Posted: January 7, 2014

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. The number in [] is my preseason ranking.

1. Florida State 14-0 (1) [3]
2. Auburn 12-2 (3) [-]
3. Michigan State 13-1 (4) [-]
4. Alabama 11-2 (2) [1]
5. Missouri 12-2 (6) [-]
6. South Carolina 11-2 (9) [5]
7. Oklahoma 11-2 (11) [15]
8. Stanford 11-3 (5) [10]
9. Oregon 11-2 (7) [2]
10. Clemson 11-2 (15) [14]
11. Ohio State 12-2 (10) [4]
12. LSU 10-3 (13) [8]
13. Central Florida 12-1 (19) [-]
14. Baylor 11-2 (8) [22]
15. Oklahoma State 10-3 (12) [11]
16. UCLA 10-3 (16) [-]
17. Louisville 12-1 (20) [20]
18. Texas A&M 9-4 (18) [16]
19. Southern California 10-4 (25) [9]
20. Arizona State 10-4 (14) [-]
21. Wisconsin 9-4 (17) [18]
22. Duke 10-4 (NR) [-]
23. Washington 9-4 (23) [-]
24. Vanderbilt 9-4 (NR) [-]
25. Nebraska 9-4 (NR) [24]

Dropped: Fresno State (21), Georgia (22), Northern Illinois (24)

Please keep in mind that 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 the traditional methods of polls in which record trumps all so an undefeated team from Padukah U. is ranked higher than a one loss SEC team. This is solely a measure of which team I think would win 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.