While the top five teams avoided the annoying bug during a wild fifth week in college football, the top spot in the TODAY Sports AFCA USA coaches poll is shifting.
Alabama reclaimed the top spot after beating Arkansas without Bryce Young in the second half. The Crimson Tide received 34 out of 64 first-place votes this week and finished with 23 polling points ahead of Georgia. The Bulldogs held 23 #1 votes but slipped to #2 after struggling in the unranked past at Missouri. No. 3 Ohio State gains a bit of ground in the SEC favorite. The Buckeyes earned seven first-place nods this week after another easy home game against Rutgers.
The next four teams stayed the same as No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Clemson, No. 6 Southern California and No. 7 Oklahoma State, all with conference wins. Tennessee State moved up to eighth. Mississippi State climbed into the top 10 for the first time this season, posting its ninth entry after overtaking Kentucky, which moved to 13th. Penn State also moved up to 13.10 after going the Northwest Road.
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Wake Forest makes the biggest jump within the top 25, climbing six places to 15th after winning the rebound in Florida.
No. 17 Kansas tops the list of new entrants to the survey. The undefeated Jayhawks are ranked for the first time since October 18, 2009. No. 18 TCU, Jayhawks’ next opponent, and No. 20 Kansas State also joined the poll in a big week for the Big 12. No. 19 UCLA season one also appears after an impressive Friday night show against Washington. Mississippi State is the fifth newcomer this week, coming in at No. 23 after defeating Texas A&M.
Washington and Arkansas managed to avoid the dropout club. The Husky slipped six positions but held 24th, while the Razorbacks held 25th by one point above Cincinnati.
Oklahoma and Texas A&M left the rankings along with Florida, Minnesota and Pittsburgh.
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