AP Poll Update: Week 10

The top of the AP keeps moving and changing, as several marquee matchups resulted in a fresh no. 1 and a newcomer to the top 5. The LSU Tigers flip-flopped with Alabama after a thrilling, 23-20 win over the Auburn Tigers, whose second loss against a top 10 team dropped them to 11th. The Tigers gained 1,476 points and Bama grabbed 1,474; an incredibly close margin with Ohio State not far behind in 3rd at 1,468 points. Undefeated Penn State moved up to 5 following Oklahoma dropping all the way to 10th, a five spot freefall following an embarrassing loss to Kansas State. The Wildcats led 48-23 in the 4th quarter before some garbage time scores by the Sooners made the game appear closer than it really was.

The Pac-12 saw a good week of action, as Oregon and Utah both moved into the top 10 to give the conference a decent shot at a playoff spot. But would the committee give the spot to the Pac-12 champ over a potential SEC runner-up? With how well college football’s best conference has looked this season, especially at the top, it’s tough to say. The Big 10 also saw some movement, as Minnesota and Michigan moved up to 13th and 14th, respectively.

Notre Dame and Wisconsin were the two other teams to take tremendous drops in the polls. Notre Dame went from 8th to 16th following a 45-14 beatdown by Michigan in The Big House - all but ending the Fighting Irish’s playoff hopes. Wisconsin lost their second straight, getting crushed by Ohio State in Columbus, 38-7 and falling from 13th to 18th. Texas also completely fell out of the polls, previously at 15th before their 37-27 loss to TCU and now, unofficially, at the 26th spot in the AP.