Georgia is back atop the AP Top 25 college football poll, jumping from second to first after its 42-10 win against Auburn. Alabama survived a close call against Texas A&M and slipped from first to third, while Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 2. The Bulldogs received 32 of 63 first-place votes to Ohio State’s 20 and Alabama’s 11.
Clemson, Michigan, Tennessee, USC, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Penn State round out the top 10. Clemson and Michigan swapped places, and the Vols moved up two spots after their 40-13 win at LSU.
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Behind the ballot: As Illinois, JMU earn rare AP Top 25 spots, who should be No. 1?
Meanwhile, one week after Kansas ended the longest active Power 5 AP poll drought, Illinois ended the new longest drought. The Illini, who beat Iowa 9-6, are 5-1 and moved into the poll at No. 24, their first appearance in the rankings since Oct. 16, 2011. Rutgers (Nov. 18, 2012) has now gone the longest among Power 5 teams without being ranked.
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There’s another surprise entry into the Top 25, as well: James Madison, just five games into its time as an FBS team, nabbed the final spot at No. 25. The Dukes are off to a 5-0 start in their first year after making the move up from the FCS. New Sun Belt rival Coastal Carolina is 6-0 and just outside the poll, third highest among the others receiving votes. JMU and Coastal are the only two unbeaten Group of 5 teams and are slated to meet in their regular-season finale on Nov. 26.
The Jayhawks lost their showdown with TCU but held steady at No. 19. The Horned Frogs leaped four spots to No. 13. UCLA (18th to 11th) and Mississippi State (23rd to 16th) were the biggest movers of the week after their decisive wins against Utah and Arkansas, respectively.
With Syracuse ranked 18th, it’s the first time since Oct. 3, 1960, that Syracuse, Kansas and Illinois are ranked in the same AP poll.
BYU, Washington and LSU fell out of the Top 25, while No. 22 Texas joined Illinois and JMU as new additions.
The stage is set for a big Week 7 in which No. 3 Alabama visits No. 6 Tennessee, No. 10 Penn State goes to No. 5 Michigan and No. 8 Oklahoma State travels to No. 13 TCU in showdowns of undefeated teams. In addition, undefeated No. 7 USC plays at No. 20 Utah, and No. 15 NC State visits undefeated No. 18 Syracuse.
The full AP Top 25 after Week 6:
1. Georgia (32)
2. Ohio State (20)
3. Alabama (11)
4. Clemson
5. Michigan
6. Tennessee
7. USC
8. Oklahoma State
9. Ole Miss
10. Penn State
11. UCLA
12. Oregon
13. TCU
14. Wake Forest
15. NC State
16. Mississippi State
17. Kansas State
18. Syracuse
19. Kansas
20. Utah
21. Cincinnati
22. Texas
22. Kentucky
24. Illinois
25. James Madison
Others receiving votes: North Carolina, Baylor, BYU, Coastal Carolina, Notre Dame, Florida, Tulane, Purdue, Florida State, South Carolina, Washington State, Minnesota, LSU, Maryland, San Jose State
(Photo: David Yeazell / USA Today)
