AP College Football Poll Voter Taking Heat for Ranking Florida State No. 1

The most interesting AP Poll of the year might be the one released after the first week of the season.

By this point, the initial rankings have been ingrained in fans’ minds for weeks. It’s the first opportunity to reevaluate college football’s pecking order based on data from the current season rather than last season, and the outsized importance of first impressions to voters can lead to giant rises and falls in the polls.

Brett McMurphy, a veteran college football reporter for the Action Network, was subject to one such first impression. In response to No. 8 Florida State’s dominant 45–24 win over No. 5 LSU in Orlando Sunday evening, McMurphy anointed the Seminoles the No. 1 team in the country.

My @AP_Top25 ballot
1 Florida State
2 Georgia
3 Michigan
4 Alabama
5 Washington
6 Penn St
7 Oregon
8 Ohio St
9 Notre Dame
10 Oregon State
11 USC
12 LSU
13 UNC
14 Tennessee
15 Duke
16 Ole Miss
17 UCLA
18 Utah
19 Texas
20 OU
21 Tulane
22 Wisconsin
23 Auburn
24 K-State
25 Louisville

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 5, 2023

It was an audacious selection that drew comment throughout the college football world.

Shockingly, Florida fans objected.

FSU at #1 is crazy 😭😂 https://t.co/jijHkOctC7

— CJ 🐊 (@GeorgiaGator93) September 5, 2023

Many protested the knee-jerk nature of McMurphy's selection.

I cant stand the “what have you done for me in that week” thing writers have when choosing rankings

Nobody with a brain thinks Florida State is a better team than Georgia. (At this moment) https://t.co/MpoNzN0zec

— Leland (@_LeIand_) September 5, 2023

Although many Florida State fans celebrated the pick, a few disagreed, with at least one pointing to the Seminoles’ treatment in 2014 as reason not to immediately disregard Georgia.

I think UGA dropping is insane and if you were mad at FSU dropping in 2014 you should agree lol https://t.co/8d8k1DLFED

— Henry (@seminole4life22) September 5, 2023

I appreciate the Seminole love, but no way should we be ranked ahead of UGA. Don't get me wrong. I love the FSU hype. I hate these early polls. https://t.co/reUCubkRzl

— Michelle 🔥🍢🏁 (@MBMNoles) September 5, 2023

Still, observers recognized that Florida State's return to glory was years in the making.

For the first time since the 2017 Preseason Poll, Florida State will receive at least 1 first place vote in the AP Poll. https://t.co/McAYZGa4tJ

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 5, 2023