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Editors note: This article was originally published by USA TODAY Sports and has been republished in its entirety below.
Clemson’s win against Georgia Tech was enough to keep the Tigers ahead of Alabama and atop the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-127.
Not that it was an easy decision. Clemson might’ve beat the Yellow Jackets 73-7, the largest margin of victory in any ACC game, but Alabama overcame a 24-17 deficit late in the first half to beat Georgia 41-24 and become the only unbeaten team in the SEC.
Each has a very good argument. Clemson is Clemson. Alabama is Alabama. That’s the argument. If you’ve been watching college football for the past five years, you’re not surprised at all that these two teams have created a distance between themselves and the rest of the Bowl Subdivision. If we’re lucky, the pair will rekindle the rivalry and meet in this year’s College Football Playoff.
Georgia didn’t fall far. The Bulldogs are down just one spot to No. 4, replaced by new No. 3 Ohio State, after playing well for about 29 minutes against the Crimson Tide. Overall, the Bulldogs’ defense seems capable of stopping any opponent in the SEC — just not Alabama.
SEC Week 4 Roundup: Alabama QB Mac Jones enters Heisman Trophy race, nightmarish day for Ole Miss
No. 5 Notre Dame had the opportunity to move into the top three but looked listless in a 12-7 win against Louisville. Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State will join the playoff chase this weekend with the start of Big Ten play.
Among the biggest movers forward this week are Coastal Carolina, Florida State and South Carolina after each posted wins against ranked opponents. Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State are among the group that had the biggest falls.
And the re-rank makes one last addition: Massachusetts joins the list after making its debut against Georgia Southern. The Minutemen lost 41-0 and slot in at No. 126, one spot from the bottom. Welcome to the season!
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