| RK | Team | Pts | PVS | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (58) | 1,546 | 1 | 9-0 |
| 2 | Florida State (4) | 1,485 | 3 | 9-0 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 1,401 | 4 | 9-0 |
| 4 | Baylor | 1,376 | 5 | 8-0 |
| 5 | Stanford | 1,307 | 6 | 8-1 |
| 6 | Clemson | 1,164 | 7 | 8-1 |
| 7 | Oregon | 1,162 | 2 | 8-1 |
| 8 | Missouri | 1,083 | 9 | 9-1 |
| 9 | Auburn | 1,069 | 10 | 9-1 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State | 965 | 11 | 8-1 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 898 | 13 | 8-2 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 830 | 15 | 7-2 |
| 13 | Louisville | 653 | 16 | 8-1 |
| 14 | Fresno State | 646 | 17 | 9-0 |
| 15 | UCLA | 641 | 18 | 7-2 |
| 16 | Michigan State | 620 | 19 | 8-1 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 510 | 8 | 7-2 |
| 18 | LSU | 510 | 12 | 7-3 |
| 19 | UCF | 468 | 21 | 7-1 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 460 | 22 | 7-2 |
| 21 | Northern Illinois | 445 | 20 | 9-0 |
| 22 | Arizona State | 262 | 24 | 7-2 |
| 23 | Miami | 228 | 14 | 7-2 |
| 24 | Texas | 176 | NR | 7-2 |
| 25 | Minnesota | 91 | NR | 8-2 |
Ohio State checks in at No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, with a little more separation between No. 4 Baylor than what is shown in the AP Poll. The Buckeyes, register 1,401 points, which is good for a 25-point cushion on the Bears, unlike the AP Poll, in which Ohio State maintains only a 7-point lead on Baylor.
Alabama continues to have a stranglehold on the Coaches Poll. The Tide are receiving 58 of the 62 first place votes, with the other four going to Florida State. Both teams are 9-0.
One surprise in the Coaches Poll is Clemson leaping Oregon. Both teams have one loss – to a team ranked in the top five – but the AP Poll has the Ducks 6th and the Tigers 7th, while those roles are reversed in the Coaches Poll.
Michigan State moves up three spots to No. 16 in the Coaches Poll, which still seems low given the tenacity of the Spartans defense. Wisconsin, likewise, moved up from No. 22 to No. 20 in the Coaches Poll. If you take away the Arizona State loss, in which they were boned by Pac-12 refs, the Badgers are likely a top 12 team in this poll, which would help Ohio State on in the computers, and also in the minds of human voters.
The Minnesota Gophers, fresh off their first four-game winning streak in Big Ten play since 1973, are No. 25 in the Coaches Poll, which should make any fan of football, or life, really, smile.
The Coaches Poll is a factor in the BCS standings, which will be released tonight at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
