Posted: September 16, 2013

I now present the definitive Top 25 poll. Each week I will poll myself, tabulate the results, and then present them.

The number in () is last week’s ranking.

1. Alabama 2-0 (1)
2. Oregon 3-0 (2)
3. Florida State 2-0 (3)
4. Ohio State 3-0 (4)
5. LSU 3-0 (5)
6. Clemson 2-0 (6)
7. Georgia 1-1 (7)
8. Stanford 2-0 (8)
9. Texas A&M 2-1 (11)
10. Oklahoma State 3-0 (10)
11. South Carolina 2-1 (9)
12. UCLA 2-0 (20)
13. Miami 2-0 (12)
14. Washington 2-0 (13)
15. Baylor 2-0 (14)
16. Louisville 3-0 (16)
17. Oklahoma 3-0 (17)
18. Arizona State 2-0 (NR)
19. Mississippi 3-0 (22)
20. Wisconsin 2-1 (19)
21. Michigan 3-0 (15)
22. Northwestern 3-0 (24)
23. Notre Dame 2-1 (18)
24. Florida 1-1 (21)
25. Texas Tech 2-0 (NR)

Dropped: TCU (23), Nebraska (25)

As a reminder, this poll is based on who I think is the better team. In my opinion, a higher ranked team would beat a lower ranked team on a neutral field. It is not based on how they will finish the year or what the final record of each team will be. For example, if this poll was based on record and finish, I would have Louisville ranked higher because they have an excellent chance to go undefeated based on their schedule. But I have them ranked lower, because I do not believe they would beat the teams higher than them on a neutral field.

Note: There may be significant fluctuation to my rankings as I watch teams play, as my opinion of their ability to beat teams above and below them on a neutral field may change. I will not be simply sliding teams up and down based on if they win or lose, but rather reevaluating my opinion each week. I believe this is how a poll should be done.