Breaking Down the Sickos November Top 25

November 03, 2023

As the Commish, I saw some outlets breaking down our Top 25 and attempting to explain why certain teams were ranked where. I figured since we are the Sickos Committee, we might as well do that too since we should be a Sickos Authority on this and we created this monster of a chaotic polling process. Let me give it a shot here to explain it somehow or at least give my thoughts.

  1. Iowa at Number 1 feels self explanatory. What more is there to be said? Championship Defense and Special teams, trying to drag along an under-performing offense. It’s just amazing how it kinda works and it’s just so fascinating to watch.

  2. Brian Ferentz at Number 2. I mean they just informed the coordinator he is being let go at the end of the year but he gets to stay on to finish the year? Can’t recall another coordinator being allowed to stay to finish out the year but the situation is weird overall anyway.

  3. Georgia Tech at Number 3 feels right. They’ve alternated wins and losses all year with an insane loss to Bowling Green, a miracle win over Miami due to Miami forgetting to kneel and then they upset North Carolina.

  4. The Big Ten West at Number 4 is a perennial power. Also, it’s the last year we get to savor the Big Ten West before the insane Conference Realignment comes to take our joy. Who will win this division for the last time and then face the giant buzz saw coming from the Big Ten East?

  5. Sam Houston at Number 5. The Bearkats are new to FBS and are still looking for their first win. They’ve got agonizingly close so many times but cannot seem to close out a game to get the win. We’re all rooting for you Sam Houston and hope you get your first win soon.

  6. Connor Stalions at Number 6. Yeah the hottest scandal going in all of College Football. It was going to make the poll. Do I have any opinions on the scandal? Nope. Y’all can ask other people about it.

  7. James Madison at Number 7. The Dukes are undefeated and the NCAA won’t let them play in a bowl game due to a ridiculously outdated transition rule. I feel this is a vote to protest for the James Madison fans. Although the Dukes do play some close games as 5 out of their 8 wins were in one possession games.

  8. Nebraska at Number 8. This feels like Nebraska is slowly righting the ship but they’re still trying to shake the Frost out of the walls. They are one win away from Bowl Eligibility for the first time since 2016.

  9. Colorado at Number 9. Coach Prime a little down mid-season and trying to survive a harder schedule with out much of an offensive line. Still an outside chance at a bowl game.

  10. Clemson at Number 10. 4-4 and with 4 losses for the first time since 2010. Dabo having a rivalry with someone named Tyler from Spartanburg in a call in show surely helped the rankings here.

  11. Air Force at Number 11. An undefeated service academy warrants ranking because the Committee supports the troops. The Falcons have been doing great with only one of their wins less than double digits.

  12. USC at Number 12. I don’t know if you heard but USC doesn’t have a great defense and they are keeping their Defensive Coordinator. So this will likely keep happening. It’s interesting to watch. Was the Grink there?

  13. Michigan State at Number 13. A program in turmoil. Coach fired for sexual harassment and I am not skilled enough to fully discuss here, so I will let others handle. Blew a 24-6 4th Quarter lead to Rutgers.

  14. Kansas at Number 14th. Bowl Eligible. Beat Oklahoma for the first time since 1997. Threw more goalposts into Potter Lake. Just a fun program turnaround to watch.

  15. Michigan at Number 15. This is likely all Stalions related because they’ve been mowing teams down on the field.

  16. Northwestern at Number 16. 4-4 right now after their Coach was fired for off the field reasons due to an alleged hazing program. Skip Holtz is involved and they could make a bowl.

  17. UConn at Number 17. A down year after a magical bowl run. Lost numerous heart-breakers in tortuous fashion including having the tying extra point blocked.

  18. Rutgers at Number 18. *chants* BOWL ELIGIBLE RUTGERS, BOWL ELIGIBLE RUTGERS, BOWL ELIGIBLE RUTGERS, BOWL ELIGIBLE RUTGERS, BOWL ELIGIBLE RUTGERS

  19. Pitt at Number 19. Rough season for the Panthers. However, they had a blue vase come out to hold their negative thoughts and they upset undefeated Louisville somehow.

