Polls agree again on college football’s top four teams

Oh, what could have been. Close-call victories by Notre Dame and Alabama prevented major upheaval in Sunday’s college football polls, which ended up keeping the top four schools in their previous positions.

Top-ranked Alabama needed a last-minute touchdown to defeat No. 5 Louisiana State, 21-17, which was enough to keep the Crimson Tide a unanimous choice in the USA Today coaches’ and Associated Press polls.

Notre Dame needed three overtimes to defeat unranked Pittsburgh, yet that was enough to keep the Irish undefeated and firmly placed at No. 4.

The top four teams in the USA Today index and the AP are the same as last week: Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame.

Georgia is No. 5 in the coaches’ poll, followed by Florida State, Florida, Clemson, LSU and Louisville.

The AP has Ohio State and Georgia tied at No. 5, followed by Florida, Florida State, LSU and Clemson. Ohio State, because it is on NCAA probation, is not included in the USA Today poll or BCS standings, which will be released later Sunday.

UCLA returned to the polls in a big way after its 66-10 win over Arizona. The Bruins (7-2) are No. 19 in the USA Today poll and No. 17 in the AP.

USC, a 62-51 loser to Oregon, dropped five spots to No. 22 in the coaches’ poll and three spots in the AP to No. 21.

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