Alabama, Texas Tech 1-2 in rankings

Nov 9, 2008 - 5:22 PM MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- After passing their latest tests, Alabama and Texas Tech are the top two teams in the USA Today coaches' poll, which was released Sunday.

The undefeated Crimson Tide (10-0) remained atop the rankings following a thrilling 27-21 overtime triumph over then-No. 15 Louisiana State.

With two regular-season games left before facing third-ranked Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game, the Crimson Tide picked up 1,508 votes and 44 first-place votes.

The other 17 first-place votes went to unbeaten Texas Tech (10-0), which is up a spot to second following its 56-20 destruction of then-No. 8 Oklahoma State.

Florida (8-1) is third, followed by Oklahoma (9-1), which hosts Texas Tech on November 22.

Oklahoma is a spot in front of fifth-ranked Texas (9-1) despite dropping a 45-35 decision to the Longhorns on October 11.

Southern California (8-1), in need of help if it hopes to reach the BCS title game, is ranked sixth.

Coming in at No. 7 is unbeaten Utah (10-0), which rallied in the final minute last week for a 13-10 win over then-No. 11 TCU.

Down six spots from second is Penn State (9-1), which saw its national title hopes all but end following a 24-23 loss to Iowa on Saturday.

Boise State (9-0) is ninth and Ohio State (8-2) rounds out the top 10.

The next five are Missouri (8-2), Georgia (8-2), Oklahoma State (8-2), Brigham Young (9-1) and Michigan State (9-2).

Ball State (9-0) is 16th, followed by North Carolina (7-2), TCU (9-2), Florida State (7-2) and LSU (6-3).

The final five are Pittsburgh (7-2), Cincinnati (7-2), South Carolina (7-3), Tulsa (8-1) and Oregon State (6-3). All five of those teams are new to the rankings this week.

Georgia Tech (7-3), Maryland (6-3), California (6-3), West Virginia (6-3) and Northwestern (7-3) all fell out of the poll.