Monday, November 3, 2008

Alabama became the fifth team to sit atop the Associated Press top 25 rankings this season when the new poll was released yesterday. The Crimson Tide pounded Arkansas State, 35-0, on Saturday and then watched as the previous No. 1 team, Texas, fell to Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders climbed four spots to No. 2 thanks to their last-minute victory over the Longhorns. Texas Tech leapfrogged Penn State, which remained at No. 3 after being idle on Saturday. With the loss, Texas dropped four spots to No. 5.

In addition to its No. 2 ranking, Texas Tech also received 12 first-place votes. Alabama pulled in 46 of a possible 65 first-place votes to claim the top spot. Penn State received six first-place votes, while Florida, which came in at No. 4, got one.

Not since 1990 has the No. 1 slot in the AP top 25 poll been occupied by this many teams. That year, Miami, Notre Dame, Colorado, Michigan and Virginia all took turns at the top of the rankings.

Alabama has not held the No. 1 spot since the conclusion of the 1992 season, when it won the AP national title. The last time Alabama was ranked No. 1 during a season was 1980. The Crimson Tide next will take on No. 15 Louisiana State on Saturday.

-- Steve Yanda