Just a few hours ahead of the first release in the final year of the BCS, and as expected based upon the carnage Saturday, change is at the forefront of the latest USA Today coaches’ poll.
In the poll that constitutes one-third of the BCS rankings, there are five new faces inside the Top Ten alone. In are Baylor (No. 5, from No. 12), Miami (No. 6, from No. 11), Missouri (No. 7, from No. 14), Stanford (No. 8, from No. 13) and Texas Tech (No. 9, from 15).
Exiting the Top 10 are last week’s Nos. 6-10: Louisville (No. 16), Texas A&M (No. 15), LSU (T-No. 13), South Carolina (No. 20) and UCLA (No. 11).
Clemson, which lost to then-No. 5 Florida State, fell from No. 3 to No. 10.
As has been the case every week this season, Alabama is a solid No. 1. The Tide is followed by Oregon at No. 2 and Florida State, which leapfrogged Ohio State, is at No. 3 coming of its thumping of the Tigers. The Buckeyes dropped back one to No. 4.
Alabama actually lost one first-place vote, coming in this week with 57. Oregon, meanwhile, picked up one vote and now has four, while Florida State presumably picked up Clemson’s first-place vote from a week ago.
As is ofttimes the case when it comes to the coaches’ poll, there is some, to be kind, head-scratching and downright inexplicable placement of teams. Two-loss A&M, which lost to one-loss Auburn just yesterday, is two spots higher than the Tigers. One-loss Louisville, which lost to one-loss UCF Thursday, is nine spots higher than the Golden Knights.
Making the slottings even more maddening? Those were conference road wins for Auburn and UCF.
Despite all of the tumult, a pair of unbeaten teams barely budged in this week’s rankings: the MWC’s Fresno State moved up one to No. 18, while the MAC’s Northern Illinois also moved up one to No. 23.
Dropping out this week are Florida (No. 22), Georgia (No. 16) and Washington (No. 25). They were replaced by Auburn (No. 17), Wisconsin (No. 24) and UCF (No. 25).
1. Alabama (7-0) (57)
2. Oregon (7-0) (4)
3. Florida State (6-0) (1)
4. Ohio State (7-0)
5. Baylor (6-0)
6. Miami (Fla.) (6-0)
7. Missouri (7-0)
8. Stanford (6-1)
9. Texas Tech (7-0)
10. Clemson (6-1)
11. UCLA (5-1)
12. Oklahoma (6-1)
13. (tie) Oklahoma State (5-1)
13. (tie) LSU (6-2)
15. Texas A&M (5-2)
16. Louisville (6-1)
17. Auburn (6-1)
18. Fresno State (6-0)
19. Virginia Tech (6-1)
20. South Carolina (5-2)
21. Nebraska (5-1)
22. Northern Illinois (7-0)
23. Michigan (6-1)
24. Wisconsin (5-2)
25. Central Florida (5-1)