Ballot Type: Computer
Submitted: Nov. 18, 2024, 2:36 a.m.
Overall Rationale: Though I'm sure this ballot will be high on unusualness again, I am generally happy with it and only really unhappy about Louisiana and Wazzu. UNLV seems a bit high imo too. Otherwise, I think it did well. The ranking system I use is automated, but requires a lot of manual input of data, so I try to limit the iterations I let it run in. The ranking works by assigning each team both a score and a tier. The tier is simple, based simply on the number of losses. Within a tier, a team gets a score based on ranks and for losses, rank of opponents, Vegas, and W-L upsets. Estimates are also calculated for top performers of each tier to see if they may be better than team in the tier above. W-L takes priority over everything else and creates a phenomena I called adoption, where teams with a HTH in a tier may adopt a team if the opponent who lost has a higher within rank score, creating certain limits. Basically functions like classic inheritance in computer programming. All of this is then optimized through SCF for rank consistency with iteration, though this is rarely to cycle limits. Finally, I occasionally intervene through direct challenges between teams where extended HTH of minimal distance is considered to directly compare teams. Since this is tedious with my current build, I only do so if something appears truly egregious and have time.
Rank | Team | Reason |
---|---|---|
1 | Army West Point | If you told me at the beginning of the season I would be ranking Army #1 near the end of the season, I would think my poll was absolutely corrupted. My model however does not lie, and Army is considered the best team. To the best of my model's knowledge, the team has not shown a weakness this entire season and so unlike Indiana (sketchy against Michigan) and Oregon (sketchy against tOSU and Boise State) (note: both these are not indictments on the other teams, just that they have been tested while Army has not). Up next #16 Notre Dame to see if my model's insane decision is worthwhile or stupid. |
2 | Indiana Hoosiers | Rested. Onward to #7 Ohio State for an unexpectedly spectacular game. |
3 | Oregon Ducks | A very sketchy victory against Wisconsin, but they survive and advance. Now a bye. |
4 | Boise State Broncos | Looked shaky at half, but shook it off and cruised by a solid SJSU team. Up next a hopefully easy game against Wyoming. |
5 | UNLV Rebels | Yep, these Rebels are top 5. As I stated earlier they have been nothing short of impressive. An overtime loss to Syracuse is the only thing keeping them out of other people's minds. I am not so biased. Played well against Boise State. Up next, a solid SJSU team. |
6 | BYU Cougars | Finally fell to the same Kansas team that took down ISU last week. Up next a battle for control of the Big XII against #17 Arizona State. |
7 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Cruises right by Northwestern. Up next a battle for the B1G title game, with Indiana. |
8 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Cruised by Purdue. Up next Minnesota. |
9 | Texas Longhorns | Less than convincing win against Arkansas, but a win is a win. Up next Kentucky. |
10 | Ole Miss Rebels | Rested. Up next a Florida team hot off an LSU win. |
11 | Miami Hurricanes | Rested. Up next Wake Forest. |
12 | Tulane Green Wave | Defeats Navy in style to liberated in a catapult after KSU drops. Up next Memphis. |
13 | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | Loss to USA is real bad. Inertia keeps them here for now, but they won't hold it for long, I think. |
14 | SMU Mustangs | Defeats Boston College to keep rolling toward the ACC title game. Up next UVA. |
15 | Duke Blue Devils | Rested. I will defend this position by noting that losses have only been to #11 and #14, as well as a solid Georgia Tech team. I can't defend them being better than Notre Dame or ASU, but the SEC circle-of-suck is full of **it and can't just cry SOS to say it is better. Best of Tier 4, clearing SCar with better losses. |
16 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Defeats UVA with ease in spite of a comedy of penalties. Up next #1 Army. WTF. |
17 | Arizona State Sun Devils | Defeats KSU to prove they are legit to everyone but me, who already knew it. Up next #6 BYU for the Big XVI or something. |
18 | Georgia Bulldogs | Defeats Tennessee creating a circle-of-suck in Tier 3. Never seen one at the top. Resolved by pointage. Up next... UMass? Have mercy UGA! |
19 | Tennessee Volunteers | Losses to Georgia like the terrible team they are. Up next UTEP. |
20 | Alabama Crimson Tide | Defeats an FCS team. Big whoop. Up next an equally impressive Oklahoma cupcake. |
21 | South Carolina Gamecocks | Defeats Mizzou to climb into the rankings in-spite of the losses. Up next a cupcake. |
22 | Washington State Cougars | Where is you playoff contention? Oh, obviously smashed by the University of New Mexico lmao. Probably will fall more once the SCF finishes the punishment. Up next the Pac-12 CCG. |
23 | Texas A&M Aggies | Licked off wounds by killing NMSU. Up next Auburn. Basically ranked the whole SEC. |
24 | Colorado Buffaloes | Defeats Utah to convince the world after KSU falls off the face of the Earth. Up next a feisty Kansas that continues toppling the Big XII power lords. |
25 | Iowa State Cyclones | Defeats Cincinatti to stay in despite SCF from the last two weeks. Up next a Utah team I am concerned about. [Omissions: Clemson #26, points honestly, with Louisville fall hurting. Doesn't help that Wazzu and Louisiana have too much inertia. Illinois #29, still for Minnesota loss and honestly other teams are definitely better.] |
Teams Ranked:
Rank | Team | Unusualness |
---|---|---|
1 | Army West Point | 2.13 |
2 | Indiana Hoosiers | 0.20 |
3 | Oregon Ducks | -0.77 |
4 | Boise State Broncos | 1.24 |
5 | UNLV Rebels | 8.73 |
6 | BYU Cougars | 1.06 |
7 | Ohio State Buckeyes | -3.15 |
8 | Penn State Nittany Lions | -0.14 |
9 | Texas Longhorns | -1.33 |
10 | Ole Miss Rebels | 0.00 |
11 | Miami Hurricanes | 0.00 |
12 | Tulane Green Wave | 2.29 |
13 | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | 12.08 |
14 | SMU Mustangs | -0.37 |
15 | Duke Blue Devils | 10.17 |
16 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | -2.43 |
17 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 0.70 |
18 | Georgia Bulldogs | -2.36 |
19 | Tennessee Volunteers | -1.02 |
20 | Alabama Crimson Tide | -2.50 |
21 | South Carolina Gamecocks | -0.03 |
22 | Washington State Cougars | 0.57 |
23 | Texas A&M Aggies | -1.70 |
24 | Colorado Buffaloes | -2.31 |
25 | Iowa State Cyclones | -0.86 |