Stock watch: Michigan State rises, Northwestern arrives
With the season’s first top-10 matchup featured, week two produced a bit more movement in the Amway Coaches Poll.
The top three positions remained the same, with Ohio State continuing to hold down the No. 1 ranking. The Buckeyes again claimed all but one first-place vote after whitewashing Hawaii. No. 2 Alabama retained its No. 1 vote after taking care of Middle Tennessee on the eve of its SEC opener against Ole Miss. TCU, a big winner against Fresno State, stayed put at No. 3.
Things start to shift after that. Michigan State vaults to No. 4 after staving off Oregon in the prime-time showdown. The strength of that win helped the Spartans leapfrog Baylor, which drops a spot to No. 5.
Stock up: Southern California. With Oregon’s loss, the Trojans become the highest-ranked squad from the Pac-12. They gain three spots to check in at No.7, though No.12 UCLA is also a team on the rise.
Stock down: Oregon. The Ducks have time to work their way back up, but they take an eight-position slide to No.13 after their comeback at Michigan State fell short.
Stock up: Clemson. The Tigers still trail No. 6 Florida State as far as ACC representatives are concerned, but they’re another of a lengthy list of teams to pick up three poll positions this week as they move up to No. 9.
Stock down: Auburn. When is a win not a win? When it’s an overtime escape against a team from a lower division. The Tigers were able to outlast FCS contender Jacksonville State, but the voters seemed to treat it like a loss. Now at No.15, Auburn matches Oregon’s eight-place drop for the week’s biggest demotion.
Stock up: Utah. The Utes made the biggest gain within the top 25, climbing four slots to No. 21 after a tough battle with in-state rival Utah State.
Stock down: Baylor. It was only a spot, but the voters were apparently more impressed with Michigan State’s top-10 win than with the Bears’ early struggles before taking care of Lamar.
New kids on the block: No. 22 Brigham Young, No. 24 Northwestern, No. 25 Oklahoma State.
College dropouts: Arkansas, Boise State, Tennessee.
GALLERY: AMWAY COACHES POLL