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Ralph RussoThe Athletic (Brooklyn, NY)
Twitter: @ralphDrussoATH
About: Ralph Russo is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, covering college football. Before joining The Athletic, he spent 20 years as the lead national college football writer for The Associated Press. He also previously worked as the AP's Mississippi-based sports writer and did a stint with The Denver Post. Ralph is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Fordham University.


Ballot Score

-18

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Aug 11, 2025Pre-Season Rankings for Ralph Russo
1Texas (25)
0-0Actual: 1
Highest: 1 - 25 Voters
Lowest: 6 - 2 Voters
1552
Points
2Penn State (23)
0-0Actual: 2
Highest: 1 - 23 Voters
Lowest: 6 - Jerry Humphrey
1547
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
3Alabama
0-0Actual: 8
Highest: 2 - Javon Edmonds
Lowest: 23 - Kevin Carter
1179
Points
4Ohio State (11)
0-0Actual: 3
Highest: 1 - 11 Voters
Lowest: 9 - Kirk Bohls
1472
Points
5Georgia (1)
0-0Actual: 5
Highest: 1 - Brett McMurphy
Lowest: 10 - 3 Voters
1331
Points
6Clemson (4)
0-0Actual: 4
Highest: 1 - 4 Voters
Lowest: 11 - Jamal St.
1398
Points
7Notre Dame
0-0Actual: 6
Highest: 2 - 2 Voters
Lowest: 9 - 2 Voters
1325
Points
8LSU
0-0Actual: 9
Highest: 3 - Pete Yanity
Lowest: 13 - Damien Sordelett
1174
Points
9Oregon (1)
0-0Actual: 7
Highest: 1 - Jamal St.
Lowest: 9 - 12 Voters
1236
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
10Texas A&M
0-0Actual: 19
Highest: 10 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - 9 Voters
434
Points
11Michigan
0-0Actual: 14
Highest: 9 - Pete Yanity
Lowest: NR - 3 Voters
662
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
12Oklahoma
0-0Actual: 18
Highest: 8 - David Jablonski
Lowest: NR - 12 Voters
463
Points
13Kansas State
0-0Actual: 17
Highest: 12 - 4 Voters
Lowest: NR - 4 Voters
512
Points
14Florida
0-0Actual: 15
Highest: 6 - Jon Wilner
Lowest: NR - 8 Voters
626
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
15Miami (FL)
0-0Actual: 10
Highest: 4 - Brian Fonseca
Lowest: NR - Damien Sordelett
889
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
16Arizona State
0-0Actual: 11
Highest: 8 - 3 Voters
Lowest: NR - Chad Bishop
791
Points
17Indiana
0-0Actual: 20
Highest: 11 - Andy Yamashita
Lowest: NR - 6 Voters
423
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
18Illinois
0-0Actual: 12
Highest: 9 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - 4 Voters
713
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
19Utah
0-0Actual: 27
Highest: 10 - Trevor Hass
Lowest: NR - 44 Voters
144
Points
20Texas Tech
0-0Actual: 23
Highest: 11 - Jon Wilner
Lowest: NR - 18 Voters
274
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
21South Carolina
0-0Actual: 13
Highest: 10 - 4 Voters
Lowest: NR - 7 Voters
667
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
22Louisville
0-0Actual: 29
Highest: 15 - Jon Wilner
Lowest: NR - 38 Voters
90
Points
23Ole Miss
0-0Actual: 21
Highest: 12 - 2 Voters
Lowest: NR - 13 Voters
370
Points

EXTREME PICK

This pick is 5+ spots from the actual ranking.
24SMU
0-0Actual: 16
Highest: 12 - 5 Voters
Lowest: NR - Chad Bishop
565
Points
25Boise State
0-0Actual: 25
Highest: 11 - Kirk Kenney
Lowest: NR - 22 Voters
191
Points
Ranked Teams Not on Ballot: 22-Iowa State24-Tennessee