Amway Coaches Poll: UCF rises into top 10; Ohio State falls after overtime escape

A few early struggles by some of the top teams didn’t alter the voting much in the Amway Coaches Poll. The top six teams remained unchanged, but one upset and a close call shuffled the rest of the top 10.

No. 1 Alabama continues to receive all but one of the first-place votes, though it took the Crimson Tide more than a half to put away The Citadel. Clemson holds steady at No. 2 with the remaining first-place nod after handling Duke, though the Tigers were also a little slow out of the gate.

Notre Dame had perhaps the most impressive performance of the weekend, dominating then-No. 12 Syracuse from start to finish in Yankee Stadium to easily retain the No. 3 spot. Michigan, Georgia and Oklahoma stay put in the next three positions. Washington State, LSU and Central Florida each move up two notches, while Ohio State slips to No. 10 after an overtime escape at Maryland.

TOP 25: Full Amway Coaches Poll

Stock up: Texas. The Longhorns shut down Iowa State and gain three positions to No. 11 with their Big 12 title hopes very much intact.

Stock down: West Virginia. The Mountaineers couldn’t muster last-minute magic this time at Oklahoma State and tumble five places to No. 12.

Stock up: Florida. The Gators match the three-spot jump to No. 13, hopping over No. 14 Penn State.

Stock down: Utah State. The Aggies barely survived Colorado State’s upset bid but fall two spots in the rankings to No. 15.

Stock up: Kentucky. The Wildcats stopped their mini-skid with a home victory against Middle Tennessee and climb back up to No. 18, also a three-spot gain.

Stock down: Syracuse. The Orange’s loss to the Fighting Irish cost them seven positions as they check in at No. 19.

New kids on the block: No. 21 Northwestern, No. 23 Fresno State, No. 24 Army, No. 25 Pittsburgh.

College dropouts: Iowa State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Alabama-Birmingham.

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