Alabama Reclaims Top Spot in AP Poll, UNLV Makes Historic Debut

In the latest AP Top 25 college football poll, Alabama has returned to the No. 1 position for the first time in two years, following a thrilling victory over Georgia. This win marks the 16th time in the last 17 seasons that the Crimson Tide have held the top spot at some point during the year.

Alabama's ascent to the top was fueled by their impressive performance against Georgia, where they managed to secure a 41-34 win despite relinquishing a 28-point lead in the first half. The Crimson Tide garnered 40 out of 63 first-place votes, surpassing Texas, which had held the No. 1 spot previously.

UNLV's Historic Entry

In a significant milestone, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has entered the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in its program history. Despite losing their starting quarterback due to a dispute over name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, the Rebels remain unbeaten after four games and are currently tied for the 25th spot with Texas A&M.

SEC Dominance

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) continues to assert its dominance in the rankings. For the fourth consecutive week, the SEC occupies four of the top five positions, a feat that has never been achieved before in the history of the AP poll. The SEC also boasts nine teams in the Top 25, just one shy of its own record for the highest number of ranked teams from a single conference.

Other notable teams in the top 10 include Ohio State, which maintained its No. 3 position with four first-place votes, and Tennessee, which climbed to No. 4 after a bye week. Georgia, despite the loss to Alabama, slipped to No. 5. The remaining top 10 features Oregon, Penn State, Miami, Missouri, and Michigan.

Notable Moves and Matchups

Mississippi and Utah experienced significant declines in the rankings. Mississippi, after being upset at home by Kentucky, fell from No. 6, while Utah dropped from No. 10 after losing to Arizona at home. Oklahoma State, previously ranked No. 20, has fallen out of the rankings following two consecutive losses against ranked opponents.

The upcoming week promises exciting matchups, including No. 1 Alabama hosting a non-conference game and No. 2 Texas facing Mississippi State. Other key games include No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State and No. 9 Penn State vs. No. 19 Illinois.