TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama is back in the playoff picture following its 59-0 victory over Texas A&M, as it moved into the top four in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

Although neither poll is an indication of which four teams the selection committee might eventually place in the tournament, with Alabama still having LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn on its schedule, plus a possible appearance in the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide undoubtedly controls its destiny.

Although Florida State defeated another top-five opponent on Saturday, Mississippi State strengthened its lead atop the Amway Coaches Poll with 36 first-place votes.

The top four were the same in both polls with Ole Miss third and Alabama up to No. 4 from seventh. The coaches had Michigan State fifth and Auburn sixth, but the AP preferred the Tigers fifth followed by Oregon, Notre Dame and the Spartans eighth, just ahead of Georgia.

It’s the first time in the history of the AP poll, which dates back to 1936, that a conference has had four teams in the top five.

Meanwhile, the computers that used to be part of the BCS system were also high in Alabama (6-1 overall, 3-1 SEC). Of the ones to have already been released:

• Jeff Sagarin: 1 Ole Miss; 2. Alabama; 3. Auburn; 4. Mississippi State; 5. Georgia. It has Florida State 10th.
• Richard Billingsley: 1. Florida State; 2. Ole Miss; 3. Mississippi State; 4. Oregon; 5. Alabama. The next three teams were Notre Dame, Auburn and Georgia.
• Colley Matrix: 1, Mississippi State; 2. Ole Miss; 3. Florida State; 4. Auburn; 5. Alabama.
• Kenneth Massey: 1. Ole Miss; 2. Alabama; 3. Auburn; 4. Mississippi State; 5. Florida State. It has Georgia sixth.
• Dr. Peter Wolfe: 1. Mississippi State; 2. Ole Miss; 3. Florida State; 4. Auburn; 5. Alabama

Texas A&M, which was No. 21, dropped out of both polls. However, with West Virginia upsetting Baylor the Crimson Tide’s schedule is looking a little tougher as the Mountaineers were No. 22 (24th in the coaches poll). After a two week absence, LSU was back at No. 24 (23rd).

Associated Press poll
Rank, Team, Record, Points
1 Mississippi State (43) 6-0 1480
2 Florida State (14) 7-0 1433
3 Ole Miss (3) 7-0 1404
4 Alabama 6-1 1235
5 Auburn 5-1 1231
6 Oregon 6-1 1142
7 Notre Dame 6-1 1133
8 Michigan State 6-1 1066
9 Georgia 6-1 1055
10 TCU 5-1 962
11 Kansas State 5-1 905
12 Baylor 6-1 858
13 Ohio State 5-1 753
14 Arizona State 5-1 643
15 Arizona 5-1 639
16 Nebraska 6-1 537
17 Oklahoma 5-2 461
18 East Carolina 5-1 445
19 Utah 5-1 437
20 USC 5-2 356
21 Clemson 5-2 283
22 West Virginia 5-2 272
23 Marshall 7-0 184
24 LSU 6-2 177
25 UCLA 5-2 118
Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 15, Texas A&M 21, Stanford 23
Others receiving votes: Duke 108, Oklahoma State 91, Minnesota 61, Colorado State 12, Louisville 4, Missouri 4, Stanford 4, North Dakota State 3, Maryland 3, Texas A&M 1

Amway Coaches Poll
1 Mississippi State (36) 6-0 1520
2 Florida State (22) 7-0 1493
3 Ole Miss (4) 7-0 1447
4 Alabama 6-1 1293
5 Michigan State 6-1 1243
6 Auburn 5-1 1210
7 Oregon 6-1 1133
8 Notre Dame 6-1 1117
9 Georgia 6-1 1096
10 TCU 5-1 996
11 Kansas State 5-1 909
12 Ohio State 5-1 856
13 Baylor 6-1 853
14 Arizona State 5-1 654
15 Arizona 5-1 612
16 Nebraska 6-1 588
17 East Carolina 5-1 578
18 Oklahoma 5-2 482
19 Utah 5-1 371
20 Clemson 5-2 320
21 USC 5-2 258
22 Marshall 7-0 247
23 LSU 6-2 155
24 Minnesota 6-1 147
25 West Virginia 5-2 143
Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 15, Stanford 20
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 141, Duke 116, UCLA 107, Missouri 23, Colorado State 18, Wisconsin 17, Washington 5, Stanford 2