Steppe’s Week 10 AP ballot: Colorado, Washington State get my vote for first time in 2024

IOWA CITY — Those hoping to see any drastic changes on my ballot for the AP Top 25 will have to wait at least another week.

Ranked teams went 10-0 against unranked teams in Week 9. Another five teams had byes. In the five games featuring two ranked teams, the higher-ranked team won in all but one game.

The only change in my top five was sliding Ohio State from No. 3 to No. 5 after its scare against unranked Nebraska. Fellow one-loss teams Georgia and Texas moved ahead of the Buckeyes, which will be seeking its first ranked win of the season next week against Penn State.

LSU took the biggest fall out of any team -- going from No. 9 to No. 15 -- after suffering its second loss of the season to Texas A&M. The only two-loss team I have ahead of the Tigers is Alabama at No. 14.

Illinois remained at No. 21 on my ballot after its loss to No. 1 Oregon, and Vanderbilt actually moved up on my ballot to No. 22 despite its loss to No. 5 Texas. The Illini remain one of four teams to have three-plus ranked wins this season. The fact Vanderbilt was essentially an onside kick away from potentially toppling Texas is quite impressive.

Three teams -- Missouri, Navy and Syracuse -- fell off my ballot. In Missouri’s two games against teams that remain ranked, the Tigers have been outscored, 75-10. Navy and Syracuse both faced sharp reality checks after suffering 37- and 28-point losses to ranked foes this week.

Army, Washington State and Colorado are on my ballot for the first time this season. Army is one of the eight undefeated teams remaining in college football, and Washington State’s lone loss against Boise State has looked better with time.

I was naturally skeptical of Colorado after its 4-8 season last year, but Deion Sanders has overseen quite the improvement in his second year in Boulder. At 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play, his Buffaloes still have an outside shot at contending for a Big 12 title and CFP berth.

Here is my full ballot ahead of the AP Poll’s release at 1 p.m. Central time:

John Steppe’s Week 10 AP ballot

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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