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Mississippi State held its grip atop the AP Top 25 poll for a second week despite No. 2 Florida State's hard-fought victory over No. 5 Notre Dame.
The Bulldogs, who were idle this week, saw their lead shrink from 65 votes to 47 votes following Saturday's result in Tallahassee. This week's poll is also significant because the SEC became the first league to place four teams in the top five. Alabama and Auburn rejoined the top-five party after No. 4 Baylor and the fifth-ranked Irish fell.
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Alabama has just a 4-vote advantage over its in-state rival Auburn.
Introducing the AP Top 25 poll heading into Week 9.
Associated Press Top 25 poll (through Oct. 18 games)
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Mississippi State 6-0 (43), 1,480 Last week: 1
2. Florida State 7-0 (14), 1,433 Last week: 2
3. Mississippi 7-0 (3), 1,404 Last week: 3
4. Alabama 6-1, 1,235 Last week: 7
5. Auburn 5-1, 1,231 Last week: 6
6. Oregon 6-1, 1,142 Last week: 9
7. Notre Dame 6-1, 1,133 Last week: 5
8. Michigan State 6-1, 1,066 Last week: 8
9. Georgia 6-1, 1,055 Last week: 10
10. TCU 5-1, 962 Last week: 12
11. Kansas State 5-1, 905 Last week: 14
12. Baylor 6-1, 858 Last week: 4
13. Ohio State 5-1, 753 Last week: 13
14. Arizona State 5-1, 643 Last week: 17
15. Arizona 5-1, 639 Last week: 16
16. Nebraska 6-1, 537 Last week: 19
17. Oklahoma 5-2, 461 Last week: 11
18. East Carolina 5-1, 445 Last week: 18
19. Utah 5-1, 437 Last week: 20
20. USC 5-2, 356 Last week: 22
21. Clemson 5-2, 283 Last week: 24
22. West Virgina 5-2, 272 Last week: NR
23. Marshall 7-0, 184 Last week: 25
24. LSU 6-2, 177 Last week: NR
25. UCLA 5-2, 118 Last week: NR
Others Receiving Votes
Duke 108, Oklahoma St. 91, Minnesota 61, Colorado St. 12, Louisville 4, Missouri 4, Stanford 4, Maryland 3, N. Dakota St. 3, Texas A&M 1
Dropped out: No. 15 Oklahoma State, No. 21 Texas A&M, No. 23 Stanford 4-3
