In a surprising turn of events, the Coaches Poll unveiled its latest rankings after the conference championship games, giving football fans plenty to debate. The poll highlighted the intense competition between Alabama and Texas for the coveted No. 4 spot, with both teams accumulating 1,351 points each. The tie-breaking decision became even more difficult as both teams emerged victorious in their respective conference championship games over the weekend.

Although Alabama managed to defeat the two-time reigning national champion, Georgia, in the SEC Championship Game, their resume bears a blemish from their home loss earlier in the season to the Longhorns. However, that head-to-head victory wasn't enough to separate Texas from Alabama in the Coaches Poll this week. Notably, the Longhorns demonstrated their dominance by trouncing Oklahoma State 49-21 in the Big 12 Championship game.

Meanwhile, Michigan climbed to the top of the poll following Georgia's unexpected loss, claiming the No. 1 spot. The shakeup allowed No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Florida State to advance a single spot in the rankings as well. Despite a defeat against Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Oregon only slipped to No. 8 and now holds the distinction of being the highest-ranked two-loss team.

The Coaches Poll also witnessed significant movement for other teams. SMU, following their victory over Tulane in the AAC Championship Game, surged five spots to secure the No. 19 position.

The complete rundown of the Coaches Poll top 25 after Championship Week, with first-place votes noted in parentheses, is as follows:

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Florida State
4. (tie) Alabama
4. (tie) Texas
...
19. SMU
...

The latest Coaches Poll rankings reflect the excruciating dilemma faced by voters in deciding between Texas and Alabama for the No. 4 slot. As the college football season progresses, fans eagerly anticipate how these rankings will influence the upcoming bowl game selections and playoff matchups.