How Far Did Alabama Fall in the Polls?

Consensus finally beginning to form near the top of the college football rankings, but debate begins on No. 4

The University of Alabama football fans need to start rooting for some help. 

Although the Crimson Tide still has the College Football Playoff within its reach, Saturday's 46-41 loss to LSU almost makes the SEC Championship Game a lock for the Tigers, giving Alabama one less chance to impress the selection committee. 

The problem isn't now, per se, but with what the committee may do regarding the teams that win out and then capture their league titles. 

Even though Georgia (8-1) is currently behind Alabama, the Crimson Tide definitely needs another loss by the Bulldogs. Should they win out during the regular season (at Auburn, Texas A&M, at Georgia Tech) and upset the Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, both teams would stay ahead of Alabama -- knocking it out of the top four. 

Then there's Oregon, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah, Baylor, and Penn State if it can win at Ohio State in two weeks.

• Oregon (8-1): Arizona, at Arizona State, Oregon State.

• Minnesota (9-0): at Iowa, at Northwestern, Wisconsin

• Oklahoma (8-1): at Baylor, TCU, at Oklahoma State

• Utah (8-1): UCLA, at Arizona, Colorado 

• Baylor (9-0): Oklahoma, Texas, at Kansas 

• Penn State (8-1): Indiana, at Ohio State, Rutgers

As for the three frontrunners:

• LSU (9-0): at Ole Miss, Arkansas, vs. Texas A&M

• Ohio State (9-0): Rutgers, Penn State, at Michigan

• Clemson (10-0): Wake Forest, at South Carolina

AP Top 25

Three of the top five teams are from the SEC, again. 

LSU received 54 first-place votes, Ohio State landed five and Clemson three.

Although Alabama fell to No. 4, the Crimson Tide did extend its record for consecutive weeks in the top five to 66 weeks. 

The streak started on Nov. 8, 2015. The second-longest streak of top-five appearances is Miami, which had 55 from Oct. 8, 2000-Oct. 26, 2003.

Rank, Team (record), Previous, Points

1 LSU (9-0) 1 SEC 1,542 

2 Ohio State (9-0) 3 Big Ten 1,480 

3 Clemson (10-0) 4 ACC 1,441 

4 Alabama (8-1) 2 SEC 1,312 

5 Georgia (8-1) 6 SEC 1,267 

6 Oregon (8-1) 7 Pac-12 1,224 

7 Minnesota (9-0) 13 Big Ten 1,164 

8 Utah (8-1) 8 Pac-12 1,099 

9 Penn State (8-1) 5 Big Ten 1,003 

10 Oklahoma (8-1) 9 Big 12 1,000 

11 Florida (8-2) 10 SEC 934 

12 Baylor (9-0) 11 Big 12 932 

13 Auburn (7-2) 12 SEC 871 

14 Michigan (7-2) 14 Big Ten 744 

15 Wisconsin (7-2) 16 Big Ten 657 

16 Notre Dame (7-2) 15 IA Independents 593 

17 Cincinnati (8-1) 17 American Athletic 567 

18 Memphis (8-1) 19 American Athletic 510 

19 Boise State (8-1) 21 Mountain West 371 

20 SMU (9-1) 23 American Athletic 346 

21 Navy (7-1) 25 American Athletic 228 

22 Texas (6-3) Big 12 199 

23 Iowa (6-3) 18 Big Ten 197 

24 Indiana (7-2) Big Ten 108 

25 Oklahoma State (6-3) Big 12 77 

Others receiving votes: Appalachian State 73, Kansas State 67, Texas A&M 42, Wake Forest 38, Louisiana Tech 25, Virginia 12, San Diego State 7, Iowa State 4, Virginia Tech 4, Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2, UCF 2, Air Force 2, USC 1, Illinois 1

USA Today Coaches Poll

The Tigers received 55 of 64 first-place votes and assumed the coaches’ No.-1 ranking for the first time since the 2012 preseason poll. 

Ohio State received five first-place votes and leapfrogged No. 3 Clemson, which retained four No. 1 nods. 

Rank, Team, Record, Points

1 LSU 9-0 1591 

2 Ohio State 9-0 1523 

3 Clemson 10-0 1491 

4 Alabama 8-1 1356 

5 Georgia 8-1 1327 

6 Oregon 8-1 1269 

7 Minnesota 9-0 1154 

8 Oklahoma 8-1 1128 

9 Utah 8-1 1096 

10 Baylor 9-0 1028 

11 Penn State 8-1 942 

12 Florida 8-2 937 

13 Auburn 7-2 863 

14 Michigan 7-2 731 

15 Wisconsin 7-2 670 

16 Notre Dame 7-2 659 

17 Cincinnati 8-1 590 

18 Memphis 8-1 517 

19 Boise State 8-1 452 

20 SMU 9-1 326 

21 Navy 7-1 249 

22 Iowa 6-3 187 

23 Texas 6-3 163 

24 Appalachian State 8-1 133 

25 Indiana 7-2 123 

Dropped out: No. 20 Wake Forest; No. 22 Kansas State; No. 24 San Diego State.

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 49; Wake Forest 45; Louisiana Tech 43; Kansas State 38; San Diego State 32; Texas A&M 31; Air Force 25; Virginia Tech 17; Virginia 12; Wyoming 1; UL Lafayette 1; Central Florida 1.

FWAA-NFF Super 16 

1. LSU (9-0) 732 42 1

2. Ohio State (9-0) 688 3 3

3. Clemson (10-0) 648 1 4

4. Alabama (8-1) 571 2

5. Georgia (8-1) 521 6

6. Oregon (8-1) 457 7

7. Minnesota (9-0) 436 13

8. Oklahoma (8-1) 382 8

9. Utah (8-1) 359 9

10. Penn State (8-1) 321 5

11. Baylor (9-0) 310 11

12. Florida (8-2) 289 10

13. Auburn (7-2) 202 12

14. Michigan (7-2) 138 14

15. Wisconsin (7-2) 87 16

16. Notre Dame (7-2) 66 15

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati (29), Memphis (11), Boise State (4), Texas A&M (4), SMU (1).