Getty ImagesWith the two highest-ranked teams in the country both going down in stunning fashion Saturday, it was expected that there would be a significant shift at the top of the polls come Sunday.
As expected, that’s exactly what’s happened. Just as expected are the two teams that have filled the top spots.
In the newly-minted USA Today coaches’ poll, Notre Dame is No. 1 and Alabama, the No. 1 team for most of the 2012 season, is No. 2. Despite the fact that the Irish are the only postseason-eligible unbeaten left at the FBS level, they were not a unanimous selection among the coaches.
The Irish received 56 of the 59 first-place votes, while the Tide (two) and, inexplicably, No. 3 Georgia (one) received the others.
Oregon, No. 1 in both polls following the Tide’s upset loss last weekend, dropped just three spots to No. 4. Kansas State, the other loser in Week 12′s BcS bedlam, tumbled all the way from No. 2 to No. 8.
Florida State (No. 5), Florida (No. 6) and LSU (No. 7) each moved up one spot from a week ago, while Clemson (No. 9) and Texas A&M (No. 10) held serve to round out the Top 10.
Interestingly, the Cardinal moved up just two spots to No. 11 after knocking off the No. 1 team in the country.
Michigan and Oklahoma State were the most upwardly mobile teams in the rankings this weekend, with each moving up three spots to Nos. 20 and 21, respectively.
Louisiana Tech (No. 19), USC (No. 21) and Texas Tech (No. 25) all dropped out of the rankings. The trio was replaced by Northern Illinois (No. 23), Mississippi State (No. 24) and Kent State (No. 25).
Silly sec coaches.
Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!
Also I think Stan should have gone up more.
So where’s the screaming now about Oregon only dropping three spots to #4? ESPN and Tim Brando about had a stroke when ‘Bama did the same thing last week.
How is it when an SEC team barely beats a scrub team (LSU) they can stay where they are, but a team like Stanford beats the #1 team on the road and only move up one spot? Coaches poll needs to look themselves in the mirror, seriously!
But another note, we may end up getting the Oregon vs KState match-up, but in the Fiesta Bowl
Hilarious that the 3 coaches that picked ala and Georgia wanted ND at 2, 3, or 4.
OK, after yesterday, I’ll admit that the SEC is the best D2 conference in the good ole USA.
On another note, the LSU, Ole Miss game was a hoot to watch.
@kiopta1 …
Where do you get that they wanted ND at 2, 3, or 4? If they wanted Alabama or Georgia at 1, they probably had ND at 2. That’s not particularly hilarious. I’d expect Saban to vote Bama 1 and ND 2, and Richt to vote Georgia 1 and ND 2. And there are folks who realize ND has squeaked by in several of those wins. Personally, I think ND is the undisputed Number One right now. But there’s no grand conspiracy here … just fools like you making mountains out of molehills.
I don’t have the source off the top of my head but there was an article that let it be known that those that voted ala or geo 1 also voted ND @2, 3, and 4.
@imaduffer
Kansas State, Oregon, Clemson, Florida State twice, OU, and Nebraska. All teams in the top 15 outside the SEC who have played D2 teams this year. Give it a rest already.
USA Today article “Notre Dame was not threatened by the upset bug, blanking Wake Forest 38-0 to improve to 11-0. But the Fighting Irish were nevertheless not the unanimous No.1 choice, receiving 56 of 59 No.1 votes with a second, a third and a fourth.”
@wjmoffatt
LSU is not a scrub team. They are ranked #7. Also the PAC12 is a MUCH weaker conference than the SEC. Now go pout about it!
If ND makes it past USC and plays Bama in the NC, Bama will totally destroy them.
@timh1955
Where have we heard that before…oh yeah every dang week…yet here we are at 11-0. I don’t doubt Ala talent but its obvious they are beatable and they still have to beat auburn and likely Georgia. While ND has to get past a talented but struggling USC.
@deb
Best do your homework before you resort to your immature name calling. Thanks.
