The "Big Six" in the College Football Playoff race got mixed up after an eventful Week 8.
Alabama, Clemson and Washington maintained their positions in the top four of the new Coaches Poll while Michigan jumped to No. 2 and Louisville cracked the top five. The Tide received all but one first-place vote in the process. Ohio State fell six spots to No. 8 after losing 24-21 to Penn State on the road. Texas A&M also dropped four slots, but stayed in the top 10, after losing to Alabama 33-14.
West Virginia cracked the top 10 with its convincing win over TCU. The Mountaineers are 6-0 for the first time since 2006 and are gaining momentum for the Big 12 title hunt.
Elsewhere, the biggest riser was Auburn, who shot up seven spots to No. 17 after dismantling Arkansas. Houston, stunned by SMU, fell 13 spots to No. 24.
The Nittany Lions, still buzzing after an upset win over Ohio State on Saturday, join the rankings at No. 24. It marks the first time in nearly five years that Penn State was ranked in the AP Top 25. The last time the Nittany Lions were ranked was December of 2011.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, dropped only four spots to No. 6. Michigan, Clemson and Washington each moved up a spot while Louisville moved up two spots to No. 5. Texas A&M dropped three spots to No. 9 after losing to Alabama.
Speaking of the Tide, they gained all but one first-place vote, mirroring the Coaches Poll. Also like the Coaches poll, West Virginia climbed into the top 10. Auburn and LSU were two of the biggest risers, moving up six spots each, while Houston dropped out of the rankings after a loss to SMU.
