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CriterionCrypt Ballot for 2024 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 12, 2024, 12:19 a.m.

Overall Rationale: My overall philosophy puts the eye test over overall record, conference standings, and even head-to-head results at times. Generally speaking, each individual ranking is based on what I think the head to head outcome would be on a neutral field at the time of ranking.

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs I have Georgia and Ohio State as a very close #1 and #2. What pushed Georgia over the top for me is that while Ohio State is still in the middle of a "QB controversy," Georgia has the top QB in the country.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes
3 Oregon Ducks I have Oregon at #3 for one reason alone, Dillon Gabriel. The guy is a fantastic game manager and has the tools to lead Oregon pretty far this year.
4 Ole Miss Rebels Jaxon Dart is entering into his senior year, and every year he has played, he has improved. Dart is my darkhorse for the Heisman, and I think this is the year that Kiffin really makes a big splash.
5 Texas Longhorns Texas was gifted a relatively easy conference schedule, and while I think Ole Miss is a better team, I see Texas in the SEC title game. They have a great QB room, but losses on the D-Line and a weak secondary could spell trouble.
6 Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama has a lot of change this season, but they still have the #2 QB in the country and they still have more talent than just about anyone else.
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
8 Michigan Wolverines Michigan gets a bit of deference with this top 10 ranking considering they just won the national title. But I think they are a step behind a couple of teams in the B1G given how much talent they lost.
9 Penn State Nittany Lions
10 Missouri Tigers
11 Miami Hurricanes Much like Kiffin, I think this is the year Cristobal puts it all together. With no Clemson and FSU at home, the only real challenge they face is an opening weekend against UF.
12 LSU Tigers
13 Florida State Seminoles
14 Clemson Tigers Swinney was a great coach, but I don't know if he can really keep up in the modern NCAA. But at the end of the day, football is oftentimes about the Johnny's and Joe's. Clemson still has enough talent to be competitive in a fairly weak ACC.
15 Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma has the potential to be a top 5 team in terms of overall talent, it just depends on how quickly the new O-Line can adapt.
16 Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee is essentially in the same boat as Oklahoma. Young QB, a coordinator turned HC that has been established for a few years now, some red flags but a lot of potential. I think Arnold has a slight edge over Iamaleava, Oklahoma's defense will be marginally better, and their matchup takes place in Norman this year. However, Tennessee should be a great team this year.
17 Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma State is returning an insane amount of talent as well as a journeyman QB. If Bowman can play to his experience level, Oklahoma State is a lock for the Big XII Title game. While I think every single team ahead of them is more talented, I see Oklahoma State going undefeated this year.
18 Utah Utes I think Utah will have a fine season, but it's been over a year since Cam Rising has played. The only real challenge I see for Utah is Ok. State at Stillwater. If they can make it through that game, they could very easily be undefeated going into Championship Week.
19 Kansas State Wildcats
20 Memphis Tigers
21 USC Trojans This is a make or break year for Lincoln Riley, and this year is a doozy. A new QB and a schedule that could see them open up 2-4 is just brutal. However, there is no better offensive mind than Riley, and that has to count for something.
22 Iowa Hawkeyes
23 Boise State Broncos
24 Kansas Jayhawks Leipold has Kansas really coming into their own. He has legitimized Kansas in a way that they haven't seen since the Mangino years. Kansas has one of the most favorable schedules in this country and should be 7-0 going into their big showdown with Kansas State. While I think Kansas State is a better team overall, Kansas' schedule makes them dark horses for the Big XII title game.
25 Nebraska Cornhuskers I think Rhule is moving Nebraska in the right direction. They aren't in a place to compete with the "big dawgs" of the B1G just year. But a 10 win season is not out of reach for the Cornhuskers.

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