Georgia’s grip on the top spot weakens, but the top seven teams remain unchanged. Kentucky and Louisville make their way into the poll.
Georgia’s hold on No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll loosened Sunday as the Bulldogs received a season-low 35 first-place votes out of possible 62 while extending their streak atop the rankings to 16 straight weeks.
The Bulldogs needed a late touchdown to escape with a win at Auburn on Saturday and that sent many in the media panel looking for a new No. 1 team. Georgia had 55 first-place votes and 1,562 points last week but was down to 1,501 points in this week’s AP Top 25.
No. 2 Michigan got 12 first-place votes and 1,436 points but nearly was passed by No. 3 Texas, which received 10 first-place votes and 1,426 points. Both the Wolverines and Longhorns won big on Saturday.
Ohio State kept its spot at No. 4 and received one first-place vote. No. 5 Florida State received four first-place votes. Neither the Buckeyes nor Seminoles played this weekend.
No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Washington also held their spots. Oregon moved up a place to No. 8 and Southern California dropped one to No. 9.
No. 10 Notre Dame moved back into the top 10 after a dramatic victory at Duke. The Blue Devils dropped two places to No. 19.Poll Points
Before declaring Georgia vulnerable, it should be noted that it was right around this time last year when the Bulldogs needs a second-half comeback to escape Missouri with a victory.
After that result, the Georgia slipped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the rankings behind Alabama.
A week later on Oct. 9, the Bulldogs regained the top spot—and haven’t relinquished it since—but it took a while to convince a lot of voters.
Georgia didn’t receive more than 32 first-place votes until it pounded Tennessee in a 1-vs.-2 matchup. On Nov. 6, Georgia received 62 of 63 first-place votes and there was never really a serious question again about who was No. 1.In-And-Out
Florida and Kansas dropped out of the rankings after being routed this weekend, the Gators by Kentucky.
That pushed the Wildcats into the poll along with rival Louisville, both setting up ranked vs. ranked matchups Saturday:
No. 20 Kentucky goes to Georgia. The Wildcats reached as high as No. 7 early last season before a second-half swoon that left them unranked at the end of the season.
No. 25 Louisville hosts Notre Dame on Saturday. The Cardinals are ranked for the first time since being in the AP Top 25 for two weeks at the start of the 2020 pandemic season, when some conferences were not playing and their teams were ineligible for the poll.
The last time both the Bluegrass State rivals were ranked when all of Division I college football was up and running was Sept. 16, 2007.Conference Call
SEC—7 (Nos. 1, 11, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23).
Pac-12—6 (Nos. 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 18).
ACC—5 (Nos. 5, 14, 17, 19, 25).
Big Ten—3 (Nos. 2, 4, 6).
Big 12—2 (Nos. 3, 12).
Mountain West—1 (No. 24).
Independent—1 (No. 10).Ranked vs. Ranked
No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas in Dallas. The 43rd Red River Rivalry with both teams ranked.
No. 23 LSU at No. 21 Missouri. Only the fourth meeting between the two Tigers, and the first with both ranked.
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia. Third time in the last six years the SEC East rivals have met as ranked teams, and only the fifth time in 77 total games.
No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 25 Louisville. Another first-time ranked-on-ranked matchup. The Irish and Cardinals have played just three times previously.
By Ralph D. Russo
What factors solidified Michigan’s case for being a contender for the No. 1 ranking?
Florida last October, and even then, some voters were still hesitant to fully commit to the Bulldogs as the undisputed No. 1 team.
Now, after a close call against Auburn, Georgia’s hold on the top spot has weakened even further. The Bulldogs received only 35 first-place votes out of a possible 62, a significant drop from their previous 55 first-place votes. Their total points also decreased from 1,562 to 1,501.
The media panel looking for a new No. 1 team may have found a contender in Michigan. The Wolverines, ranked No. 2, received 12 first-place votes and 1,436 points. They had a convincing win over an opponent on Saturday, solidifying their case for the top spot.
However, Texas, ranked No. 3, is not far behind. The Longhorns received 10 first-place votes and 1,426 points. Their strong performance on Saturday also earned them consideration for the No. 1 ranking.
Ohio State remained at No. 4 and received one first-place vote, while Florida State held on to No. 5 with four first-place votes. Both teams did not play this weekend.
Penn State and Washington maintained their spots at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Oregon moved up to No. 8, while Southern California dropped one spot to No. 9.
A notable change in the rankings is Notre Dame’s move back into the top 10 at No. 10. The Fighting Irish secured a dramatic victory against Duke, while the Blue Devils dropped two places to No. 19.
The current fluctuations in the rankings highlight Georgia’s vulnerability. It should be noted that the Bulldogs faced a similar situation last year when they needed a second-half comeback to secure a win against Missouri. As a result, they slipped from No. 1 to No. 2, ultimately behind Alabama.
However, the Bulldogs reclaimed the top spot a week later and have held onto it since then. Nonetheless, it took time to convince voters of their dominance.
Georgia’s struggle to receive more than 32 first-place votes until last year’s victory over Florida is indicative of the skepticism surrounding their reign as the No. 1 team.
Ultimately, this week’s poll has shown that Georgia’s hold on the top spot is tenuous. Michigan and Texas are strong contenders, and their performances this season have caught the attention of voters. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if Georgia can maintain its position or if another team will rise to claim the coveted No. 1 ranking.
