The Associated Press college football poll, while a beloved tradition, is fundamentally flawed by its subjective and often uncritical voting process. The poll, comprised of sportswriters and broadcasters, is supposed to reflect a national consensus on the top teams, but it frequently falls victim to voter bias, regionalism, and a lack of in-depth game film study. This systemic problem creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where established, big-name programs are given the benefit of the doubt, while underdog teams from outside the traditional power conferences or who don't have a national following are left to prove themselves week after week with little room for error. A recent, glaring example of this flaw was the controversy surrounding voter Haley Sawyer. After the University of South Florida (USF) upset the Florida Gators, Sawyer's ballot not only moved the Gators up the rankings, but it omitted USF entirely. In a subsequent video, she offered a flimsy defense of her decisions, which only highlighted the core issue: some voters simply do not care about the poll, and potentially may not even watch the games. For a team like Iowa State, this problem is especially acute. As a member of the Big 12, the Cyclones are already at a disadvantage in terms of media exposure compared to teams in the SEC or Big Ten. Without a constant spotlight, the team's only path to poll respect is through consistent wins, which become even more difficult given the Big 12's propensity for "cannibalization," where good teams beat up on each other. When a voter fails to properly evaluate game outcomes, it directly harms teams like Iowa State by perpetuating the idea that they are not worthy of national attention, regardless of their performance. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYTee up that trip! Enter for a chance to win a dream golf trip for two to any golf tournament* in the USA. Visit https://5HEWIN.com for full rules and entry. No purchase necessary. Excludes the Master’s tournament. Ends October 31, 2025.The Game CapGrab your team’s classic bar or retro circle designed hat and use code LOCKEDON for an exclusive discount. Head to Because legends wear The Game. Head to https://thegamecaps.com DripDropRight now, DripDropis offering Locked On listeners 20% off your first order. Just head to https://dripdrop.com and use promocode LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. Stock up now before the heat hits hard.DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.MazdaIt’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle. Mazda. Move and Be Moved. SupplyHouseJoin the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit https://www.supplyhouse.com/apply-for-trademasterto sign up for free and use promo code SHCOLLEGE5 for 5% off your first order. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at https://www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
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