As expected, the Top Ten of the Week 7 version of the USA Today coaches’ poll has taken on a slightly different look than its predecessor of a few days ago.
Thanks to a (to be kind) humbling blowout loss to Texas Tech, West Virginia tumbled all the way out of the Top Ten from No. 5 to No. 15. South Carolina, which lost to LSU on the road, remained in the Top Ten despite the loss, falling five spots to No. 8.
The win over the Gamecocks propelled the Tigers up two spots to No. 6.
Alabama remains a unanimous No. 1 among the 59 coaches who vote in the poll, while Oregon, on a bye this weekend, remains a solid No. 2 by receiving all but one of the 59 second-place votes. Kansas State (No. 3), Florida (No. 4) and Notre Dame (No. 5) all moved up two spots apiece. The ranking for the Wildcats, incidentally, is its highest in this particular poll since the 1998 season.
That might not be good news for K-State as the team that sat in the No. 3 hole the past two polls -- South Carolina and LSU -- have lost the past two weekends. Next Saturday, the Wildcats travel to Morgantown to face the Mountaineers.
Oklahoma (up three to No. 7), USC (static at No. 9) and Florida State (up one to No. 10) round out the Top Ten.
Three teams dropped out of this week’s Top 25, led by Texas. The Longhorns, routed by Oklahoma in the Red River Blowout, tumbled all the way out from its previous spot at No. 15. Louisiana Tech (then-No. 24) and Iowa State (No. 25) were the other two to tumble following close losses.
Replacing the banished trio were Texas Tech (making its 2012 coaches’ poll debut at No. 20), Arizona State (No. 24) and Michigan (No. 25). The Wolverines return comes a week after, for the first time in the poll’s history, no Big Ten teams were ranked in the Top 25.
