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USA Today Coaches Poll Top-25 released following Week 2

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•09/12/21•

Jonathan Wagner

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Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images.

The USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll has been released following an entertaining week two of college football. Alabama remains at the top, but there are some major changes below them.

The Top 25

  1. Alabama (2-0) (63)
  2. Georgia (2-0) (1)
  3. Oklahoma (2-0)
  4. Oregon (2-0)
  5. Texas A&M (2-0)
  6. Clemson (1-1)
  7. Iowa (2-0)
  8. Cincinnati (2-0)
  9. Florida (2-0)
  10. Notre Dame (2-0)
  11. Ohio State (1-1)
  12. Penn State (2-0)
  13. UCLA (2-0)
  14. Iowa State (1-1)
  15. Virginia Tech (2-0)
  16. Ole Miss (2-0)
  17. Wisconsin (1-1)
  18. Coastal Carolina (2-0)
  19. North Carolina (1-1)
  20. Auburn (2-0)
  21. Arizona State (2-0)
  22. Oklahoma State (2-0)
  23. BYU (2-0)
  24. Arkansas (2-0)
  25. Michigan (2-0)

Week two saw plenty of upsets, leading to changes in the poll

Arguably the best game of the weekend was Oregon vs. Ohio State. Oregon running back CJ Verdell had a monster game with 185 total yards and three touchdowns. Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud had a big game with 484 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Ultimately, Oregon came away with the 35-28 victory to improve to 2-0, while Ohio State fell to 1-1 on the year.

In what was a battle between two top ten teams, Iowa and Iowa State had a close, hard-fought game. Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 138 yards and three interceptions before Hunter Dekkers finished the game at quarterback. Dekkers threw for 114 yards and a touchdown. Iowa took a commanding 21-10 lead after Jack Campbell returned a fumble for a touchdown. In the end, the Hawkeyes walked away with a 27-17 win.

Texas struggled in the passing game in a 40-21 loss to Arkansas. Quarterback Hudson Card completed eight of 15 passes for just 61 yards, and Casey Thompson came in and only threw for 57 yards. Arkansas ran all over the Longhorns’ defense with 7.1 yards per carry. Texas allowed 333 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

USC also went down to Stanford on Saturday. Kedon Slovis threw one interception in the game, but it was a costly one. With USC trailing 21-13, Slovis threw a pass that was intercepted by Kyu Blu Kelly. Kelly returned it 31 yards for the touchdown, giving Stanford a 28-13 lead.

Biggest risers/fallers

After its victory over Ohio State, Oregon climbed seven spots to No. 4. Ohio State, meanwhile, fell eight spots down to No. 8.

Iowa jumped up five spots to No. 7, while Iowa State dropped four spots to No. 14.

Multiple teams jumped up at least six spots in addition to Oregon. Virginia Tech now sits at 15. Auburn also rose six spots up to 20, and BYU leaped eight spots up to 23. The biggest riser of the week, though, is Arkansas. After defeating Texas on Saturday, the Razorbacks rose 20 spots and now find themselves at 24.

USC (previously 14th), Texas (15), Utah (18), and Miami (24) all dropped out of the top 25. Miami and USC finished 26th and 27th in the poll, but find themselves on the outside looking in for now.