Alabama drops in AP Poll after shocking loss to Vanderbilt

AP Poll drops Alabama after embarrassing loss to unranked Vanderbilt.

Almost a full day has passed and it’s still hard to believe that the Vanderbilt Commodores knocked off the Alabama Crimson Tide 40-35. The loss breaks Alabama’s 12-game winning streak over the Commodores. It is probably the biggest upset the Crimson Tide have suffered since Louisiana Monroe knocked off Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa in his first year.

Fortunately, it was a day filled with upsets as five of the top 11 teams lost and Miami somehow avoided an upset for a second straight week. The Tide was one of three SEC teams ranked in the top ten to fall to an unranked opponent alongside the Tennessee Volunteers and Missouri Tigers.

Jalen Milroe threw a pick-six and had a crucial fumble in the fourth, but it’s hard to blame him for either with the interception taking a bad bounce and an OT whiffing a block on a sack fumble. Most of the loss will be shouldered by the defense. You can’t give up 40 points to Vanderbilt.

Fortunately, the AP Poll didn’t punish the Tide too harshly dropping them just six spots to No. 7. Alabama’s Playoff hopes are clearly still intact, but they will have to play much better from here on out. The penalties have been a cause of concern that absolutely have to get cleaned up now.

AP Top 25 Poll Week 7

Rank Team Record Points Change
1 Texas 5-0 1516 (52) +1
2 Ohio State 5-0 1473 (9) +1
3 Oregon 5-0 1348 +3
4 Penn State 5-0 1305 +3
5 Georgia 4-1 1299
6 Miami (FL) 6-0 1187 +2
7 Alabama 4-1 1182 -6
8 Tennessee 4-1 1001 -4
9 Ole Miss 5-1 978 +3
10 Clemson 4-1 861 +5
11 Iowa State 5-0 853 +5
12 Notre Dame 4-1 853 +3
13 LSU 4-1 827
14 BYU 5-0 753 +3
15 TAMU 5-1 702 +10
16 Utah 4-1 473 +2
17 Boise State 4-1 463 +4
18 Kansas State 4-1 459 +2
19 Indiana 6-0 459 +5
20 Oklahoma 4-1 459 +1
21 Missouri 4-1 352 -12
22 Pitt 5-0 196
23 Illinois 4-1 182 +1
24 Michigan 4-2 170 -14
25 SMU 5-1 165

Others receiving votes:

Southern Cal 98, Nebraska 51, Navy 43, Army 33, Vanderbilt 26, Arkansas 17, Washington St. 8, Iowa 8, Texas Tech 7, Syracuse 6, Washington 4, Louisville 4, Colorado 3, Kentucky 1.

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