The Southeastern Conference is again well represented in the Associated Press Top 25 media poll released Sunday, as 10 teams from the conference are included – with 3 programs cracking the Top 5.
Unebaten Texas A&M took advantage of Miami’s stunning 24-21 Friday night loss to Louisville to climb a spot to No. 3 behind Ohio State and Indiana. Alabama and Georgia, which both recorded home victories against ranked SEC teams, moved up to No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.
The Crimson Tide downed Tennessee 37-20 on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, a Volunteers loss that sent them tumbling from No. 11 to No. 17. The Bulldogs outlasted Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens, a Rebels loss that saw them lose for the first time and move from No. 5 to No. 8.
Vanderbilt moved up 7 spots to No. 10 in the AP poll, the Commodores’ highest ranking since 1947. Vanderbilt downed LSU 31-24 to earn just the fifth top-10 ranking in program history. The others were in 1937 (once), 1941 (once) and 1947 (twice).
Oklahoma moved up 1 spot after beating South Carolina 26-7. Missouri moved up 1 spot to No. 15 after downing Auburn 23-17 in double overtime. LSU absorbed the biggest fall in the Week 9 poll, dropping 10 spots to No. 20 for the Tigers’ lowest ranking of the season. Texas rounded out the SEC’s Top 25 representation at No. 22 after edging Kentucky 16-13.
The Week 9 AP Top 25 poll
- 1. Ohio State
- 2. Indiana
- 3. Texas A&M
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Georgia
- 6. Oregon
- 7. Georgia Tech
- 8. Ole Miss
- 9. Miami
- 10. Vanderbilt
- 11. BYU
- 12. Notre Dame
- 13. Oklahoma
- 14. Texas Tech
- 15. Missouri
- 16. Virginia
- 17. Tennessee
- 18. South Florida
- 19. Louisville
- 20. LSU
- 21. Cincinnati
- 22. Texas
- 23. Illinois
- 24. Arizona State
- 25. Michigan
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
