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AP Voter Criticized for Elevating Florida, Leaving USF Unranked After Upset

Her choices diverge from AP guidance that emphasizes head-to-head results.

Overview

  • Haley Sawyer’s Week 3 ballot moved Florida up to No. 14 and left South Florida off entirely one day after USF’s 18-16 win in Gainesville.
  • The official AP Top 25 placed USF at No. 18 and dropped Florida from the rankings following the upset.
  • Sawyer declined to detail her methodology on a podcast, calling the poll an imperfect system and saying large voter participation tends to even outcomes.
  • Danny Kanell criticized the ballot on social media, calling it a rough look and urging voters to defend their choices.
  • Her ballot drew scrutiny for other placements, including ranking Baylor over Auburn despite Auburn’s head-to-head win, as the new poll also produced a record 11 SEC teams ranked.