by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports
That inevitable 1-vs.-2 showdown Nov. 3 between Alabama and LSU
got a little less inevitable over the weekend, another reminder that
there are no sure things in the world of college football.
Alabama
held up its end of the bargain, easily dispatching Florida Atlantic to
maintain the No. 1 position in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The
Crimson Tide received 57 of 59 first-place votes, three more than last
week.
LSU, meanwhile, escaped with a 12-10 win at Auburn, a result
that would have produced a major boost a couple of seasons ago but was
viewed as a sign of trouble this year with Auburn now 1-3. The Bayou
Bengals slipped to third behind Oregon after the Ducks blew past
then-No. 21 Arizona 49-0.
LSU retained just one of the five
first-place nods it received last week and was picked second on 28
ballots, down from 47 a week ago. The Ducks were voted second by four
coaches last week, but increased that total to 21 this week.
Florida
State remained No.4, but the Seminoles also increased their point total
from a week ago after a 49-37 victory against then-No. 9 Clemson. FSU
received a first-place vote, its first in the regular season since 2002,
and was also voted second on seven ballots. Clemson dropped to No. 16.
Georgia
climbed a spot to No. 5 followed by SEC rival South Carolina. The No. 6
ranking for the Gamecocks is their highest since USA TODAY Sports began
administering the coaches poll in 1991 The Gamecocks and Bulldogs meet
in Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 6.
West Virginia moved up to No. 7.
Kansas State made a big five-position move to No. 8 following its
impressive win at then-No.5 Oklahoma. The Sooners tumbled to No. 15.
Stanford and Texas, both of which had byes this week, round out the top 10.
Arizona
was knocked out of the top 25 this week, along with UCLA and Michigan.
Oregon State debuted at No. 21 thanks to its win at UCLA. Also moving in
this week were No. 23 Baylor, along with Rutgers and Virginia Tech tied
at No. 25.