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AJ_CC Ballot for 2025 Preseason

Ballot Type: Human

Submitted: Aug. 18, 2025, 5:05 p.m.

Overall Rationale: Pre-season is always very hard to judge, it's hard to find a good balance between last year's performances, retention, transfers, freshmen classes and player development. For the most part I went with the teams I felt had the highest floors, with a few exceptions for some heavy transfer teams (Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Memphis) who I think brought in the right talent to be worthwhile and some teams that I strongly believe will have resurgences after down years (Utah, Washington). Penn State is the one team in the nation that doesn't really seem vulnerable to a potential let down. Maybe a couple other teams could punch higher, but they're the only team I look at and say I'm 100% confident they make the playoffs. I almost put Clemson in the 2 spot, but ultimately had more respect for Ohio State's consistency/status as reigning national champion even though their turnover makes me question them as a number 1. I may have underrated a few teams like Indiana and Ole Miss (plus Michigan and Tennessee who I left off), who I could easily see have much stronger seasons then some of the teams above them, but feel very vulnerable to me for a total collapse, that ultimately I find more likely, than their similar quality peers. Those last few spots are the hardest, I gave decent consideration to quite a few other schools, but I feel satisfied with my picks.

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