USA Today Coaches Poll Top 25 released following Week 3

Week three saw many entertaining matchups and close finishes across the nation. Following the action, the USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll Top 25 has been released. Alabama again remains at the top of the rankings, but the rest of the Top 25 saw some movement.

The Top 25 after Week 3

1. Alabama (3-0)
2. Georgia (3-0)
3. Oklahoma (3-0)
4. Oregon (3-0)
5. Texas A&M (3-0)
6. Iowa (3-0)
7. Clemson (2-1)
8. Penn State (3-0)
9. Cincinnati (3-0)
10. Notre Dame (3-0)
11. Ohio State (2-1)
12. Florida (2-1)
13. Ole Miss (3-0)
14. Iowa State (2-1)
15. Wisconsin (1-1)
16. BYU (3-0)
17. Coastal Carolina (3-0)
18. Arkansas (3-0)
19. Michigan (3-0)
20. North Carolina (2-1)
21. Michigan State (3-0)
22. Oklahoma State (3-0)
23. Auburn (2-1)
24. UCLA (2-1)
25. Fresno State (3-1)

Week 3 was headlined by three Top 25 matchups

Nobody knew for sure what to expect from the Florida Gators when they hosted the top team in the country, Alabama. Paul Finebaum thought that Alabama was going to run away with it. When Alabama led 21-3 through one quarter of play, that looked to be the case. But Florida came back to make it a game. The Gators failed to convert a late two-point conversion, falling 31-29.

The night matchup between Penn State and Auburn marked the return of Penn State’s traditional whiteout game. A controversial targeting call might get a lot of the attention, but that shouldn’t take away from what was a great game. Penn State scored late to twin 28-20.

The final Top 25 matchup of the weekend was BYU vs. Arizona State late on Saturday night. This was another entertaining game, with BYU pulling off the 27-17 victory.

Elsewhere, every team inside last week’s Top 10 came away with a victory in Week 3. Florida was the highest ranked team to lose, and UCLA (previously No. 13) fell 40-37 to Fresno State. Virginia Tech and Miami were the only other two Top 25 teams from last week to lose.

Biggest risers/fallers

The top six teams in the Coaches Poll Top 25 remains unchanged from last week. Iowa and Clemson swap spots at No. 6 and 7. After defeating Auburn, Penn State jumps up four spots to No. 8.

Florida falls three spots after its loss to Alabama. Ole Miss had another dominant showing on offense, and they finish just behind Florida, rising three spots to No. 13.

Five teams rose six or more spots in this week’s rankings. BYU jumps up seven spots to 16. Arkansas and Michigan each rise six spots, with Arkansas coming in at 18 and Michigan at 19. Michigan State joins the rankings for the first time this season, rising eight spots to 21. Fresno State also joins the Top 25 in this week’s poll, coming in at 25.

Auburn fell three spots to 23 after falling to Penn State. UCLA falls 11 spots to 24 after losing to Fresno State. Virginia Tech (previously No. 15) and Arizona State (previously No. 21) dropped out of Top 25 in the poll.