Alabama grabs top spot in college football poll

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – Boosted by its impressive 41-14 season-opening win over Michigan, Alabama notched 37 first-place votes to grab the No. 1 spot in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll.

The Crimson Tide of coach Nick Saban amassed a total of 1,447 points to clinch the top spot, improving their pre-season ranking of second behind Louisiana State University where they got 1,399 points and 16 first-place votes.

Southern California also moved up a spot to No. 2 with 14 first-place votes and 1,398 points after scoring an emphatic 49-10 victory over Hawaii.

After ruling the preseason poll with 18 first-place votes and 1,401 points, the LSU Tigers dropped to third place with seven first-place votes and 1,375 points despite beating North Texas, 41-14, in their opening game.

The Tigers became the first preseason No.1 squad to win their opener but drop from the top spot in the coaches poll since 2008, when Georgia was overtaken by USC.

Oregon improved one spot to fourth with one first-place vote and 1,286 points while Oklahoma dropped to fifth with 1,171 markers. Florida (1,144) was elevated to the sixth position while Georgia (1,092) was relegated to seventh.

South Carolina (943) and Arkansas (929) kept their pre-season position in 9th and 10th places, respectively.

From 11th place, the Wolverines dropped to 19th after they were manhandled by the Crimson Tide while then No. 25 Auburn was dropped from the ranking after it was defeated by No. 12 Clemson.

After losing its opener to No. 11 Michigan State, former No. 22-ranked Boise State dropped to No. 25, keeping its streak of 63 consecutive poll appearances alive, second to Alabama’s 66 among active streaks.

Louisville entered the rankings this week at No. 24, giving the Big East a presence in the poll after the league was shut out of the top 25 in the preseason.

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