September 11, 2010.

I have been absent from contributing to the CBS Blog Poll in the last weeks of the season, so to start 2010 off I am here to provide my final ballot for the CBS Blog Poll Top 25.

Let us break down my Top 25 one section at a time…

I have no problem rewarding Boise State with high accolades. The bottom line is they finished with 14 wins. I know Texas fans will say that the Longhorns should not have been passed over by the Broncos because Colt McCoy was knocked out of the game. Yes, Texas had to change their scheme with Garrett Gilbert in taking snaps, but Texas blew their chances to win right in the first quarter when they could not capitalize on two costly Alabama miscues on the first two possessions.

Despite losing their head coach to Notre Dame before the Sugar Bowl I feel that Cincinnati showed me nothing to warrant staying above two loss Iowa and Penn State. Both Iowa and Penn State demonstrated what a top defense can do to win a game in their bowl games. Still, I could not justify dropping TCU below either Big Ten team.

I will have to spend some time checking out exactly what Nebraska and Pittsburgh bring back in 2010, but I can see both making a run for the BCS next season. The Huskers look to have some momentum going on inside the program, especially on defense, and the Panthers have some young talent that can take charge in games. Playing in the Big East helps.

Here is a look at the rest of my top 25.

So that’s my final ballot. Let me know what you like and what you do not like down below.