 Runners-Up | 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 [13-0], 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], 31-34 vs Washington [13-0] (Las Vegas, PAC-12 Title Game)
9 Oklahoma Sooners (+1) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 6-7, 2023 Big XII 3rd Place | 2023 Results So Far: 73-0 vs Arkansas State [6-6], 28-11 vs SMU [11-2], 66-17 @ Tulsa [4-8], 20-6 @ Cincinnati [3-9], 50-20 vs Iowa State [7-5], 34-30 vs Texas [12-1] (Dallas), 31-29 vs UCF [6-6], 33-38 @ Kansas [8-4], 24-27 @ Oklahoma State [9-4], 59-20 vs West Virginia [8-4], 31-24 @ BYU [5-7], 69-45 vs TCU [5-7]
10 Penn State Nittany Lions (-1) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 & 2023 B1G East 3rd Place, Rose Bowl Champions, Final AP Rank: #7 [11-2] | 2023 Results So Far: 38-15 vs West Virginia [8-4], 63-7 vs Delaware [FCS, 9-4], 30-13 @ Illinois [5-7], 31-0 vs Iowa [10-3], 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 [13-0], 27-6 vs Rutgers [6-6], 42-0 @ Michigan State [4-8]
11 Missouri Tigers (-) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC East Joint-Fourth Place, Final Record: 6-7, 2023 SEC East Second Place | 2023 Results So Far: 35-10 vs South Dakota [FCS, 10-2], 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 [12-1], 36-7 vs Tennessee [8-4], 33-31 vs Florida [5-7], 48-14 @ Arkansas [4-8]
12 Ole Miss Rebels (-) [10-2] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Third Place, Final Record: 8-5, 2023 SEC West Joint-Second Place | 2023 Results So Far: 73-7 vs Mercer [FCS, 9-4], 37-20 @ Tulane [11-2], 48-23 vs Georgia Tech [6-6], 10-24 @ Alabama [12-1], 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 [12-1], 35-3 vs LA-Monroe [2-10], 17-7 @ Mississippi State [5-7]
13 Arizona Wildcats (+2) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 5-7, 2023 PAC-12 Third Place | 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 [13-0], 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]
14 LSU Tigers (+3) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 SEC West Joint-Champions, Citrus Bowl Champions, Final AP Rank: #16 [10-4], 2023 SEC West Joint-Second Place | 2023 Results So Far: 24-45 @ Florida State [13-0], 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 [12-1], 52-35 vs Florida [5-7], 56-14 vs Georgia State [6-6], 42-30 vs Texas A&M [7-5]
15 Liberty Flames (+1) [13-0] Credentials: 2022 Boca Raton Bowl Runners-Up, Final Record: 8-5, 2023 CUSA Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 34-24 vs Bowling Green [7-5], 33-17 vs New Mexico State [10-4], 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], 49-35 vs New Mexico State [10-4] (CUSA Title Game)
16 Louisville Cardinals (-2) [10-3] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint-Third Place, Final Record: 8-5, 2023 ACC Runners-Up | 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], 6-16 vs Florida State [13-0] (Charlotte, ACC Title Game)
17 SMU Mustangs (+8) [11-2] Credentials: 2022 Final Record: 7-6, 2023 American Champions | 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], 26-14 @ Tulane [11-2] (AAC Title Game)
18 James Madison Dukes (-) [11-1] Credentials: 2022 Sun Belt East Joint Champions, Final Record: 8-3, 2023, 2023 Sun Belt East Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 38-3 vs Bucknell [FCS, 4-7], 36-35 @ Virginia [3-9], 16-14 @ Troy [11-2], 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 [8-5], 56-14 @ Coastal Carolina [7-5]
19 Tulane Green Wave (-6) [11-2] Credentials: 2022 American Champions, Cotton Bowl Champions, Final AP Rank: #9 [12-2], 2023 American Runners-Up | 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], 14-26 vs SMU [11-2] (AAC Title Game)
20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 Gator Bowl Champions, 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 [10-3], 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 Miami (OH) RedHawks (NEW) [11-2] Credentials: 2022 Record: 6-7, 2023 MAC Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 3-38 @ Miami (FL) [7-5], 41-28 @ UMass [3-9], 31-24(OT) @ Cincinnati [3-9], 62-20 vs Delaware State [FCS, 1-10], 23-3 @ Kent State [1-11], 27-0 vs Bowling Green [7-5], 34-21 @ Western Michigan [4-8], 17-21 vs Toledo [11-2], 30-16 @ Ohio [9-3], 19-0 vs Akron [2-10], 23-10 vs Buffalo [3-9], 17-15 @ Ball State [4-8], 23-14 vs Toledo [11-2] (Detroit, MAC Title Game)
22 Troy Trojans (NEW) [11-2] Credentials: 2022 Sun Belt Champions, Cure Bowl Winner, Final AP Rank: #19 [12-2], 2023 Sun Belt Champions | 2023 Results So Far: 48-30 vs Stephen F. Austin [FCS, 3-8], 13-42 @ Kansas State [8-4], 14-16 vs James Madison [11-1], 27-24 vs WKU [7-5], 28-7 @ Georgia State [6-6], 37-3 vs Arkansas State [6-6], 19-0 @ Army [5-6], 31-13 @ Texas State [7-5], 28-10 vs South Alabama [6-6], 45-14 @ LA-Monroe [2-10], 31-24 vs Louisiana [6-6], 35-17 @ Southern Miss [3-9], 49-23 vs App State [8-5] (SBC Title Game)
23 Iowa Hawkeyes (-2) [10-3] Credentials: 2022 B1G West Joint Runners-Up, Music Bowl Champions, Final AP Rank: Unranked [8-5], 2023 B1G Runners-Up | 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], 0-26 vs Michigan [13-0] (Indianapolis, B1G Title Game)
24 Oregon State Beavers (-) [8-4] Credentials: 2022 PAC-12 Fifth Place, Las Vegas Bowl Champions, Final AP Rank: #17 [10-3], 2023 PAC-12 Joint-Fourth Place | 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 [13-0], 7-31 @ Oregon [11-2]
25 NC State Wolfpack (-) [9-3] Credentials: 2022 ACC Atlantic Joint-Third Place, Final Record: 8-5, 2023 ACC Third Place | 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 [10-3], 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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