Critical close calls, a handful of upsets and a potential Game of the Year highlighted a thrilling Week Five in college football, and resulted in plenty of movement in this week’s AP Top 25 vote.
The final five minutes of Alabama vs. Georgia in Tuscaloosa – the 67-yard touchdown pass for Georgia to come back and take the lead late, Alabama and 17-year-old receiver Ryan Williams’ immediate answer and the interception to seal the game – were everything that makes college football great. The win moved Alabama up to No. 2 in my poll this week, keeping Texas at No. 1, and Georgia moved down to four with the loss. The Bulldogs trailed 28-0 at one point in the game and entered the fourth quarter down 33-15 before scoring 19 unanswered points.
Elsewhere on my ballot, Ole Miss dropped seven spots to No. 11 after losing 20-17 at home vs. Kentucky, Utah dropped six spots to No. 17 following its 23-10 loss at home to Arizona. Louisville is clinging on to the No. 24 spot on my ballot after its 31-24 loss at Notre Dame, which moved up to No. 14.
Tennessee, Penn State, Oregon and Clemson all established themselves in my top 10.
Here is how I voted in the Week Six AP Poll:
1. Texas (5-0): Longhorns handle business vs. Mississippi State, another win on the Arch Manning resumé.
2. Alabama (4-0): Tide still rolling under Kalen DeBoer, very hard to believe Ryan Williams is only 17 years old.
3. Ohio State (4-0): Another dominant win for the Buckeyes, when will they be tested?
4. Georgia (3-1): Almost came back down four scores in Tuscaloosa, I’ll stay on the Carson Beck rollercoaster.
5. Tennessee (4-0): Vols got the week off before a tough October (at Arkansas, vs. Florida, vs. Alabama).
6. Penn State (4-0): Statement made. Nittany Lions ran over ranked Illinois and held the Illini to 219 total yards.
7. Oregon (4-0): Tez Johnson, offense shows out against a bad UCLA team
8. Miami (5-0): Hurricanes get a miracle to avoid loss to Virginia Tech, Cam Ward is a fun rollercoaster, too.
9. Clemson (3-1): Maybe losing to Georgia Week One doesn’t mean you’re that bad? Tigers are rolling.
10. Missouri (4-0): Back-to-back close calls, but Missouri has survived. Texas A&M up next.
11. Ole Miss (4-1): Didn’t see that one coming. Upset was Kentucky’s first win in Oxford since 1978.
12. Michigan (4-1): Run the football. Wolverines almost gave one away vs. Minnesota.
13. USC (3-1): Second-half rally gets Southern Cal its first Big 10 win vs. Wisconsin.
14. Notre Dame (4-1): Riley Leonard, Irish offense has responded since NIU upset.
15. LSU (4-1): Still a work in progress, but LSU is still a playoff contender.
16. Iowa State (4-0): Cyclones getting better every week, could rise to top of Big 12.
17. Utah (4-1): Utes offense struggles in third game without Cam Rising, he should return soon.
18. Oklahoma (4-1): Sooners rally late in Auburn for their first SEC win.
19. BYU (5-0): Defense saves the Cougars from an epic collapse.
20. Kansas State (4-1): Solid response with ranked win over OK State after last week’s BYU upset.
21. Boise State (3-1): Ashton Jeanty, best running back in the country, is campaigning for Heisman.
22. UNLV (4-0): Matthew Sluka situation is messy, but the Rebels rallied around Hajj-Malik Williams.
23. Illinois (4-1): Illini ran into a tough Penn State team, can get back on track vs. Purdue.
24. Louisville (3-1): First quarter was a killer for the Cardinals, who have SMU next.
25. Indiana (5-0): Curt Cignetti wins football games. Hoosiers hadn’t been 5-0 since 1967!
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