It’s probably no surprise my top four teams remain the same from last week with No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Utah. However, the rest of my top 10 is drastically different because of three factors: losses by Minnesota and Baylor and the season-ending loss of Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa to a hip injury.
I jumped both Utah and Oregon over Alabama, because I believe both Pac-12 programs are currently better than the Tua-less Crimson Tide. Both Minnesota and Baylor dropped out of my top 10 after each suffered their first losses: Minnesota to Iowa and Baylor to Oklahoma.
On my ballot this week, Utah jumped up to No. 5, followed by No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Penn State and No. 10 Florida.
Three teams dropped out of my Top 25 rankings this week (Navy, Indiana and Texas). They were replaced by Iowa, at No. 20; Virginia Tech, at No. 24; and Air Force, at No. 25.
My AP ballot (last week)
- LSU (1)
- Ohio State (2)
- Clemson (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Utah (9)
- Oregon (8)
- Alabama (6)
- Oklahoma (11)
- Penn State (10)
- Florida (12)
- Minnesota (5)
- Baylor (7)
- Wisconsin (15)
- Michigan (16)
- Auburn (13)
- Cincinnati (14)
- Boise State (17)
- Memphis (18)
- Notre Dame (19)
- Iowa (NR)
- SMU (20)
- Oklahoma State (24)
- Appalachian State (25)
- Virginia Tech (NR)
- Air Force (NR)
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