Highlights from the ballot …
We’ve taken the preseason ballot and commenced the revision process, so that (eventually) the order will match the in-season results.
The problem, of course, is that so many results are meaningless because of the competition.
Even the premium matchups — such as they are — leave uncertainty.
Auburn’s comeback victory over Oregon was one of the most impressive wins of the weekend. But are they top-10 teams?
Itap unknowable until more evidence is available.
(We’ll have to wait several weeks for both teams, given their soft schedules over the coming fortnight.)
This much we know: Significant revisions are necessary on a week-to-week basis to remove preseason bias.
It typically takes until late September to gather enough meaty results to create a representative ballot.
This week, I slotted Clemson in the top spot, ahead of Alabama, for no good reason — the Tigers seem a bit better now, but who knows?
Bottom line: They deserve the top spots, in whatever order, until proven otherwise.
As for Pac-12 teams …
I kept Utah in the No. 6 spot — no reason to drop them after the dominant win over BYU — and slotted Oregon just behind Auburn.
(Seems to me that wherever Auburn lands on the ballots this week, the Ducks should be one spot below.)
Stanford, Washington and Washington State are all in the No. 15 – 21 range.
Once the AP poll is released Tuesday morning, I’ll tweet out each Pac-12 team’s poll position compared to its placement on my ballot.
Seems like an easy way to add transparency and context.
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
5. LSU
6. Utah
7. Michigan
8. Auburn
9. Oregon
10. Texas
11. Notre Dame
12. Ohio State
13. Florida
14. Michigan State
15. Stanford
16. Boise State
17. Wisconsin
18. Washington
19. Syracuse
20. Nebraska
21. Washington State
22. Cincinnati
23. Penn State
24. Iowa State
25. Texas A&M
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