### Alabama Returns to AP Poll's No. 1 Spot; UNLV Makes Historic Debut

In a significant shuffle at the top of The Associated Press college football poll, Alabama has reclaimed the No. 1 ranking, marking their first return to the top spot in two years. This achievement extends Alabama's record of securing the top position in 16 of the last 17 seasons. Following an exhilarating victory over Georgia, the Crimson Tide surpassed three other teams to seize the pinnacle from Texas.

Alabama garnered 40 out of 63 first-place votes, while Texas, struggling to maintain their dominance against Mississippi State, slipped to the No. 2 position with 19 first-place votes. Ohio State held steady at No. 3 with four first-place votes, and Tennessee climbed to No. 4 despite an open date in their schedule. After its defeat to Alabama, Georgia fell to the No. 5 slot. The rest of the top 10 includes Oregon, Penn State, Miami, Missouri, and Michigan.

UNLV entered the rankings for the first time at No. 25, partially tied with Texas A&M, amid an inspiring unbeaten start despite the recent controversy surrounding their quarterback, Matthew Sluka. Sluka decided to sit out the remainder of the season over a disputed $100,000 in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings, pushing Hajj-Malik Williams into the starting quarterback role. Williams helped lead the Rebels to a dominating 59-14 win over Fresno State, maintaining their perfect record through four games for the first time in the university's Division I history.

Alabama's latest ascent sees them reclaim No. 1 for the first time under Coach Kalen DeBoer. The team recently achieved decisive victories, including a 42-10 road win against Wisconsin and a tight 41-34 game against Georgia, where they recovered after nearly squandering a significant lead. This latest tenure at the top marks Alabama's 141st instance of holding the No. 1 spot since the AP rankings began in 1936, with 105 of those instances occurring since coach Nick Saban's arrival in 2009.

The SEC continues to show dominance with four teams in the top five for the fourth consecutive week, an unprecedented record in the AP poll. Holding nine positions within the top 25, the SEC maintains its reputation as the powerhouse conference in college football. In the Big Ten, there are four teams in the top 10 for the first time since October 2021, with seven schools overall in the Top 25.

Historically, the AP poll also notes Indiana's return to the rankings at No. 23, marking their first appearance since holding the No. 17 spot in the 2021 preseason poll. The Hoosiers boast a 5-0 record for the first time since 1967. Conversely, Oklahoma State has bowed out of the rankings after consecutive losses to ranked adversaries, most recently suffering a defeat at the hands of Kansas State.

Among notable upcoming matchups, No. 9 Missouri will face No. 25 Texas A&M on their first visit to College Station since 2014. Both teams have each won two of their four meetings since joining the SEC in 2012.