I’m hoping for another all SEC NC Game again this year. ROLL TIDE
Sent from my iPhone
@timh1955
Don’t assume Alabama will just walk over UGA. Alabama got exposed against LSU and A&M. Their secondary is a liability and they don’t have a pass rusher to create pressure on the QB. UGA can run and pass and is a terrible match up for Alabama. Not to mention UGA’s defense is finally playing to their potential. It’s going to be a great game.
You play the schedule you are handed. Nothing more,
nothing less. Every school schedules patsies. It is a fact of life. Personally, I would love to see Oregon play Alabama home and home. It won’t happen because the argument would be (on both sides) “our
conference schedule is brutal.” “We play 4 ranked teams!” etc.
Alabama played Michigan @ Jerry World, a neutral
site. Why? Jerry threw a ton of money @ both schools. Money is what is driving the semi pro
league in both football and basketball. Academics are a side bar.
I remember in the old days when Bear Bryant’s Alabama team was supposed to destroy ND but that did not happen. Ara and his boys walked away with a big win.
wjmoffatt:
Stanford lost to Washington earlier in the season. That scrub team you were talking about (LSU) beat Washington 41-3.
Right, Bama will destroy ND, just like they did
A & M. Just remember: Irish rule!
Go Deb! Bama will take it one game at a time, we say many thanks to Baylor and Stanford for getting us back in it! Go ahead all of you SEC haters, we will see what happens! Roll Tide!!
@kiopta1 …
No, sweetie, I’m reading CFT and I’m reacting to the article on CFT. That’s why I visit CFT. If you expect me to react to a USAToday article, then provide me the link. Don’t just post info out of thin air and expect people to know what you’re talking about.
And you are a fool who makes mountains out of molehills. Three coaches out of 59 who don’t think Notre Dame should be #1 is not an SEC conspiracy. That’s not name-calling, honey. That’s obvious.
@irishking …
I have a favorite Notre Dame memory, too. It involves USC. 55-24
Have a nice night.
Meanwhile, all those little ND leprechauns are whacking their little 2″ peckers over this…but will soon be crying when they finally get beat by a real team from the SEC. Just ask Ohio State about that, crybaby Iwish fans.
LOL @ voting anybody other than ND #1. Your sec schedule last week was a laughingstock. LAUGHINGSTOCK!
Been sayin it
ALL
YEAR.
So many cupcakes it’s like y’all at a sweet sixteen.
*snaps fingers and walks out the door*
NOTRE LAME!!!! The only thing nd has proven so far is that they truly do have the luck of the Irish.
Notre Dame would be a 10 point DOG to Alabama if they played today. In fact, ND would be an underdog against any of the four SEC teams ranked in the top ten. JUST so you know.
Can’t wait to see Alabama and Florida in BCS title game just to see the posters on this site go nuts with SEC envy.
…or even a Georgia – Florida rematch! That would be swell too! Ta ta
Deb says:Nov 18, 2012 9:41 PM
@irishking …
I have a favorite Notre Dame memory, too. It involves USC. 55-24
Have a nice night.
__________________
Nice, Deb! I remember that game like it was yesterday and I became a USC fan for a couple of years. …I think Anthony Davis just ran another one back.
norcalirish says:Nov 19, 2012 5:20 AM
LOL @ voting anybody other than ND #1. Your sec schedule last week was a laughingstock. LAUGHINGSTOCK!
Been sayin it
ALL
YEAR.
_____________
Keep talking, Irish! Gotta meet an SEC team soon enough but get it in while you can stick your chest out over beating those B1G 10 powerhouses.
foreverlsu says: Nov 19, 2012 10:58 AM
norcalirish says:Nov 19, 2012 5:20 AM
LOL @ voting anybody other than ND #1. Your sec schedule last week was a laughingstock. LAUGHINGSTOCK!
Been sayin it
ALL
YEAR.
—————————————————
Navy @ Notre Dame & THREE OT’s…I’m still laughing about that sunshine. What happened the last time Notre Lame played an SEC school when the letters “BCS” were involved again? I hate the SEC as much as the next guy, but I admit that has to do with BOTH the hatred for success of others [B1G fan here] and the media’s bias…but let’s keep it real. Notre Lame stands no chance and if ya’ll thought the cg last year was boring and a laugher…JUST WAIT!!!