Not just a super lot of changes in either the Associated Press poll or the USA Today / AFCA Coaches poll this week, both being released on Sunday.
The top four remained the same in both polls – Georgia kept its lock on the number one spot, in spite of the slow start at two-win Vanderbilt; Michigan started slow, as well, but remains No. 2 after a blowout win over Indiana; No. 3 Ohio State blew out Purdue on the road; and No. 4 Florida State was only close with Syracuse when the game started, then controlled it throughout.
But after that, the AP voters have Washington up to No. 5 after that big home win versus Oregon that came down to the game’s final second. Penn State checks in at No. 6, six days ahead of its trip to Ohio State. Oklahoma is seventh, still unbeaten but coming off an open date. Texas is No. 8, also after a bye following the loss to OU. Oregon slips but only one spot (wow) after the loss at Washington; the Ducks are now No. 9.
North Carolina is 10th after beating previously-ranked No. 25 Miami on Saturday.
Southern Cal, after its collapse on the road at Notre Dame in a 48-20 loss, takes the biggest dip this week in the AP poll, all the way down eight spots spots to No. 16. Notre Dame jumps up six spots, the biggest rise of the week, to No. 15, even though it has two losses.
Louisville, which had been ranked No. 14, took a seven-spot nose dive after falling at unranked Pitt – the Cardinals fell all the way to No. 21.
New into the poll this week: Air Force, which is 6-0, is ranked at No. 22; Iowa, with just one loss (at Penn State) is No. 23, and Tulane is No. 24. UCLA is No 25, is also down seven spots after a road loss to now No. 12 Oregon State.
Falling out of the AP poll was Washington State after a home collapse to Arizona; Kansas after a road loss at Oklahoma State; and Miami, after losing for a second straight week.
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.
In the coaches poll, Washington, Penn State and Oklahoma are all fifth, sixth and seventh, just like the AP poll voters. The biggest difference in the AP and coaches poll this week is that Texas and Alabama are tied at No. 8, the coaches obviously valuing Alabama’s wins over the way the Crimson Tide is playing. Alabama has won five straight, three of them in kind of ugly fashion, since losing to Texas.
Southern Cal fell seven spots to 16, and ironically in the coaches poll, somehow they have the Trojans ranked two spots in front of the team that routed them, Notre Dame, who’s ranked at No. 18.
Missouri is the highest-riser in the coaches poll, up from No. 25 to No. 20 after a big SEC East Division road win at Kentucky.
Speaking of the Wildcats, UK fell out of the top 25 after that loss, its second straight. Washington State and Kansas also fell out of the coaches rankings.
Here’s the AP poll.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL (released Sunday, October 15):
| 1. Georgia (43) 7-0 | 1,541 |
| 2. Michigan (16) 7-0 | 1,492 |
| 3. Ohio State (1) 6-0 | 1,393 |
| 4. Florida State (1) 6-0 | 1,388 |
| 5. Washington (2) 6-0 | 1,355 |
| 6. Oklahoma 6-0 | 1,277 |
| 7. Penn State 6-0 | 1,253 |
| 8. Texas 5-1 | 1,088 |
| 9. Oregon 5-1 | 1,034 |
| 10. North Carolina 6-0 | 1,011 |
| 11. Alabama 6-1 | 987 |
| 12. Oregon State 6-1 | 834 |
| 13. Ole Miss 5-1 | 825 |
| 14. Utah 5-1 | 695 |
| 15. Notre Dame 6-2 | 664 |
| 16. Duke 5-1 | 593 |
| 17. Tennessee 5-1 | 557 |
| 18. Southern Cal 6-1 | 530 |
| 19. LSU 5-2 | 493 |
| 20. Missouri 6-1 | 365 |
| 21. Louisville 6-1 | 309 |
| 22. Air Force 6-0 | 245 |
| 23. Tulane 5-1 | 137 |
| 24. Iowa 6-1 | 125 |
| 25. UCLA 4-2 | 122 |
Others receiving votes: James Madison, 70; Clemson, 35; Florida, 12; Washington State, 11; Fresno State, 6; Liberty, 5; Wisconsin, 4; Kentucky, 4; Kansas, 2; Miami, 1; West Virginia, 1; Oklahoma State, 1. Dropped out: Washington State, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami.
Here’s the coaches poll.
USA TODAY / SPORTS AFCA COACHES POLL (released Sunday, October 15):
| 1. Georgia (58) 7-0 | 1,590 |
| 2. Michigan (4) 7-0 | 1,516 |
| 3. Ohio State (1) 6-0 | 1,429 |
| 4. Florida State 6-0 | 1,390 |
| 5. Washington 6-0 | 1,325 |
| 6. Penn State 6-0 | 1,302 |
| 7. Oklahoma (1) 6-0 | 1,260 |
| 8. Texas 5-1 | 1,078 |
| 9. Alabama 6-1 | 1,078 |
| 10. North Carolina 6-0 | 1,038 |
| 11. Oregon 5-1 | 989 |
| 12. Ole Miss 5-1 | 849 |
| 13. Oregon State 6-1 | 809 |
| 14. Utah 5-1 | 704 |
| 15. Tennessee 5-1 | 663 |
| 16. Southern Cal 6-1 | 606 |
| 17. Duke 5-1 | 590 |
| 18. Notre Dame 6-2 | 572 |
| 19. LSU 5-2 | 482 |
| 20. Missouri 6-1 | 468 |
| 21. Louisville 6-1 | 309 |
| 22. Air Force 6-0 | 196 |
| 23. Iowa 6-1 | 192 |
| 24. Tulane 5-1 | 112 |
| 25. UCLA 4-2 | 70 |
Others receiving votes: James Madison,67; Clemson, 54; Florida, 29; Fresno State, 21; Washington State, 20; Arizona, 13; Wyoming, 12; Miami, 12; Oklahoma State, 12; Maryland, 11; Kentucky, 9; Liberty, 5; Kansas State, 5; UNLV, 4; Texas A&M, 4; West Virginia, 3; Kansas, 1; Memphis, 1. Dropped from rankings: Washington State, Kentucky, Kansas.
