College Football AP Poll Sees Shakeup After Big Week 8 Slate
By Jerry Trotta
After a scintillating Week 8 slate of college football, the Associated Press has released their fresh Top-25 poll, and the list features some significant restructuring.
Alabama unsurprisingly comes in at the No.1 spot as the Crimson Tide knocked off Tennessee on Saturday after losing superstar quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a high-ankle sprain.
Elsewhere, Ohio State jumped Clemson, moving from No. 4 to No. 3 after demolishing Northwestern 52-3 on Friday. Additionally Wisconsin has dropped out of the Top 10 after their humbling loss to unranked Illinois this weekend.
Say hello to the Week 9 AP Poll ?
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1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson
5. Oklahoma
6. Penn State
7. Florida
8. Notre Dame
9. Auburn
10. Georgia
Auburn, who was ranked No. 11 in the Week 7 rankings, promptly took the Badgers spot in the Top 10 after making light work of Arkansas yesterday.
Most pundits might have thought that Georgia would move to No. 9, but the committee surprisingly sanctioned the Tigers deserving of that spot, despite the fact that the Bulldogs shut out Kentucky, 21-0.
New @AP_Top25 poll
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1 Bama
2 LSU
3 Ohio St
4 Clemson
5 OU
6 Penn St
7 Florida
8 Notre Dame
9 Auburn
10 Georgia
11 Oregon
12 Utah
13 Wisconsin
14 Baylor
15 Texas
16 SMU
17 Minnesota
18 Cincinnati
19 Michigan
20 Iowa
21 Appalachian St
22 Boise St
23 Iowa St
24 Arizona St
25 Wake
As things stand, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Clemson would be battling it out in the College Football Playoff, but Oklahoma and Penn State are quietly bolstering their resumes.
Most of the teams inside the Top 10 simply can't afford a loss down the stretch, as it would likely prove detrimental to their playoff hopes.
Fasten your seatbelts, folks, because it's going to be an enthralling race to the finish line.