There's a new No. 1 in the Amway Coaches Poll. Alabama passed Clemson after the Tigers narrowly beat North Carolina. Ohio State passed LSU for No. 5.
www.usatoday.com
Rarely does the No. 1 position in the Amway Coaches Poll change hands when the top-ranked team doesnāt lose. But today is one of those instances.
Alabama overtook Clemson for the top spot this week. The Crimson Tide posted a dominant win at home against Mississippi, while the Tigers
needed a late stop on a two-point conversion attempt to avoid a colossal upset at North Carolina.
Alabama was voted first by 29 of the 64 coaches on the panel submitting this week, actually one fewer than Clemson. But while the Tigers retained 30 firsts, they were demoted by enough voters to fall behind the Crimson Tide by 36 poll points. Clemson remained in the top five on most ballots but was placed sixth by one voter, seventh by another and ninth by a third.
Georgia, which had the weekend off, stayed put at No. 3 retaining a single first-place vote. Oklahoma, a big winner against Texas Tech in its Big 12 opener, held at No. 4. Ohio State climbed back up to No. 5 after winning in a romp at Nebraska in prime time. The Buckeyes picked up four firsts in the process and edged back ahead of idle LSU.
TOP 25: The complete Amway Coaches Poll ranking
Auburn, a big winner at Home against Mississippi State, stayed at No. 7 and has another major challenge ahead at No. 8 Florida next week. Wisconsin and Notre Dame round out the top 10, and the next five teams also remained unchanged.
Memphis makes its Top 25 debut this week, giving the American Athletic Conference a second ranked squad joining No. 19 Central Florida. The Tigers are tied for 23rd with Michigan State, which rejoins the poll after staving off Indiana. Oklahoma State moves in at No. 25 following a home victory against Kansas State.
California was the highest rated team to fall out of the Top 25, tumbling from the No. 16 position after taking its first loss of the season against Arizona State. Kansas State and Southern California were the other dropouts.
OUT: No. 16 California; No. 22 Kansas State; No. 25 Southern California.
Others receiving votes: California 125; Southern Methodist 118; Arizona State 96; Army 47; Minnesota 34; Baylor 34; Appalachian State 28; Colorado 18; Duke 17; Tulane 16; Utah State 15; Kansas State 13; Hawaii 10; Southern California 9; Texas Christian 6; Washington State 3; Mississippi State 3; Air Force 3; Wyoming 2.