It was a good time for Alabama to have a bye week. The Crimson Tide take over the No. 1 spot in the Amway Coaches Poll as the top five gets a complete overhaul.
Alabama moves up thanks to Clemson’s double-overtime loss at Notre Dame. The Tide received 55 of 62 first-place votes. They return to action next Saturday against struggling LSU.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, leapfrogs two places into the No. 2 spot thanks to its big win. The Fighting Irish got four No. 1 votes, their first of the season, helping them pass Ohio State. The Buckeyes, who handled their business against Rutgers, claimed the remaining three first-place votes. Clemson slips only to fourth, still well positioned to keep its streak of College Football Playoff appearances alive but with no margin for error going forward.
The No. 5 position is sure to cause some arguments. Florida, thanks to its rivalry win against then-fifth-ranked Georgia, vaults into that spot just one poll point ahead of Texas A&M. Yes, that would be the same Aggies’ team that toppled the Gators several weeks ago. Both those SEC members nudged ahead of Cincinnati, dropping a Bearcats a spot to No. 7 despite posting another convincing win in the American.
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Np. 8 Brigham Young gains a spot following Friday night’s dismantling of Boise State. Miami, also a Friday winner, climbs to No. 9. Indiana rounds out the top 10, improving upon its best ranking since USA TODAY began administering the coaches poll in 1991.
Liberty makes its first ever appearance in the Amway Coaches Poll, debuting at No. 22 after Saturday’s wild win at Virginia Tech. Northwestern checks in at No. 23 with a 3-0 start. No. 24 Texas returns to the Top 25 after staving off West Virginia. Army, which had its game against Air Force postponed, was pushed back three positions but stays in at No. 25.
North Carolina, despite a dominant win against Duke, got squeezed out. Michigan and Boise State are the other dropouts.
