Amway College Football Poll 2014: Complete Week 6 Rankings Released
In many ways, this week of college football was the calm before next week's storm, when a slew of ranked teams will face off and change the landscape of the pursuit for the playoff. This week, however, the top teams generally survived, albeit with a few scares.
Below, we'll take a look at the latest Amway Coaches Poll, recap some of the big results from the week that was and take a look ahead to next week's epic slate of games. Things are starting to heat up, folks.
Standings
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| 1 | Alabama | 4-0 | Oregon |
| 2 | Florida State | 4-0 | Alabama |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 4-0 | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Oregon | 4-0 | Florida State |
| 5 | Auburn | 4-0 | Auburn |
| 6 | Baylor | 4-0 | Baylor |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 5-0 | Texas A&M |
| 8 | Notre Dame | 4-0 | Michigan State |
| 9 | UCLA | 4-0 | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Michigan State | 3-1 | UCLA |
| 11 | Ole Miss | 4-0 | Mississippi State |
| 12 | