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Tornadohunter24 Ballot for 2024 Week 2

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Sept. 4, 2024, 9:59 a.m.

Overall Rationale: College football is back, baby! Even if it’s a bit of a husk of itself… anyways! What a Week 0/Week 1 it was. We had some great games, some incredible "upsets" (though again it's Week 1, but… my Jackets knocked off a “top 10” team!), and a lot of boring FBS vs FCS or P5 vs low-end G5 stomps. Though, they didn't all end in the favor of the higher-division/conference team (thanks, New Mexico!). I’m very much in favor of poll fluidity, and that will be reflected in these rankings, at least until we have more than a few games and some preseason expectations to go off of. I also like to weigh opponent perceptions (conference affiliation, expectations, etc.) more heavily than other pollsters may do (as seen in my Top 25 from last year and for this week… you’ll see). This is going to lead to some weirdness until everyone starts entering conference play (or at least actually faces off against a decent opponent), and even then I’m likely too biased towards G5 teams and ranking by record to be perfect. Speaking of G5 teams… you’re likely going to see 5 of them in the top 25 per week at a minimum. Why? The guaranteed Playoff spot, of course! I’m ranking the top 5 G5 squads, starting off with one in each conference. They’ll be from 21-25 unless they merit higher, but they likely won’t drop out. This does mean the bottom 5 of my poll are going to be weird, at least initially, but better to have something that’s worth watching over which mediocre P5 school deserves #23 over #24. Plus, did you really want another ballot where I have to pretend that one of those schools isn’t about to get bullied by a true contender in the coming weeks? Or even worse, has already been pushed around? Nah, easier and more convenient to have my vote set up like this. I was unfortunately busy this week, so no long personalized write-up for each team as I have done in ballots past, but I will endeavor to do so for future weeks, time permitting. Worst-case scenario, I’ll just do my little results-based blurbs that populated last year’s ballots. But more importantly… time to see what my crappy vote has in store! | TEAMS DROPPING OUT: #8 Florida State Seminoles [0-2], #14 LSU Tigers [0-1], #15 Kansas State Wildcats [1-0], #16 Clemson Tigers [0-1], #20 Arizona Wildcats [1-0], #25 Liberty Flames [1-0] | HONORABLE MENTIONS: Kansas State Wildcats [1-0], Arizona Wildcats [1-0] (hey wait a minute…), Kansas Jayhawks [1-0], Washington Huskies [1-0], Oklahoma Sooners [1-0], North Carolina Tar Heels [1-0], TCU Horned Frogs [1-0], Coastal Carolina [1-0], UNLV Rebels [1-0]

