Georgia takes top spot in AP Poll back from Alabama
After making up ground on Alabama for the No. 1 spot in the Coaches Poll, Georgia reclaimed its top spot in the AP Poll. The Bulldogs., who received 53 votes for first place to the Crimson Tide’s nine and Ohio State’s one, defeated Samford 33-0 on Saturday while watching what felt like the rest of the College Football world struggle against inferior opponents.
Alabama needed a field goal in the final minute to beat unranked Texas on the road. Top-10 teams Texas A&M and Notre Dame both lost at home to teams from the Sun Belt – Appalachian State and Marshall respectively. Baylor, also a top-10 team, suffered a loss, albeit to a ranked BYU team on the road while Florida, who made a big jump in the eyes of the voters last week after beating Utah, lost at home to Kentucky. Throw in Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Houston too when counting up the top-25 teams to lose this week. So, while the win over Samford might not have been the prettiest, Georgia at least didn’t have to go down to the wire – or even worse, lose – with its competition like others around the country did.
In the process, Stetson Bennett threw for 300 yards for a second consecutive game while the defense recorded its FBS-best ninth shutout since 2016 when Kirby Smart arrived in Athens. Bennett threw one touchdown to Dillon Bell and added another on the ground. He was joined in scoring a touchdown Kenny McIntosh while Jack Podlesny hit a career-high four field goals in the win.
Alabama drops to No. 2, followed by Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson. Those three did not see any movement in their rankings this week. Oklahoma is up one spot to No. 6 while USC and Oklahoma State both jumped three spots to No. 7 and No. 8 respectively. Kentucky, who Georgia will play later in the season, comes in at No. 9, as the biggest riser in this week’s poll – up 11 spots – while the Bulldogs’ beloved Sam Pittman and his Arkansas Razorbacks are at No. 10.
Other ranked teams that Georgia has played or will play this season include Tennessee at No. 15, Florida at No. 18 and Oregon back in at No. 25. Mississippi State (No. 31) and Auburn (No. 40) both received votes.
Full AP Poll
- Georgia (53 first-place votes)
- Alabama (9)
- Ohio State (1)
- Michigan
- Clemson
- Oklahoma
- USC
- Oklahoma State
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Michigan State
- BYU
- Miami
- Utah
- Tennessee
- NC State
- Baylor
- Florida
- Wake Forest
- Ole Miss
- Texas
- Penn State
- Pittsburgh
- Texas A&M
- Oregon
Georgia opens SEC play this week against South Carolina. The Gamecocks lost this week at Arkansas. Kickoff time from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia is set for 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
