thatoneguyD13 Ballot for 2025 Preseason
Ballot Type: Human
Submitted: Aug. 18, 2025, 12:32 p.m.
Overall Rationale: Early season rankings are based largely on expected results versus other ranked teams, and as the season goes leans more heavily on actual resume. By the end of the season, rankings are based entirely on resume. I lean heavily into head to head results and results against common opponents. I also sort teams into 6 tiers based on championship/playoff likelihood. Tier 1: Championship Frontrunners, near lock to make playoffs Tier 2: Championship Contenders with excellent chance of making playoffs Tier 3: Decent possibility to make playoffs, unlikely to compete for championship Tier 4: Outside playoff shot Tier 5: Unlikely to make playoffs but not quite eliminated Tier 6: No shot at playoffs
| Rank | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
Tier 1. Hugely talented on both sides of the ball with a QB that is expected to be elite. |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
Tier 1. Maybe the most talented team in the country but a lot of new faces. |
| 3 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
Tier 1. All the pieces are there. Can they overcome the final hurdle? |
| 4 |
Clemson Tigers
|
Tier 1. Top tier QB, top tier Offensive and Defensive lines, top tier coach. Recipe for a Title. |
| 5 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
Tier 2. Solid talent on both sides of the ball, but also few question marks, especially at QB. |
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
Tier 2. Another team with lots of talent but lots of new faces. |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
Tier 2. It's Bama. |
| 8 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
Tier 2. |
| 9 |
LSU Tigers
|
Tier 3 |
| 10 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
Tier 3. Defense will be good for sure but offense is still a question, even with Underwood. |
| 11 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
Tier 3 |
| 12 |
Florida Gators
|
Tier 4 |
| 13 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
Tier 4. This team is more than Skattebo. My pick for the Big 12. |
| 14 |
Kansas State Wildcats
|
Tier 4 |
| 15 |
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
Tier 4. Really interesting. Could be a playoff team could fall out of the top 25 entirely. |
| 16 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
Tier 4 |
| 17 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
Tier 4. Schedule sets up well and some really good players. |
| 18 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
Tier 4 |
| 19 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
Tier 4. Google em. |
| 20 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
Tier 4 |
| 21 |
Utah Utes
|
Tier 4 |
| 22 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
Tier 4 |
| 23 |
Boise State Broncos
|
Tier 4 |
| 24 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
Tier 4 |
| 25 |
SMU Mustangs
|
Tier 4 |
Teams Ranked:
| Rank | Team | Unusualness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas Longhorns
|
0.11 |
| 2 |
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
0.00 |
| 3 |
Penn State Nittany Lions
|
0.00 |
| 4 |
Clemson Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 5 |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
0.00 |
| 6 |
Oregon Ducks
|
0.00 |
| 7 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
0.00 |
| 8 |
Georgia Bulldogs
|
-0.47 |
| 9 |
LSU Tigers
|
0.00 |
| 10 |
Michigan Wolverines
|
0.60 |
| 11 |
Miami Hurricanes
|
0.00 |
| 12 |
Florida Gators
|
0.63 |
| 13 |
Arizona State Sun Devils
|
0.00 |
| 14 |
Kansas State Wildcats
|
0.30 |
| 15 |
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
0.00 |
| 16 |
Texas A&M Aggies
|
0.23 |
| 17 |
Illinois Fighting Illini
|
0.00 |
| 18 |
Oklahoma Sooners
|
0.32 |
| 19 |
Indiana Hoosiers
|
0.00 |
| 20 |
Tennessee Volunteers
|
0.00 |
| 21 |
Utah Utes
|
1.82 |
| 22 |
Ole Miss Rebels
|
-0.02 |
| 23 |
Boise State Broncos
|
0.00 |
| 24 |
Iowa State Cyclones
|
-0.10 |
| 25 |
SMU Mustangs
|
-0.99 |
Texas Tech Red Raiders