The top five places in the poll remained the same. The top-ranked Crimson Tide led Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU and Michigan in order. No. 6 Texas, however, slid all the way to No. 15 after losing to unranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Alabama received 50 of a possible 51 first-place votes. LSU received the other first-place vote.
With five ranked teams idle (No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 LSU, No. 5 Michigan, No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 UCF), only minor changes occurred in the poll after the Longhorns’ fall. Florida’s lopsided loss to Georgia dropped the Gators from No. 10 to No. 14. Washington State advanced from No. 14 to No. 10 after a road win against Stanford. Texas A&M and Washington both dropped away games, falling out of the poll. They were replaced by Penn State, who returns to the poll after a two week absence, at No. 13, and Utah, who appears for the first time in the poll this season, at No. 16.