USA Today College Football Poll 2013: Complete Week 2 Rankings Released

The second edition of the USA Today Coaches Poll has been released, via the company’s website, and the rankings are about what most fans would expect after a wild first weekend.

No. 1 Alabama remains at the top, as the Crimson Tide used sturdy defense and efficient special teams play to dominate Virginia Tech in the season opener.

No. 2 Ohio State was fortunate to stay put upon failing to impress in a 40-20 victory over Buffalo.

No. 3 Oregon was unable to gain ground after dismantling Nicholls State in head coach Mark Helfrich’s much-anticipated debut.  

No. 4 Stanford and No. 5 Clemson round out the Top Five, with the latter shooting up the rankings due to a solid victory over No. 12 Georgia. No. 6 South Carolina was able to gain a spot due to a convincing victory over UNC.

It wouldn’t be a complete week of college football, though, without Johnny Manziel making headlines, something the superstar sophomore had no problem doing even after serving his half-game suspension.

Johnny Football helped his Aggies win, but still saw them drop to the No. 7 spot. Despite throwing three touchdown passes, Manziel found himself under scrutiny for mocking his autograph scandal and making money-counting gestures during the game. He was eventually benched for relentlessly taunting defenders in the fourth quarter.

No. 8 Louisville, No. 9 Florida and No. 10 Florida State are the three other Top 10 programs this week, as the trio of teams walked away with convincing wins in their opening games.

A number of teams fell out of the rankings after losing their season openers, allowing for some new faces to make an appearance inside the USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Huskies were rewarded with the No. 23 spot for their efforts, while Miami moved into a tie for No. 24 with TCU—who only lost by 10 to No. 11 LSU.

Week 2 should bring even more change at the top of the rankings, with a handful of marquee battles set to take place that will shift the college football landscape.

No. 6 South Carolina takes on No. 12 Georgia this coming Saturday in what should be a classic battle between these two SEC East foes

Speaking of rivalries, No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 17 Michigan will continue one of the oldest rivalries in sports when they take the field at the Big House this weekend, and the result could alter the national championship picture.

With those two contests and plenty of others on the slate, you won’t want to miss a single second of Week 2.