Week #14 Non-BCS College Football Rankings

The Associated Press Top 25 and The USA Today Coaches Poll rankings have been released and the top ten lists in both polls have been greatly reshaped.  But even though Alabama and Florida State have retained their positions as the #1 and #2 teams in both polls respectively, the recent shifts in the rankings have put the Crimson Tide in a position where they have a more difficult road to the BCS Championship.  And that road (which is literally Interstate 85) leads right to Auburn and the Iron Bowl.  Because the Tigers are currently #4 in the AP and #5 in the Coaches Poll, they will be Alabama's most difficult challenge since playing Texas A&M earlier in the season.  With Auburn having the home-field advantage, it should be anybody's game.  By contrast, Florida State only has to play a non-conference game against an unranked Florida team with a losing record.  The Seminoles have already clinched the Atlantic division in the ACC; it remains to be seen who they will play in their conference championship.  At this point, Duke (#24 in both polls) is in first-place in the ACC's Coastal division.  Should the Blue Devils beat North Carolina this Saturday, they will play Florida State.  

As for the rest of the top ten, the lists in both polls have shifted around as much as a game of musical chairs.  Ohio State is now #3 in both polls, and their victory over Indiana yesterday enabled the Buckeyes to clinch the Big Ten Leaders division.  Clemson moved up two spots to reach #4 in the Coaches Poll (#6 in the AP), Missouri moved up three places in the AP to reach #5 (#6 in the Coaches Poll), and Oklahoma State is #7 in both polls (the Cowboys moved up four spots in the AP, two in the Coaches Poll).  Stanford found its way to #8 in the AP (#10 in the Coaches Poll), Baylor landed at #9 in the AP (#8 Coaches Poll) after its big loss to Oklahoma State, while South Carolina takes its place in the #10 spot on the AP (#9 Coaches). 

Oregon fell seven spots in both polls to #12, Ole Miss got dropped from the AP after their loss to Missouri, and Minnesota was removed from the Coaches Poll after their loss to Wisconsin (#14 AP and Coaches).  The BCS Standings will be posted tomorrow along with Jerry Palm's revised postseason bowl projections.  Enjoy the evening, everybody!  And have a Happy Thanksgiving.


ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 

RK	TEAM	RECORD	CONFERENCE
1	Alabama (56)	11-0	SEC
2	Florida State (4)	11-0	ACC
3	Ohio State	11-0	Big Ten
4	Auburn	10-1	SEC
5	Missouri	10-1	SEC
6	Clemson	10-1	ACC
7	Oklahoma State	10-1	BIG XII
8	Stanford	9-2	PAC-12
9	Baylor	9-1	BIG XII
10	South Carolina	9-2	SEC
11	Michigan State	10-1	Big Ten
12	Oregon	9-2	PAC-12
13	Arizona State	9-2	PAC-12
14	Wisconsin	9-2	Big Ten
15	LSU	8-3	SEC
16	Fresno State	10-0	MWC
17	UCF	9-1	AAC
18	Northern Illinois	11-0	MAC
19	Texas A&M	8-3	SEC
20	Oklahoma	9-2	BIG XII
21	Louisville	10-1	AAC
22	UCLA	8-3	PAC-12
23	USC	9-3	PAC-12
24	Duke	9-2	ACC
25	Notre Dame	8-3	Independent

  

USA TODAY COACHES POLL
 
This poll represents one third of the BCS rankings.

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Alabama (56)	11-0	1544
2	Florida State (6)	11-0	1488
3	Ohio State	11-0	1428
4	Clemson	10-1	1289
5	Auburn	10-1	1268
6	Missouri	10-1	1243
7	Oklahoma State	10-1	1225
8	Baylor	9-1	1009
9	South Carolina	9-2	1003
10	Stanford	9-2	981
11	Michigan State	10-1	962
12	Oregon	9-2	777
13	Fresno State	10-0	687
14	Wisconsin	9-2	661
15	LSU	8-3	646
16	Louisville	10-1	603
17	Oklahoma	9-2	581
18	Arizona State	9-2	574
19	UCF	9-1	512
20	Northern Illinois	11-0	459
21	Texas A&M	8-3	410
22	UCLA	8-3	257
23	USC	9-3	210
24	Duke	9-2	203
25	Cincinnati	9-2	47

Numbers in parentheses represent amount of first-place votes.