Both the Associated Press and the USA Today / AFCA Coaches poll have been released – or escaped – and there are a few changes, following Oklahoma’s win over Texas, and a couple of other previously-undefeated teams falling on Saturday.
Georgia is still number one in both polls – they’re number one by a larger margin in the coaches poll, because in the AP poll, Michigan has 11 votes to be number one and Ohio State and Florida State each have a vote, as well. In the coaches poll, Ohio State has two number one votes and Washington has one.
The top four are the same in both polls: Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State, in that order. After that, there are differences. In the AP poll, Oklahoma jumped all the way up to fifth (from No. 12) after the Sooners scored with 15 seconds left to top Texas, 34-30, Saturday in Dallas. Following the Sooners in the AP poll are Penn State at number six, Washington at seven, Oregon is eight, and Texas fell all the way to nine.
Southern Cal stayed in the top 10 after a three-overtime win at home over Arizona. And Alabama is number 11 after holding off Texas A&M in an SEC West rivalry game.
In the coaches’ poll, Penn State is fifth, Washington six, and then OU – the Sooners just weren’t rewarded as much by the coaches, coming up from No. 12 to seventh. Oregon is eighth, USC ninth, and Alabama at number 10, in front of Texas, which is a bit nonsensical, since the Longhorns beat Alabama in the second week of the season, the Tide’s only loss.
North Carolina is 12 and Ole Miss 13 in both polls.
Voters in the AP poll are Adam Cole, Adam Zucker, Arnie Just, Audrey Dahlgren, Blair Kerkhoff, Bob Asmussen, Brett McMurphy, Brian Fonseca, Brian Howell, Chad Leistikow, Chris Murray, Colten Bartholomew, Creg Stephenson, Dave Preston, Dave Reardon, David Briggs, David Jablonski, Don Williams, Emily Adams, Emily Leiker, Garland Gillen, Greg Madia, James Williams, Jared McDonald, John Clay, John Pierson, Johnny McGonigal, Jon Wilner, Jordan Crammer, Jordan Guskey, Josh Furlong, Kate Rogerson, Kayla Anderson, Kirk Bohls, Kirk Kenney, Marc Weiszer, Matt Baker, Matt Brown, Matt Murschel, Michael Lev, Mike Barber, Mike Berardino, Mike Niziolek, Mike Vorel, Pete Martini, Randy Johnson, Rece Davis, Robert Cessna, Ron Counts, Ryan Aber, Ryan Thorburn, Scott Rabalais, Scott Springer, Sean Reider, Stefan Krajisnik, Stephen Hargis, Steve Wiseman, Steven Johnson, Tom D’Angelo, Tom Murphy, Tony Garcia, Trevor Hass and Zach Klein.
Believe it or not, Oklahoma’s rise into the top 10 – seven spots in the AP and five spots up in the coaches – isn’t the biggest riser in the polls this week. Louisville, which was ranked at the bottom of both polls a week ago, soared up in both after beating Notre Dame on Saturday, 33-20. The Cardinals moved up 11 in the AP poll, all the way to 14. In the coaches’ poll, they moved up 10 spots to number 15.
The Longhorns weren’t the biggest fall in either poll. That dubious honor went to aforementioned Notre Dame, who dropped 11 in the AP poll and 10 spots in the coaches poll, now ranked at No. 21 in both.
Miami dropped all the way to No. 25 in the AP poll after their goof-up of not kneeling down with 40 seconds left allowed Georgia Tech a comeback win (they fell eight spots), and the Hurricanes fell slap out of the coaches’ poll, not even ranked after the loss.
Back into the AP top 25 this week after an absence are the Kansas Jayhawks after pasting Central Florida on Saturday. They’re No. 23. UCLA debuts in the poll this week (22) after ending Washington State’s undefeated season, and the Jayhawks are also back in the coaches’ poll at No. 24.
Here’s the AP poll…
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL (released Sunday, October 8):
| 1. Georgia (50) 6-0 | 1,559 |
| 2. Michigan (11) 6-0 | 1,489 |
| 3. Ohio State(10) 5-0 | 1,408 |
| 4. Florida State (1) 5-0 | 1,389 |
| 5. Oklahoma 6-0 | 1,278 |
| 6. Penn State 5-0 | 1,273 |
| 7. Washington 5-0 | 1,239 |
| 8. Oregon 5-0 | 1,150 |
| 9. Texas 5-1 | 1,052 |
| 10. Southern Cal 6-0 | 999 |
| 11. Alabama 5-1 | 971 |
| 12. North Carolina 5-0 | 894 |
| 13. Ole Miss 5-1 | 748 |
| 14. Louisville 6-0 | 731 |
| 15. Oregon State 5-1 | 725 |
| 16. Utah 4-1 | 567 |
| 17. Duke 4-1 | 479 |
| 18. UCLA 4-1 | 438 |
| 19 T. Washington State 4-1 | 412 |
| 19 T. Tennessee 4-1 | 412 |
| 21. Notre Dame 5-2 | 374 |
| 22. LSU 4-2 | 321 |
| 23. Kansas 5-1 | 103 |
| 24. Kentucky 5-1 | 99 |
| 25. Miami 4-1 | 74 |
Others receiving votes: Missouri 69, Wyoming 42, Air Force 41, Wisconsin 41, Tulane 27, West Virginia 26, Clemson 17, Maryland 9, Iowa 7, James Madison 7, Texas A&M 5. Dropped out: Missouri, Fresno State.
Here’s the coaches poll.
USA TODAY / SPORTS AFCA COACHES POLL (released Sunday, October 8):
| 1. Georgia (61) 6-0 | 1,597 |
| 2. Michigan 6-0 | 1,512 |
| 3. Ohio State (2) 5-0 | 1,443 |
| 4. Florida State (1) 4-0 | 1,411 |
| 5. Penn State 5-0 | 1,300 |
| 6. Washington (1) 5-0 | 1,246 |
| 7. Oklahoma 6-0 | 1,200 |
| 8. Oregon 5-0 | 1,168 |
| 9. Southern Cal 6-0 | 1,121 |
| 10. Alabama 5-1 | 1,025 |
| 11. Texas 5-1 | 982 |
| 12. North Carolina 5-0 | 912 |
| 13. Ole Miss 5-1 | 764 |
| 14. Oregon State 5-1 | 713 |
| 15. Louisville 5-0 | 651 |
| 16. Utah 4-1 | 600 |
| 17. Tennessee 4-1 | 587 |
| 18. Duke 4-1 | 451 |
| 19. Washington State 4-1 | 370 |
| 20. LSU 4-2 | 355 |
| 21. Notre Dame 5-2 | 324 |
| 22. UCLA 4-1 | 276 |
| 23. Kentucky 5-1 | 159 |
| 24. Kansas 5-1 | 120 |
| 25. Missouri 5-1 | 99 |
Others receiving votes: Miami 74, Wyoming 60, Air Force 58, Iowa 57, Maryland 37, Clemson 33, West Virginia 24, Wisconsin 23, Texas A&M 22, Tulane 18, James Madison 9, BYU 9, Fresno State 4, Memphis 2, Ohio 2, Florida 2, Liberty 1. Dropped from rankings: Miami, Fresno State.
