As it turns out, the latest Game of the Millennium had little impact on the coaching voting bloc, relatively speaking.
Following Alabama’s seven-point win in College Station Saturday, the Tide, as expected remained No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll in near-unanimous fashion, claiming 61 of the 62 first-place votes.
The good news for Texas A&M is that the loss cost them just three spots in the poll, dropping them slightly from No. 6 to No. 9. In 2012, following their five-point loss to the Aggies in Tuscaloosa, the Tide dropped three spots from No. 1 to No. 4; two months later, Bama was playing for the BCS title.
In other news that proves A&M’s loss yesterday wasn’t necessarily a fatal blow, five of the six BCS title winners with at least one loss suffered a home defeat (Alabama, 2011 & 2012; Florida, 2008; LSU, 2003 & 2007). So, the Aggies have that going for them, which is nice.
Getting back on topic and in other coaches’ poll news, Oregon remained No. 2 and received the lone remaining first-place vote. Clemson and Stanford flipped positions in the Top Five, with the Tigers, on a bye weekend, up to No. 4 and the Cardinal slipping back to No. 5. Thanks to A&M’s loss, Louisville (No. 6), LSU (No. 7) and Florida State (No. 8) each climbed one spot.
Ohio State (No. 3) and Georgia (No. 10) completed the Week 3 Top 10.
Among the upwardly mobile, Baylor (No. 19), Washington (No. 20) and Ole Miss (No. 22) all leaped up three positions each. On the flip side, Michigan dropped two to No. 14 because of their narrow escape in a win over Akron.
Three new teams moved into the Top 25 this week: Arizona State (No. 23), Michigan State (No. 24) and Fresno State (No. 25). This week marks the first time the Bulldogs have appeared in the coaches’ poll since September of 2008.
That trio of teams replaced Nebraska (No. 15), Wisconsin (No. 18) and TCU (No. 24).
