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Predictably Alabama remains atop the poll this week. While the order varies from ballot to ballot, the teams in the Top 5 are mostly consensus with only one ballot excluding LSU in favor of UCF. There are 4 teams making an appearance this week who were not in the poll last week. The consensus in the Top 5 fades toward the bottom of the poll. The variety at the bottom of ballots led to a three way tie for 10. With no reasonable tie breaker, the tie stands and we wait to see how these teams do in coming weeks. The Poll
Rank Team Points Last Week 1. Alabama 50 (5) 1 2. (Tie) Clemson 40 4 Ohio State 40 3 4. Notre Dame 37 4 5. LSU 30 10 6. Texas 20 10 7. UCF 18 7 8. (Tie) Georgia 15 2 Michigan 15 NR 10. (Tie) NC State 3 NR Oklahoma 3 NR Oregon 3 NR Also receiving votes: West Virginia 1 This week brought 4 losses and some close calls in our Top 10. Georgia, West Virginia, Washington, and Penn State lost. Of that group, only Georgia lost to a team in our Top 10. So expect big changes this coming week. 3 Games That Mattered 2 Georgia @ 10 LSU Due To injures Georgia was playing with a very young offensive line. That and 4 turnovers led to Georgia struggling against a very good LSU defense. The Tigers dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for over 7 more minutes than the Dawgs. LSU’s offense ran 81 plays to Georgia’s 64. The win should have LSU heading back up the poll and still very much in the running for a playoff bid. 8 Washington @ Oregon The Coach made this one his Game of the Week and it lived up to that selection. An Oregon TD in overtime put them up by 3 and ended the game. With 2 losses Washington is now likely out of the playoff picture, at least for now. They’d need a lot of help to get back in at this point. Michigan State @ 9 Penn State The Curator called this upset. Michigan State went into Happy Valley and stunned the Nittany Lions. Penn State is likely eliminated from the playoff and would need a lot of help to get in the Big Ten Championship Game.
A quick note to point out a few teams flying under our radar. Our poll is limited to a Top 10. That makes it a bit exclusive. There are some notable exclusions at present. Colorado, NC State, South Florida, and Cincinnati are all undefeated and unranked in our poll. Keep an eye on this bunch. With Top 10 teams facing stiff opposition and these teams laying in wait, at least one of these teams might sneak into next week's poll.
This week has some movement in the polls. Clemson found some redemption this week but also three of the Top 10 lost. Auburn has dropped out and Oklahoma went from being ranked 6th to not even receiving a vote this week. LSU falls in the poll but remains on board for now. 11 Teams are on the poll due to a tie for 10th. The Poll
Rank Team Points Last Week 1. Alabama 50 (5) 1 2. Georgia 44 2 3. Ohio State 37 3 4. (Tie) Clemson 34 7 Notre Dame 34 4 6. West Virginia 25 8 7. UCF 14 NR 8. Washington 13 10 9. Penn State 11 NR 10. (Tie) LSU 5 5 Texas 5 NR Also receiving votes: Florida 3 Saturday saw 3 teams take their first loss of the season. The playoff picture has narrowed, at least for now. Here’s a closer look at 3 games that mattered. Texas 48 6 Oklahoma 45 Longhorn head coach Tom Herman needed a signature win to signal the revival of the Texas football program. The Longhorns couldn’t ask for a better one than the Red River Rivalry. Texas jumped out to a big lead and then held off an impressive comeback by the Sooners to grab both the win and the driver’s seat in the Big 12. The win will also likely drop the Sooners from the Top 10 and leave them needing help to get back in the playoff picture. 5 LSU 19 Florida 27 A trip to the Swamp is never an easy task. The Gators seem to improve as the season continues. Saturday was no exception as Florida handed LSU their first loss of the season. The win keeps Florida in the SEC hunt. It also bumps LSU from playoff contention, at least for the time being. 4 Notre Dame 45 Virginia Tech 23 No one doubts that the Fighting Irish can play with anyone on their home field. But they have struggled on the road, especially against ranked opponents. But now they have gone into one of college football’s most hostile environments and soundly beat the Hokies in Lane Stadium. The schedule calms down a bit for the Irish now and this win puts them in a enviable spot as they enter a more favorable stretch of games. The Irish May have secured a playoff spot today.
The ABG Poll is volatile and and can be unforgiving. With only 10 spots and voters who don't think winning automatically keeps you from dropping, teams have to impress or they could drop. Big wins against big teams pushed Ohio State and Notre Dame ahead in the poll. Clemson won after struggling with Syracuse and lost four spaces. West Virginia and Washington both join the Top 10 this week. Alabama and Georgia remain at the top with Alabama the consensus #1. Watch for Kentucky hiding down there in the "also receiving votes." With a big match up with A&M Saturday, they could be on the move next week. The Poll Rank Team Points Last Week 1. Alabama 50 (5) 1 2. Georgia 40 2 3. Ohio State 37 5 4. Notre Dame 33 8 5. LSU 30 4 6. Oklahoma 27 6 7. Clemson 24 3 8. West Virginia 10 UR 9. Auburn 9 10 10. Washington 8 UR Also receiving votes: Central Florida 5, Kentucky 3 This week saw the Hokies rebound from their loss to Old Dominion, Florida State catch a break late to squeak out a win against Louisville, and Purdue keep Scott Frost winless at Nebraska. But that is just the beginning. Three Games That MatteredSouth Carolina 10 - Kentucky 24 Kentucky has now beaten Florida, Mississippi State, and now South Carolina. They find themselves 5-0. There’s been a lot of well deserved press for Benny Snell but two other Wildcats found the end zone as well. The Kentucky defense held Carolina to 10 points and the Wildcats held onto the ball for 9:30 more than the Gamecocks. That’s a team effort. This team look like much more than a one man show. With the remaining schedule, very little imagination is needed to see Kentucky picking up 10 or 11 wins. There could be a New Year’s Day bowl in this scenario, if not something even more impressive. 7 Stanford 17 - 8 Notre Dame 38 The Fighting Irish (5-0) remained undefeated as QB Ian Book went 24/33 for 278 yds and 4 TDs. Stanford RB Bryce Love had 17 carries for 73 yds and 1 TD but suffered an apparent ankle injury and missed the last 11 minutes of the game. The strong night by the Irish gives them their second win against a ranked opponent this season. The Irish are sure to move up in the polls and will be in the playoff conversation if they continue to win with an impressive schedule. 5 Ohio State 27 - 8 Penn State 26 The Buckeyes overcame a 12 point 4th quarter deficit to snatch another victory from Penn State. The largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history watched as Ohio State scored twice in the last eight minutes Buckeyes QB Trace McSorley passed for 286 yds and rushed for another 175. Ohio State makes another step in the direction of the playoff while Penn State will now need outside help to get back in the picture.
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