  20. Miami at Number 20. I feel like this is on the strength of not kneeling against Georgia Tech combined with the option to take Clemson and Virginia to overtime without trying to win when you could have. Then having that working and winning both in overtime.

  21. UMass at Number 21. Started the year off with a win at New Mexico State. Then lost seven in a row. Then defeated Army in true Minutemen fashion.

  22. Virginia at Number 22. Was the best winless team in FBS playing dramatic close games but coming out on the wrong side. Upset 10th ranked North Carolina in dramatic fashion on the CW and nearly beat Miami in OT.

  23. Minnesota at Number 23. Classic Big Ten West here. Skirt by Nebraska with a comeback win. Blow a 21 point 4th Quarter lead to Northwestern and lose in OT. Win over Iowa thanks to four field goals and the invalid fair catch call.

  24. Arizona at Number 24. Jedd Fisch’s Wildcats are very feisty and entertaining. Took Mississippi State to OT, beat Stanford by 1, nearly shocked Washington but lost by 7, lost in Triple OT to USC and just upset the Beavers.

  25. Pac-2 at Number 25. The two remaining Oregon State and Wazzu have had some interesting years but there is a fascination on what happens to them since they were left out of the shuffle. There is a weird by-law in the NCAA that could allow them to remain a conference with just two members for a few years while they try to handle the realignment fallout. We will always support both of these teams here in the Committee.

Now for a Full breakdown of the poll data category wise!

Shout out to Eb99 in our Patreon/Discord for the breakdown.

SICKOS POLL STATS TIME:

Top/Bottom Sickos Teams by Conference:

AAC: Charlotte (236)/Memphis (27)

ACC: Georgia Tech (3393)/Louisville (73)

B1G: Iowa (10950)/Ohio St. (108)

Big 12: Kansas (1221)/TCU (42)

C-USA: Sam Houston (2418)/Middle Tennessee (19)

Indy: UConn (995)/Notre Dame (62)

MAC: Akron (323)/Western Michigan (28)

MWC: Air Force (1471)/San Jose St. (14)

P12: Colorado (1871)/UCLA (17 - LEAST SICKOS P5)

SEC: Arkansas (516)/Tennessee (41)

Sun Belt: James Madison (2119)/Troy (5 - LEAST SICKOS FBS)

Top 5 FCS:

  1. Idaho (400)

  2. South Dakota St. (110)

  3. Idaho St. (99)

  4. Indiana St. (57)

  5. North Dakota St. (57)

Top 5 Non-D1 Colleges/High Schools/Non-Football FCS:

  1. Mount Allison Mounties (165)

  2. Colorado School of Mines (119)

  3. Franklin College (62)

  4. Finlandia (55)

  5. Rochester (48)

Top 5 Non-CFB Teams:

  1. Chicago Bears (257)

  2. New York Giants (132)

  3. Carolina Panthers (104)

  4. Denver Broncos (92)

  5. New York Jets (88)

Top Other Sports

  • Top MLB: Philadelphia Phillies (25)

  • Top NBA: Washington Wizards (11)

  • Top NHL: San Jose Sharks (44)

  • Top MLS: New York Red Bulls (11)

  • Top Soccer: AFC Ajax (79)

  • Top CBB: Louisville MBB (50)

  • Top PL: Manchester United (13)

Top 5 Individuals:

  1. Brian Ferentz (4357)

  2. Connor Stalions (2268)

  3. Kirk Ferentz (342)

  4. Alex Grinch (332)

  5. Dabo Swinney (219)

Top 5 Conferences/Divisions/Related Concepts:

  1. B1G West (2480)

  2. Pac-2 (671)

  3. Pac-12 (475)

  4. MACtion (240)

  5. B1G Refs (179)

 Top 5 Concepts/Non-Team Inanimate Objects:

  1. The CW (434)

  2. Teletubbies (373)

  3. Sickos Committee (253)

  4. Snowballs (242)

  5. Invalid Fair Catch (134)

Thank you for voting and we will be back in a few weeks with our final poll of the season!