Alabama remains atop rankings

Nov 16, 2008 - 5:06 PM MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- Alabama remained atop the latest USA Today coaches' poll, which was released Sunday.

The Crimson Tide (11-0), who remained unbeaten Saturday with a 32-7 victory over Mississippi State, picked up 45 first-place votes and 1,508 points overall.

Alabama has a bye next week, then faces rival Auburn on November 29 before facing third-ranked Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game the following Saturday. The contest against Florida could determine a spot in the BCS title game.

Texas Tech (10-0), which was idle this past week, remained second after picking up 15 first-place votes. The Red Raiders visit fifth-ranked Oklahoma (9-1) next Saturday.

After its 56-6 destruction of South Carolina, Florida (9-1) garnered the other first-place vote but still is third.

Moving up a spot to fourth is Texas (10-1), which had been behind Oklahoma despite posting a 45-35 win over the Sooners earlier this season.

Southern California (9-1), in need of help if it hopes to reach the BCS title game, is ranked sixth.

Coming in at No. 7 is unbeaten Utah (11-0), which coasted to a 63-14 rout of San Diego State on Saturday.

Penn State (10-1) remained eighth, Boise State (10-0) is ninth and Ohio State (9-2) rounds out the top 10.

The next five are Missouri (9-2), Oklahoma State (9-2), Georgia (9-2), Brigham Young (10-1) and Michigan State (9-2).

Ball State (10-0) is 16th, followed by TCU (10-2), LSU (7-3), Pittsburgh (7-2) and Cincinnati (8-2).

The final five are Oregon State (7-3), Oregon (8-3), Maryland (7-3), Northwestern (8-3) and Boston College (7-3). The final four teams are new to the poll.

North Carolina (7-3), Florida State (7-3), South Carolina (7-4) and Tulsa (8-2) fell out of the rankings.