For the first time this season – heck, who knows, really how long – the top seven in the new Associated Press college football poll and the AFCA Coaches poll are the exact same.
The major difference is the margin by which Georgia is number one in both.
The Bulldogs, the two-time defending national champions, are number one by a much-wider margin in the coaches poll than in the AP poll. In the coaches poll, the Bulldogs have a commanding 58 first-place votes, far more than No. 2 Michigan (four first-place votes) and No. 3 Ohio State (two). Florida State, Washington, Oklahoma and Texas round out the top seven, and none of them have first-place votes in the coaches’ poll.
In the AP poll, it’s the exact same order for the top seven, but Georgia has 20 less first-place votes (38). Michigan has 19, and Ohio State and Florida State each have three.
Ranked eighth in the AP poll is Oregon, followed by Alabama and Penn State. Alabama is up two spots after losses by both Penn State and North Carolina on Saturday. Penn State lost to Oklahoma, but and fell three spots to No. 10.
North Carolina had the biggest fall in both polls – seven spots in both – after losing to Virginia on Saturday. The Cavaliers had just one win before beating UNC at its home stadium. The Tarheels are now ranked No. 17 in both polls.
Southern Cal, led by defending Heisman Trophy-winner quarterback Caleb Williams, dropped the second-most, falling six spots in both after losing at home to Utah on a last-second field goal. The Trojans are No. 22 in the coaches poll, and No. 24 in the AP poll.
The biggest risers in the coaches poll were Notre Dame, LSU and Missouri, ranked back-to-back-to-back at 14, 15 and 16, respectively. Each of those teams rose four spots.
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.
Here’s the AP poll.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL (released Sunday, October 22):
| 1. Georgia (38) 7-0 | 1,526 |
| 2. Michigan (19) 8-0 | 1,504 |
| 3. Ohio State (3) 7-0 | 1,454 |
| 4. Florida State (3) 7-0 | 1,408 |
| 5. Washington 7-0 | 1,325 |
| 6. Oklahoma 7-0 | 1,267 |
| 7. Texas 6-1 | 1,150 |
| 8. Oregon 6-1 | 1,133 |
| 9. Alabama 7-1 | 1,071 |
| 10. Penn State 6-1 | 999 |
| 11. Oregon State 6-1 | 922 |
| 12. Ole Miss 6-1 | 889 |
| 13. Utah 6-1 | 868 |
| 14. Notre Dame 6-2 | 718 |
| 15. LSU 6-2 | 687 |
| 16. Missouri 6-1 | 594 |
| 17. North Carolina 6-1 | 506 |
| 18. Louisville 6-1 | 420 |
| 19. Air Force 7-0 | 395 |
| 20. Duke 5-2 | 371 |
| 21. Tennessee 5-2 | 306 |
| 22. Tulane 6-1 | 248 |
| 23. UCLA 5-2 | 243 |
| 24. Southern Cal 6-2 | 192 |
| 25. James Madison 7-0 | 167 |
Others receiving votes: Florida 34, Liberty 17, Kansas State 16, Miami 12, Fresno State 8, Oklahoma State 5, Toledo 3, Rutgers 2, Kentucky 2, UNLV 1, Wisconsin 1. Dropped from rankings: Iowa.
Here’s the coaches poll.
USA TODAY / SPORTS AFCA COACHES POLL (released Sunday, October 22):
| 1. Georgia (58) 7-0 | 1,586 |
| 2. Michigan (4) 8-0 | 1,522 |
| 3. Ohio State (2) 7-0 | 1,459 |
| 4. Florida State 7-0 | 1,426 |
| 5. Washington 7-0 | 1,333 |
| 6. Oklahoma 7-0 | 1,283 |
| 7. Texas 6-1 | 1,150 |
| 8. Alabama 7-1 | 1,141 |
| 9. Oregon 6-1 | 1,089 |
| 10. Penn State 6-1 | 1,056 |
| 11. Ole Miss 6-1 | 931 |
| 12. Oregon State 6-1 | 892 |
| 13. Utah 6-1 | 866 |
| 14. Notre Dame 6-2 | 698 |
| 15. LSU 6-2 | 677 |
| 16. Missouri 7-1 | 604 |
| 17. North Carolina 6-1 | 574 |
| 18. Louisville 6-1 | 451 |
| 19. Air Force 7-0 | 374 |
| 20. Tennessee 5-2 | 356 |
| 21. Duke 5-2 | 350 |
| 22. Southern Cal 6-2 | 269 |
| 23. Tulane 6-1 | 202 |
| 24. UCLA 5-2 | 195 |
| 25. James Madison 7-0 | 101 |
Others receiving votes: Florida 52, Miami 27, Kansas State 25, Iowa 24, Fresno State 23, Oklahoma State 13, Kentucky 10, Wyoming 9, SMU 8, Liberty 8, Arizona 7, UNLV 6, Kansas 4, Maryland 4, Toledo 2, Wisconsin 2, Clemson 1 . Dropped from rankings: Iowa.
