The Official OnsideKick.com Ballot Entry

OnsideKick.com, a newer college football site on which you can find my contributions covering the Pac-12 and Big Ten, hosts a Top 25 poll. Voters include some of the top college football bloggers on the net…and me. You can peruse the poll here, and get some insight into my ballot below. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. After all the abuse I have heaped on Top 25 voters over the years, it’s only fair the tables are turned.

1. LSU: This was a no-brainer for me. The Tigers have beaten three teams ranked the week they met, and not one has been at home. I won’t toe the ESPN line of “three top 25 wins on the road,” since Jerry World was, for all intents and purposes, Death Valley, Texas in Week 1.

2. Alabama: The Tide rolled over Arkansas, imposing its will on the Razorbacks vaunted offense and showing some offensive potency on an experienced defense. For good measure, UA was also superior in special teams.

3. Oklahoma: OU looked drain early against a good Missouri team, letting the Tigers hang perhaps longer than they’d have been capable otherwise. Still, a solid conference win is a solid conference win. I expect the Sooners to make it to Stillwater and the season finale unscathed.

4. Boise State: No sweat against Tulsa, which is playing one of the most brutal non-conference schedules in the nation.

5. Wisconsin: The Badgers handled South Dakota in the way a reigning Big Ten champion should. UW

6. Stanford: The Cardinal stand pat with a bye week.

7. Oklahoma State: A tremendous road win proves this team’s mettle even without its offensive coordinator. Slowly but surely, an unbeaten showdown for the Bedlam Game is brewing.

8. Oregon: Since losing to LSU, the Ducks have been dominant. LaMichael James was a one-man show against Arizona.

9. Florida: Perhaps higher than most voters in any poll have the Gators, but this team has looked great under Will Muschamp. John Brantley is thriving under Charlie Weis’s offensive guidance, and the defense is its typically talented Gator self.

10. Nebraska: The win at Wyoming was uglier than the score might indicate, but the Cornhuskers got the job done emphatically. Rex Burkhead is quietly having a fantastic season, but if he can lead a win in Camp Randall, the volume will increase exponentially.

11. South Carolina: The Gamecocks are getting quite adept at winning ugly. USCEast’s offense was lackluster, but the defense was historically good against previously unbeaten Vandy.

12. Clemson: Like Florida, perhaps higher than the average pollster’s positioning. Clemson flipped what has been its usual script, starting fast against FSU and needing to hold on late. Yet no matter the means, the end is positive for the Tigers. Personally I hope the Tigers continue winning to keep getting those awesome Dabo Swinney post-game interviews.

13. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are a young team still learning, and that’s evident in ho-hum final scores against sub-par competition. Still, 4-0 for a Frank Beamer-coached team.

14. USF: BJ Daniels’ maturation continues, and the Bulls keep piling on the points. Defense has been this program’s hallmark dating back to 2006, but this year is showing some offensive chops.

15. Baylor: Robert Griffin III just might be my Heisman frontrunner at present time. The Bears had no trouble gobbling up Rice.

16. Michigan: This is a familiar scene, Michigan cruising in September. The past two seasons have featured the Wolverines falling off dramatically, but today’s domination of a good San Diego State team suggests the dawning of a new day.

17. Texas A&M: The Aggies let a seemingly sure home win slip away, but it’s difficult to dock a squad losing to a top 10 opponent by one too heavily, regardless of circumstance.

18. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are off to their first 4-0 since the 1990 national championship season. Paul Johnson’s triple option is a joyful sight when Tevin Washington, Orwin Smith and Roddy Jones are running it with fluidity, and the defensive duo of Jason Peters and Jeremiah Attachou (3 sacks today) are tough to block.

19. Texas: The Longhorns were idle, but their defeat of BYU looks more impressive after the Cougars beat UCF Friday.

20. Arkansas: This is still a good team capable of winning double-digit games, but today the Razorbacks were simply not the same caliber as their Tide counterparts.

21. West Virginia: The Mountaineers shot themselves in the foot with a pick-six and special teams touchdown surrendered.

22. Illinois: No unbeaten has won uglier, but what do you expect from a Ron Zook-coached team?

23. Arizona State: The Sun Devils’ impressive win over USC proved that this program is turning a corner.

24. Notre Dame: I probably will, and rightfully, catch heat for this one given other teams have better records. But since its 0-2 start (both to top 20, undefeated teams by single digits) the Irish have beaten two quality opponents. Today’s defeat of Pitt was ugly, but a road W nonetheless.

25. Florida State: Tough decision, but Florida State’s a top 25 team, end of story. I suspect the Seminoles will go 7-1 the rest of the way and be in the hunt for the ACC Championship.

Considered: TCU, won three straight but the last two have been lackluster.
Michigan State, could not in good conscience rank Sparty ahead of Notre Dame after UND trucked MSU.
Kansas State, undefeated with a decent road win but still not quite sold.
Temple, a win over Penn State would have done the trick.
Washington, won a hard fought conference contest over Cal, but not quite there yet.