Alabama’s stranglehold on first place in the AP Top 25 was largely uncontested during a bye week, but there was some movement below them through the entire AP top 25 this week. With No. 7 Penn State and No. 10 TCU each falling following losses, the top 10 has a bit of a new look that features No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Ohio State standing in line behind the Crimson Tide.
No. 1 Alabama received 59 first-place votes, with No. 2 Georgia receiving the other two in this week’s AP vote. No. 3 Ohio State moved up three spots following the win against Penn State, who fell five spots this week. No. 4 Wisconsin moved up one spot, and No. 5 Notre Dame was bumped up four spots following a second straight week with a win over a ranked opponent. No. 6 Clemson also wiggled ahead of Penn State as the Nittany Lions took their fall from No. 2.
The AP voters appeared to give Penn State the benefit of a higher-quality loss to stay ahead of No. 8 Oklahoma, this despite Ohio State defeated the only team to beat Penn State this season (Ohio State). Meanwhile, the Sooners’ only loss continues to look better by the week with No. 14 Iowa State moving up 11 spots this week following a win over No. 10 TCU (Horned Frogs fell four spots). No. 9 Miami completes the top 10 in the AP poll this week.
No. 20 NC State fell six spots following their loss at Notre Dame. No. 21 Mississippi State and No. 23 Arizona each break into the AP poll this week following wins. Despite road losses, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 25 Washington State remain in the top 25 this week.
AP Top 25
- Alabama (59 first-place votes)
- Georgia (2)
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Notre Dame
- Clemson
- Penn State
- Oklahoma
- Miami
- TCU
- Oklahoma State
- Washington
- Virginia Tech
- Iowa State
- UCF
- Auburn
- USC
- Stanford
- LSU
- NC State
- Mississippi State
- Memphis
- Arizona
- Michigan State
- Washington State