AP top 25 poll released following Week 5
One thing is for sure after Week 5 of the college football season — new teams are emerging in the playoff picture. While Alabama and Georgia each quashed upstart teams in the SEC on Saturday, across the rest of the college football landscape, other teams are emerging as serious contenders to crash the CFP party.
Iowa opened up the weekend with a dominant win at Maryland on Friday night. Cincinnati picked up the biggest win in its school history in South Bend on Saturday, handling Notre Dame in a 24-13 win. Kentucky capped off the night with a win over Florida, the first time since 1986 that the Wildcats have beat the Gators in Lexington.
Oregon fell at Stanford, the Ducks first loss of the season. After going into Columbus and knocking off Ohio State earlier in the season, the Pac-12’s only playoff hope could be gone.
Ohio State picked up a convincing win at Rutgers, too, with the return of C.J. Stroud. With the Buckeyes starting to look like the team many thought they can be, the month of November sets up a opportunity for them to make a case for the playoff.
And Michigan State and Michigan are each undefeated, sitting at 5-0. Who saw that coming? The Spartans held off upstart Western Kentucky, while the Wolverines picked up a convincing victory at Wisconsin.
The focus of the college football world will turn to Oklahoma vs. Texas and Penn State vs. Iowa next weekend. Both games could have huge significant playoff implications.
But if Week 5 of the college football season proved anything, it is that Alabama and Georgia are at the top of the sport.
The AP Poll voters have voted. Here is where the top-25 stands after the some major movement over the weekend.
The full AP Poll can be found below.
AP Poll (Oct. 3)
No. 1 Alabama (5-0) (53)
No. 2 Georgia (5-0) (9)
No. 3 Iowa (5-0)
No. 4 Penn State (5-0)
No. 5 Cincinnati (4-0)
No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0)
No. 7 Ohio State (4-1)
No. 8 Oregon (4-1)
No. 9 Michigan (5-0)
No. 10 BYU (5-0)
No. 11 Michigan State (5-0)
No. 12 Oklahoma State (5-0)
No. 13 Arkansas (4-1)
No. 14 Notre Dame (4-1)
No. 15 Coastal Carolina (5-0)
No. 16 Kentucky (5-0)
No. 17 Ole Miss (4-1)
No. 18 Auburn (4-1)
No. 19 Wake Forest (5-0)
No. 20 Florida (3-2)
No. 21 Texas (4-1)
No. 22 Arizona State (4-1)
No. 23 NC State (4-1)
No. 24 SMU (5-0)
No. 25 San Diego State (5-0)
Winners, losers in latest AP Poll
Winners
Kentucky: The Wildcats had a chance to knock off Florida, and they did it. Mark Stoops has built this program up and now it seems they could be a contender in the SEC. Competing with Georgia and Alabama is a different conversation, but Kentucky is undefeated and isn’t a team many will want to play.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats entered the weekend knowing their mission. And they accomplished it. With the win over Notre Dame, they are officially in the running for a playoff spot. The next step? Going undefeated in AAC play.
Losers
Ole Miss: The Rebels had their opportunity and just let it slide by. They didn’t even compete with Alabama, as Nick Saban’s squad dominated from the first snap. Now Ole Miss is down five spots in the poll and Matt Corral for Heisman can be put on the backburner.
Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers have done everything they can. They are 5-0 and moved up just one spot this week. Even if they run the table, it is hard to see how they are considered a top-10 team by AP voters.