Rank Team Reason
1 Georgia Bulldogs [-] [1-0] JFC, Kirby. That team had a family and a NIL backed by God. At least the drive back isn't far...
2 Ohio State Buckeyes [-] [1-0] At least you're supporting in-state institutions with that pay game? You even spotted them 3 points!
3 Texas Longhorns [+1] [1-0] Longhorns >>> Rams, apparently. Even let Arch get in on the beatdown.
4 Alabama Crimson Tide [+1] [1-0] Listen, I fear Big Red as much as any rational person does, but that doesn't give you the right to vivisect them live in front of 100,000 faithful.
5 Penn State Nittany Lions [+1] [1-0] Well, despite the weather throwing the game in for a curveball and... whatever the hell the refs were doing, that was a pretty convincing win. At least you both got to tell Pitt to eat shit.
6 Ole Miss Rebels [+1] [1-0] I think you guys managed to score another touchdown while I was putting this ballot together. Only took you a century to avenge the loss! SoCon hate runs deep.
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish [+5] [1-0] Are... are you guys not frauds for once? Well, good job on already making Aggies turn towards the bottle on the first week, I guess.
8 Missouri Tigers [+1] [1-0] There was nothing notable about this win over your FCS opponent, but at least you proved SEC Missouri > FCS Missouri Valley.
9 Utah Utes [+1] [1-0] Did you already read what I put for Ohio State. Repeat it for this one, too. Except the FG - you weren't even nice enough to give them that.
10 Oregon Ducks [-7] [1-0] Yep yep 1-0 that's all that matters no problems to see here nope none at all. Please ignore the trenches getting bullied by FCS Idaho (who are decent and are going to be good, but should never be doing that to a FBS Natty contender).
11 Miami Hurricanes [NEW] [1-0] Okay, I know I made the joke about Notre Dame being fraudulent, but this applies to you too. Helluva 2-week period for Hurricanes fans, though. Cam Ward is legit.
12 Oklahoma State Cowboys [+1] [1-0] Normally, Gundy's prone for some awful OoC matchup, and I had figured it was gonna be this week. Guess he sobered up and took care of business.
13 Michigan Wolverines [-2] [1-0] Okay, listen - you guys aren't bad... on defense. And you played a decent opponent in Fresno State. But that QB play... woof. "Needs improvement" is an understatement. At least you're not relying on DJU?
14 USC Trojans [NEW] [1-0] I apologize new DC D'Anton Lynn, I was not familiar with your game. Great win and a strong defensive showing, as well as the typically dynamic QB play we've come to expect out of a Lincoln Riley team.
15 Boston College Eagles [NEW] [1-0] If USC had a great win, y'all broke a team in half for yours. It was honestly kind of inspiring watching the work done in the trenches as Castellanos makes a run down the left side, scoring a touchdown, and so that'll be a 28-13 scoreline...
16 Louisville Cardinals [+3] [1-0] I get that you may not be the biggest fan of a Democratic Governor, judging by voting demographics. That doesn't mean you get to take out your frustrations on a team filled with Governors from your neighboring state. Quite rude of you, really.
17 Iowa Hawkeyes [+1] [1-0] BREAKING NEWS: Iowa Football has scored an offensive touchdown (more than 1, even!). I repeat, the Iowa Hawkeyes have scored multiple offensive touchdowns.
18 Tennessee Volunteers [-1] [1-0] Scoring 69 points (nice) is pretty damn impressive until you remember it was just FCS UT-Chattanooga. But at least you've proven your UT-system superiority once again. Well, at least you did east of the Mississippi.
19 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets [NEW] [2-0] Prior to Monday, I was going to have my Jackets higher and wax some poetic bullshit about how Brent Key is secretly the next Saban and Haynes King the next Brady. I'll hold off on that until we find out whether the entire conference is filled with frauds and/or FSU stops being terrible. Also, that Georgia State game was closer than the scoreline would indicate. Still gonna be biased, but this is a very nervy ranking that could easily be gone by next Sunday.
20 Vanderbilt Commodores [NEW] [1-0] Is Vanderbilt really better than Kansas, Kansas State, or any of the other P5 teams in the Honorable Mentions section? Maybe (probably) not. Do they have any realistic shot at the Playoffs? Not in the SEC. Is this an overreaction to one game? Absolutely. Is it justified by the sheer hilarity of them knocking off an ACC darkhorse in a stadium under construction with students seeing them play for probably the first time ever? 100%. I will broker no arguments - rank Vandy, cowards.
21 Memphis Tigers [+1] [1-0] Well, brutalizing an FCS school is never a bad way to start off the year. Plus, all of the sudden, that FSU game looks a lot more winnable now. In addition, Boise State had some issues with Georgia Southern... so congrats Memphis, you're the top G5 rated team right now. Try not to choke it away, like a potential B12 invite.
22 Boise State Broncos [-1] [1-0] On the bright side, your offense is humming. On the downside... that defense needs some work, to put it lightly. 56 points scored should not ever mean you only won by 11. Although, it might be enough to continue your undefeated record against the Ducks, if Idaho was any indication...
23 Appalachian State Mountaineers [-] [1-0] You probably let ETSU hang around for just a bit too long to justify you moving up, but winning by 28 against an FCS school is still a decent result, if not ideal. The real test is a wounded Clemson team this upcoming Saturday; win that, and you've got potentially one of the biggest resume-boosters in your cap, if Clemson does what it does best - win the ACC.
24 Toledo Rockets [-] [1-0] Duquesne isn't exactly a premier FCS opponent, but they did make the Playoffs last year (even if they got blown out by Youngstown State), so it's not a terrible win by that standard. Still need to be better if you want a shot at moving up and at the 3 G5 teams ahead of you in the current pecking order.
25 Sam Houston Bearkats [NEW] [1-0] Woah, SHSU didn't lose to food. In fact... are you guys finally winning the games you control instead of painfully choking them away? You won by 20 away from home! Sure it was just a jaunt across the street by Texas standards, but going out and dominating a bowl-bound team from last year in a better conference is a strong sign. Remind UCF that the Citronaut is a superior mascot to the Knight, and there's a path for C-USA to once again claim the guaranteed NY6/Playoff G5 spot.

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