After a couple of top 10 teams took their first losses of the season in Week 5, Penn State wiggled its way into the top 10 of the updated USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after a sloppy win at home against Northwestern.
Penn State is No. 10 in this week’s poll, a two-spot rise. Penn State joins Ohio State (No. 3) and Michigan (No. 4) as Big Ten programs in the top 10.
Kentucky and NC State fell out of the top 10 after losses. NC State couldn’t keep up with Clemson on Saturday night, and former Penn State quarterback Will Levis couldn’t quite lead Kentucky to a road win against Ole Miss in the afternoon. Ole Miss also moved up two spots in this week’s coaches poll to remain one spot ahead of the Nittany Lions.
Kentucky fell five spots to No. 13, and NC State fell four to No. 14.
The Kansas Jayhawks and UCLA Bruins were big risers. Kansas made its first coaches poll appearance this season at No. 17. UCLA made its debut at No. 19 after upsetting Washington. Both the Jayhawks and Bruins are 5-0. TCU also cracked the top 25 this week, at No. 18, after a 4-0 start was solidified with a blowout of Oklahoma.
Alabama moved back ahead of Georgia for No. 1 after the Crimson Tide pulled away on the road at Arkansas and Georgia struggled on the road against Missouri. Georgia is No. 2.
Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Florida State, Minnesota and Pittsburgh fell out of the top 25 this week.
Here is the full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for Week 5.
- Alabama – 1,568 points (34 first-place votes)
- Georgia – 1,545 (23)
- Ohio State – 1,492 (7)
- Michigan – 1,374
- Clemson – 1,352
- USC – 1,247
- Oklahoma State – 1,225
- Tennessee – 1,142
- Ole Miss – 1,082
- Penn State – 990
- Utah – 919
- Oregon – 823
- Kentucky – 811
- NC State – 732
- Wake Forest – 668
- BYU – 594
- Kansas – 433
- TCU – 425
- UCLA – 421
- Kansas State – 324
- Syracuse – 306
- Baylor – 230
- Mississippi State – 194
- Washington – 161
- Arkansas – 141
Dropped Out: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Florida State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh
Others Receiving Votes:
Cincinnati 140; Louisiana State 89; Florida State 74; Florida 41; Washington State 38; Maryland 37; James Madison 30; Minnesota 23; Texas 22; Texas A&M 20; Air Force 20; Oklahoma 19; Coastal Carolina 11; Purdue 10; North Carolina 9; Tulane 6; Notre Dame 5; Illinois 3; Central Florida 2; Pittsburgh 1; Duke 1.
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