As expected, there is a new, if unknown, team in the most sensible of the two main college football polls. After Clemson, who missed star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, fell to fourth place at Notre Dame on Saturday, Alabama rose to number one in the 25 Most Sensitive Associated Press and the Coach survey, getting 59 of the first 62 votes in the first and 55 out of 62 in the second.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish rose to No. 2 in either poll and beat Ohio State 3-0, which sent Rutgers 49-27 on Saturday. Clemson fell to fourth place, the Tigers still control their fate in the school football playoffs, and they will. Chances are he’ll face Notre Dame at the ACC championship game in December.
Elsewhere in the Top 2, there was no unrest, but Florida’s dominance over the No. five Georgia moved the Gators on the playoff verbal exchange to No. five on the coaching ballot and No. 6 on the AP rankings. hopes of winning the SEC East disappear, with Florida now with a full advantage of a game, plus the tiebreaker opposed to Georgia, over Georgia.
Upstart Group of Five, Cincinnati and BYU had impressive wins in Week 10, however, the Bearcats were defeated in Florida and Texas A
Top 25 AP
1. Alabama (59 votes for first place) 2. Notre Dame (2) 3. Ohio State (1) 4. Clemson5. Texas A and M6. Florida 7. Cincinnati8. BYU9. Miami 10. Indiana11. Oregon12. Georgia 13. Wisconsin 14. Oklahoma State 15. Coastal Carolina 16. Marshall17. Iowa State 18. Oklahoma19. SMU20. USC21. Texas22. Liberté23. Northwestern24. Auburn25. Louisiane-Lafayette
Coach survey
1. Alabama (55 votes for first place) 2. Notre Dame (4) 3. Ohio State (3) 4. Clemson5. Florida 6. Texas A and M7. Cincinnati 8. BYU9. Miami10. Indiana11. Georgia 12. Oregon13. State of Oklahoma 14. Wisconsin15. Marshall16. State of Iowa 17. Coastal Carolina 18. Oklahoma 19. SMU20. USC21. Auburn22. Liberty 23. Northwestern24. Texas 25. Army
An analysis
The more things change, the more they stay the same, at least as far as elite school football groups are concerned. As it has been on many occasions in recent years, Alabama, Clemson and the state of Ohio are in the middle of the school football playoff conversation. Each school also controls its destiny.
Even with Clemson’s defeat to Notre Dame, the Tigers only have to win, a possible task, and defeat the Irish in the ACC name game. And for this game, they have Trevor Lawrence.
For the rest of the 10 most sensitive, sneaking into the PSC won’t be easy, Florida will almost have to win and then beat Alabama in the SEC championship game.
For the organization of five schools, it will take a lot of luck if one or the other must end up with a position in the CFP. None of them have had a particularly intimidating schedule, largely because Power Five schools have moved on to convention schedules this year. Season.
If BYU wins, you’ll most likely get a general offer for a New Year’s Six Bowl, and Cincinnati would get the G5’s automatic bid. But if either slips, Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Liberty remain undefeated. Even then, it turns out THAT BYU and Cincinnati are one step away from those teams, and the school football playoff variety committee is likely to agree.
Follow Keegan on Twitter, @ByKeeganPope.
Oregon, Wazzu and others who released eye-catching figures on Saturday
@JoelReuter lists the five groups that have controlled their preseason hype ????