No. 2 Alabama gained ground on No. 1 Clemson in Sunday’s Associated Press Top 25 poll after the Tigers’ narrow escape against Boston College.
With star quarterback Trevor Lawrence sidelined due to COVID-19 on Saturday, Clemson (7-0) rallied late for a 34-28 win against the Eagles.
The Tigers received 33 first-place votes — 19 fewer than last week — and the Crimson Tide (6-0) received the other 29 following a 41-0 win against Mississippi State.
There were no changes in the top five, with No. 3 Ohio State (2-0) followed by Notre Dame (6-0) and Georgia (4-1).
Clemson and Notre Dame will meet Saturday in an ACC clash in South Bend, Ind.
No. 6 Cincinnati (5-0) has its highest ranking since finishing 2009 at No. 4, and No. 9 BYU (7-0) is in the top 10 for the first time since Sept. 13, 2009.
Oklahoma State (4-1) dropped eight places to No. 14 after a 41-34 overtime loss against Texas (4-2), which jumped back into the poll at No. 22.
Penn State (0-2), ranked 18th last week, fell out of the poll after a 38-25 loss to the Buckeyes. Also dropping out were North Carolina (4-2) and Kansas State (4-2).
No. 24 Auburn (4-2) returned to the rankings after a two-week absence following a 48-11 rout of LSU.
In just its third season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, No. 25 Liberty (6-0) joined the poll for the first time.
–Field Level Media