While it’s ranked the second most irregular ballot, the eye test would easily mark it as the most irregular by a long shot. Today, we’ll be analysing and reviewing The Loyal Sons’ ballot in all its glory.
The median score of a Pod Poll ballot on the irregularity index came in at 29.4, The Loyal Sons’ ballot crashed through the gates with a whopping 76.0. Arguably more surprising is that there is still the number one ballot left to be looked at.
The Loyal Sons, a podcast which covers Pitt athletics, took multiple hardline stances and made controversial decisions on their ballot. So controversial, in fact, that it remains the only ballot in the inaugural Podcaster Poll which received a complaint. And, on face value, the complaint was fairly justified. Pitt at 2? Wofford in the top 25? But today we’ll hear some reasoning and, hopefully, get some of those much wanted answers.
The Loyal Sons’ Ballot:
- Georgia
- Pitt
- Clemson
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Florida State
- USC
- LSU
- North Carolina
- Washington
- Oregon
- TCU
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- Tennessee
- Tulane
- Oregon State
- Mississippi State
- Texas
- Duke
- NC State
- JMU
- Ohio
- Wofford
At number three on the loyal sons’ ballot sits Clemson, this is alone as the highest place received by Clemson. So the question stands on whether or not Clemson can bounce back from a disappointing stretch of missing playoff berth. Clemson now has to contend with a UNC team with their veteran starter in Drake Maye along with a revitalized FSU program ready to reclaim its place on the podium of the ACC. Despite this, The Loyal Sons are confident that Dabo can bounce back and keep its spot as one of the foremost football teams in the country, behind Pitt of course,”Cade Klubnick + Will Shipley + the guy that made Max Duggan a star will be enough for Clemson to run the table until they get their heads kicked off by Pitt in the ACCCG.” Here the pods are polarized on whether FSU sweeps through the ACC or Clemson retains their power. The loyal sons are firmly in Clemson’s camp and are among the Dabo faithful, but they maintain their highest pick in the ACC as being the eventual champions, Pitt.
Hopefully that’s enough stalling ahead of possibly the boldest pick of the Podcaster Poll: The Pittsburgh Panthers at number two. New additions at quarterback seem to be poised to secure the number one and two positions for quarterback including a local prospect who originally went to Notre Dame, Phil Jurkovec. The running back room is set to have one of the premier running backs in the nation at the front with a very capable Notre Dame transfer behind him in Rodney Hammond Jr. and C’Bo Flemister. Further, the receiving corps is bolstered by a promising Bub Means and Konata Mumpfeild. But, as with any Pitt team, the focus is the defense. The defense promises to be another lineup of game wreckers with a strong secondary and line. The loyal sons waxed poetic in their explanation of the situation,”The legends foretold of a day when the gods would descend from Mt. Olympus and live amongst mere mortals, uniting in blood and brotherhood to bring glory back to the men of Hellen. The stories called them by Zeus, Ares, Poseidon, Haphæstus, and Apollo. But today, we know them by different names: Jurkovec, Hammond, Hayes, Devonshire, and Mumpfield. The hour is nigh and their justice shall be without mercy.” Many Pitt fans are weary of having high hopes for a transfer quarterback following Kedon Slovis’ performance in the 2022 season, but even then they went on to win nine games and secure a two year stretch with twenty total wins. While there isn’t a stand out superstar apparent on the Panthers roster, The Loyal Sons see this as a team which could stand out as the greatest Pitt team since ‘76 and one which is ready to make its mark. Certainly there is bias in their assessment of Pitt’s strength, but anything is possible in today’s world of college football.
One notable team left off The Loyal Sons’ ballot was Miami, this isn’t uncommon but the podcast predicts strong ACC play having ranked Pitt, Clemson, UNC, FSU, and Duke. The past few years have been some of the worst in Miami’s program history, and we asked if they expect that to continue despite Mario Cristobal’s best efforts,”Yes because it’s a broken program. Cristobal has a terrible track record with getting the most out of talented QBs and I think The U already has buyer’s remorse. That team fully gave up last season and I don’t think paying a bunch of high-end recruits fixes the culture problem.” Despite what The Loyal Sons see as one of the strongest ACCs in recent memory, they don’t see Miami taking the next step alongside their conference rivals.
The ballot included James Madison at number 23, so The Loyal Sons see a continuation of their success. Comparatively, the ESPN FPI predicts that JMU’s miracle season in 2022 was a one off fluke, we asked about what TLS thought about that assessment and they mirrored the beliefs of fans nationwide, in particular Pitt fans,”Fuck FPI. Me and all my friends hate FPI.”
Coming in at number 24 for The Loyal Sons was the Ohio Bobcats. The team went 10-4 (7-1) in the 2022 season and lost 17-7 in the MAC championship, this turnaround was stark when next to Ohio’s 3-9 (3-5) season in 2021. The team remains strong with only one major question on everyone’s mind: can it stay healthy. Ohio is poised for greatness and, according to The Loyal Sons,”If Kurtis Rourke adequately recovers from his late-season ACL tear, they cut through the MAC like a knife and he gains very very serious Draft buzz.” 2023 might just be Ohio’s year and the question looms as to whether or not an undefeated Ohio, which would hold wins over SDSU and Iowa State, could sneak their way into the playoff race. More likely, they lose a couple of thrillers and find themselves entering a NY6 bowl ready to win its first in program history.
Last but certainly not least, we take a look at Wofford. Wofford is coming off a more than disappointing season. Wofford won the Southern Conference title three consecutive years from 2017-2019 followed by a downward spiral culminating in an 0-5 start in 2022 capping off a 15 game losing streak which lead to the head coach of five seasons, Josh Conklin, resigning from his position just two years after receiving the distinction of league coach of the year. Interim head coach Shawn Watson, who is notable for leading a powerful Louisville offense to victory over number four Florida in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, took the reins following this and led the team to finish the season on a 3-3 run. Following his performance the Terriers dropped his interim tag and named him the head coach going forward. Of Wofford’s four coordinators, three are entering their second season and one, co-defensive coordinator Rob Greene, is entering his fourth. This team is entering a difficult season where they will have to contend with four teams which ended ranked in the STATS poll in 2022 including Samford who in 2022 fell only to FBS Georgia and NDSU in the FCS quarterfinals finishing seventh in the STATS poll and Furman who fell only to FBS Clemson, Samford, and Incarnate Word in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Furman finished tenth in the STATS poll. Wofford will have a tough season ahead of them. Shawn Watson has the potential to soar and is a well respected offensive mind and quarterbacks coach. The Loyal Sons certainly believe in his system saying,”If you don’t know ball, just say that.”
The Loyal Sons made some bold predictions and interesting choices, and time may prove them right. It remains to be seen whether Clemson can hold its own against a rising Florida State and whether Wofford can piece itself back together and return to its former glory as seven time Southern Conference champions.
Go check out The Loyal Sons Podcast to hear more from them about their interesting opinions.
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