There will be two openings in the top 10 of the US LBM Coaches Poll after Notre Dame’s loss to Texas A&M and South Carolina’s loss to Vanderbilt.
Florida State and Mississippi are the top two contenders to step in and replace the Irish and Gamecocks. A&M will have an argument for the top 10 as well after scoring that major road win.
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The poll looked destined for an even bigger shakeup with Georgia trailing Tennessee in the fourth quarter. But the Bulldogs evened the score to force overtime and then won 44-41 in the first extra frame.
Instead, look for Georgia to replace Penn State after beating a legitimate opponent, something the Nittany Lions have yet to do. While not worthy of stepping up to No. 1, Georgia has achieved more than PSU at this early point of the season.
Another move that could take place is Miami swapping spots with Oregon and rising to No. 5 after beating South Florida. But the Hurricanes’ win against Notre Dame looks a little weaker after Saturday, so look for the Ducks to keep them at bay.
1. Ohio State (3-0)
The Buckeyes had to sweat out a tough first half against Ohio but turned a 14-3 lead at the break into a 37-9 final by staying focused on wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had 153 receiving yards and two scores. Ohio State has done nothing to warrant a conversation over which team should be No. 1.
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2. Georgia (3-0)
The Bulldogs needed some miscues from Tennessee but took advantage of the Volunteers’ errors, including a missed game-winning field goal, to score a 44-41 overtime victory. Georgia should credit from voters for going back and forth and surviving in that environment against that caliber of offense. And the clutch play of quarterbck Gunner Stockton
3. Penn State (3-0)
The Nittany Lions have played Nevada, Florida International and Villanova. Not exactly Murderers’ Row. Will this help PSU get ready for Oregon later this month? That’s going to be a major talking point heading into that game in Happy Valley.
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs with the ball during the second quarter against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium.
4. LSU (3-0)
LSU avoided a letdown and beat Florida 20-10 thanks to five interceptions of DJ Lagway, including a pick-six in the third quarter. The Tigers got a little bit more out of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who had 227 yards on 8.1 yards per throw with a touchdown.
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5. Oregon (3-0)
The Ducks were a little sloppy early and seemed to pull back late against Northwestern, leading to a pair of garbage-time touchdowns that make the 34-14 final a little misleading. Oregon keeps looking like one of the best teams in the country.
6. Miami (3-0)
Miami dominated South Florida in a 49-12 blowout to score a second win against a ranked opponent in three games. Down the line, there’s a chance this win really pays off for the Hurricanes’ postseason goals should the Bulls win the American or even reach the conference title game.
7. Texas (2-1)
At this point, the questions about Arch Manning’s ability to lead Texas to the top of the SEC and a national title are legitimate. He was at his worst yet in a 27-10 win against Texas-El Paso, hitting on just 11 of 25 throws for 114 yards with a score and an interception.
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8. Illinois (3-0)
The Illini are quietly thumping teams. After beating Duke 45-19 last week, Illinois blanked Western Michigan 38-0 to cap a perfect run through non-conference play. Things get serious next week with a trip to Indiana, which will test the Illini’s ability to corral one of the top offenses in the country.
9. Florida State (2-0)
Off this past weekend, the Seminoles Kent State next Saturday and then Virginia, so it’ll still be a little while until that suddenly relevant ACC clash with Miami. The Seminoles are still basking in the glow of that win against Alabama in the opener.
10. Mississippi (3-0)
Don’t sleep on Texas A&M’s chances of moving all the way from No. 17, but that’s a pretty big jump even at this point of the season. The more likely move is for the Rebels to leap three spots from No. 13 after narrowly beating Arkansas for a second SEC win in September.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football poll rankings projection for coaches top 10
