We’re now in the time of year when more people are looking at the polls in college football.
Well, let’s be honest: once the official College Football Playoff poll begins each November, the other two polls – the Associated Press (media) and the AFCA Coaches Poll – really lose some steam.
But for what it’s worth, both were released Sunday, on schedule, and there’s only one difference in the top 13 in both polls.
Tennessee (9-2) is ranked No. 7 in the AP poll, although that win over Alabama is beginning to lose its luster. Miami (10-1) is ranked right behind the Vols in the AP’s rankings, at No. 8.
In the coaches’ poll, it’s reversed: the Hurricanes are No. 7, the Vols No. 8.
Oregon, the only FBS team that’s still unbeaten (11-0), is ranked No. 1, and Ohio State (10-1), who turned their showdown with previously-undefeated Indiana into a laugher last Saturday, is No. 2. The Buckeyes’ only loss, of course, was on the road at Oregon.
Texas (10-1) looked a bit lackluster in its home win over Kentucky Saturday, almost as if it were going through the motions prior to this coming Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated game at Texas A&M. The Longhorns are No. 3, followed by Penn State – for some reason. The Nittany Lions (10-1) had to come from behind to defeat unranked Minnesota, 26-25, on Saturday, and don’t really have a quality win all year, yet there they sit, in the top four.
Notre Dame (10-1) made quick work of Army on Saturday at Yankee Stadium (that still sounds weird), and the Fighting Irish are up a spot in both polls to No. 5. Georgia, who had little trouble with UMass, is up two spots in both polls to No. 6. And the Bulldogs have no Southeastern Conference games left on their schedule; it appears they’ve fought their way back up, after losses by Alabama and Ole Miss, into position to play in the SEC Championship Game. Will it be Texas? We’ll find out.
SMU (10-1) is ninth in both polls, playing an Atlantic Coast Conference schedule – you know, even though they’re located in the Metroplex, the Dallas, Texas area.
Indiana (10-1) fell from fifth to 10th, and the Hoosiers’ fans should probably thank their lucky stars they didn’t fall farther, considering the loss and their overall schedule.
Boise State (10-1) remains the top-ranked Group of Five program in the poll, at No. 11. Clemson (9-2) checks in at No. 12, and after an uninspiring effort – and loss – at Oklahoma, coach Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3) sits at No. 13.
See the rest of both polls below.
The most interesting thing about Tuesday’s CFP poll release may, in fact, be where Alabama is ranked. With three losses, they’re still only one spot out of that top-12 slot. Alabama hosts rival Auburn on Saturday, but several teams in front of the Tide still have difficult games left. They may, in fact, not be out of playoff contention.
Obviously, the coaches (or some assistant coach) vote in the coaches’ poll every weekend. Voters in the AP poll in the 2024 season: Voters in the Associated Press poll – and we’re going to print their names here each and every week – are Aaron McMann, Adam Cole, Adam Zucker, Alex Taylor, Amie Just, Andy Yamashita, Blair Kerkhoff, Bob Asmussen, Bob Ballou, Brenna Greene, Brett McMurphy, Brian Fonseca, Brian Howell, Chip Towers, Chris Murray, Cody Nespor, Creg Stephenson, Damien Sordelette, Dave Preston, David Briggs, David Jablonski, David Paschall, Dylan Synn, Emily Leiker, Eric Hansen, Garland Gillen, Greg Madia, Henry Greenstein, Ian Kress, James Williams, Joe Aruda, John Clay, John Steppe, Johnny McGonigal, Jon Wilner, Jordan Crammer, Jordan McPherson, Josh Furlong, Karley Marotta, Kate Rogerson, Kayla Anderson, Kirk Boles, Kirk Kenney, Kokie Riley, Mason Young, Matt Baker, Matt Brown, Matt Murschel, Michael Katz, Michael Lev, Mike Hill, Pete Yanity, Randy Johnson, Rece Davis, Ron Counts, Sean Reider, Stephen Means, Steve Wiesman, Steven Johnson, Tom Murphy, Trevor Hass, and Zach Klein.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 (Released Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024)
| 1. OREGON (11-0), 1,525 votes (61 first-place) |
| 2. OHIO STATE (10-1), 1,463 votes |
| 3. TEXAS (10-1), 1,395 votes |
| 4. PENN STATE (10-1), 1,301 votes |
| 5. NOTRE DAME (10-1), 1,278 votes |
| 6. GEORGIA (9-2), 1,242 votes |
| 7. TENNESSEE (9-2), 1,110 votes |
| 8. MIAMI (10-1), 1,096 votes |
| 9. SMU (10-1), 1,001 votes |
| 10. INDIANA (10-1), 998 votes |
| 11. BOISE STATE (10-1), 984 votes |
| 12. CLEMSON (9-2), 789 votes |
| 13. ALABAMA (8-3), 739 votes |
| 14. ARIZONA STATE (9-2), 727 votes |
| 15. OLE MISS (8-3), 661 votes |
| 16. SOUTH CAROLINA (8-3), 639 votes |
| 17. IOWA STATE (9-2), 498 votes |
| 18. TULANE (9-2), 446 votes |
| 19. BYU (9-2), 445 votes |
| 20. TEXAS A&M (8-3), 399 votes |
| 21. UNLV (9-2), 231 votes |
| 22. ILLINOIS (8-3), 188 votes |
| 23. COLORADO (8-3), 161 votes |
| 24. MISSOURI (8-3), 142 votes |
| 25. ARMY (9-1), 133 votes |
AFCA COACHES TOP 25 (Released Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024)
| 1. OREGON (11-0), 1,375 votes (55 first-place) |
| 2. OHIO STATE (10-1), 1,318 votes |
| 3. TEXAS (10-1), 1,267 votes |
| 4. PENN STATE (10-1), 1,175 votes |
| 5. NOTRE DAME (10-1), 1,150 votes |
| 6. GEORGIA (9-2), 1,103 votes |
| 7. MIAMI (10-1), 1,023 votes |
| 8. TENNESSEE (9-2), 972 votes |
| 9. SMU (10-1), 917 votes |
| 10. INDIANA (10-1), 867 votes |
| 11. BOISE STATE (10-1), 838 votes |
| 12. CLEMSON (9-2), 780 votes |
| 13. ALABAMA (8-3), 621 votes |
| 14. SOUTH CAROLINA (8-3), 596 votes |
| 15. ARIZONA STATE (9-2), 592 votes |
| 16. OLE MISS (8-3), 569 votes |
| 17. IOWA STATE (9-2), 473 votes |
| 18. TULANE (9-2), 434 votes |
| 19. TEXAS A&M (8-3), 357 votes |
| 20. BYU (9-2), 329 votes |
| 21. UNLV (9-2), 205 votes |
| 22. ARMY (9-1), 165 votes |
| 23. MEMPHIS (9-2), 151 votes |
| 24. MISSOURI (8-3), 148 votes |
| 25. ILLINOIS (8-3), 132 votes |
