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Effective-Lead-6657 Ballot for 2024 Week 12

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Nov. 11, 2024, 9:21 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Out: #13 Iowa State; #16 Pitt; #19 LSU

Rank Team Reason
1 Oregon Ducks (-) Oregon met expectations with a comprehensive win over Maryland. They still have the best win in the nation, and as long as they remain undefeated will likely stay in the top spot.
2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-) The Buckeyes dominated an awful Purdue squad. Ohio State is one second away from being the best team in the nation.
3 Indiana Hoosiers (-) Three spots. Three B10 schools. Indiana finally played a won score game but came out on top against a feisty Michigan team. I don't see a world in which the Hoosiers miss the playoffs even if they lose to Ohio State
4 Alabama Crimson Tide (+3) This might seem high for a two loss team but hear me out. The Crimson Tide dominated a good LSU team this weekend and have one of the toughest schedule in college football so far. I think the will get passed up in the coming weeks, as they have no more difficult games remaining, and the teams below them still have opportunities for marquee wins.
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+1) I know Florida State is bad, but that was just embarrassing. This team would probably be #1 if it weren't for the loss to NIU.
6 Texas Longhorns (-2) The Longhorns experienced a little bit of bye week slippage with huge wins for Mama and Notre Dame. Texas is on the inside track for an SEC title and has a chance for another statement win with A&M still on the schedule.
7 Penn State Nittany Lions (+2) Penn State has no good wins and will not have the opportunity for a good win. However, they've taken care of business resoundingly against the lesser competition, including Washington this past week, and their only loss is by a yard to the #2 team. Like OSU, this is a team one play away from #1.
8 BYU Cougars (-) The Cougars rank this low not because of record or schedule strength but because of how lucky they've been. They've looked like frauds in every single game they've played but still pull out the win every time. They are on fraud watch.
9 Miami Hurricanes (-4) The Canes have been on fraud watch for a while and were finally exposed by the coastal chaos. The ACC is looking like a won bid league, and Miami will likely have to win out to get it.
10 SMU Mustangs (+1) SMU is coming off of a bye and thanks to Miami's loss is now the only team undefeated in ACC play. I don't think an undefeated in conference record will be enough to put them in the playoffs though. They will likely have to win the conference title game.
11 Ole Miss Rebels (+6) Ole Miss might finally be able to hang with the big boys this year. Or Georgia might just be frauds. IDK. Regardless, the Rebels have no possible statement wins remaining and don't control their fate to make the conference championship game. They need to rely on the incompetence of SEC teams 13-16 to make the playoffs.
12 Boise State Broncos (-) The Broncos didn't make it easy for themselves against Nevada but are still a near lock to grab the G5 bid. They may even be able to get the bye if BYU fails to win the Big 12.
13 Texas A&M Aggies (+2) The Aggies are in tier two of the SEC alongside Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. Thankfully for the Aggies, they still have a chance for a statement win against Texas in a few weeks which would vault them ahead of Ole Miss and into the playoff.
14 Tennessee Volunteers (-) It's hard to take this team seriously after almost losing to Florida, but they are still very much in the playoff hunt. Their matchup with Georgia is looking like an elimination game.
15 Georgia Bulldogs (-5) I've been saying that the AP and CFP committee have been overrating this team. They beat Kentucky by only one point for christ's sake. They still have a real shot at the playoff with Tennessee on the schedule.
16 South Carolina Gamecocks (+4) Despite having three losses, the Gamecocks find themselves in the thick of the playoff race. With two ranked matchups remaining, South Carolina could pad their resume enough to make a jump into the top 12.
17 Louisville Cardinals (+4) The Cardinals are coming off of a bye. They have almost no shot to make the conference championship game and don't have a strong enough remaining schedule to jump the SEC schools barring supreme chaos.
18 Clemson Tigers (+4) The Tigers probably have a better shot at the playoff than Louisville with an inside track to the CCG and a shot for another marquee win against South Carolina.
19 Washington State Cougars (-1) The Cougars took care of business agains Utah State, and their only loss is to ranked BYU.
20 Army West Point (+3) Army remains undefeated with a win against UNT and has a shot at a playoff spot if they can beat Notre Dame and win the conference.
21 Colorado Buffaloes (NR) The Buffs took care of Texas Tech in the second half and remain on track to make the conference championship game. They'll need to win the conference if they want to make the playoff, and there's a world in which they still finish below Boise State and Army.
22 Missouri Tigers (NR) The Tigers took care of business against a disappointing Oklahoma team, but their lack of a ranked win puts them below the SEC teams at 11-16.
23 Kansas State Wildcats (+2) The Wildcats are coming off of a bye. They will need a lot of luck to make the playoffs.
24 Tulane Green Wave (-) Tulane dominated Temple this Saturday. Despite the two losses, Tulane as a shot at the playoffs if Boise State stumbles, and the Green Wave win the American.
25 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (NR) Louisiana had a big win over poor Sun Belt competition. They don't have any good wins, but their only loss is ranked. It seems only right to rank them as well.

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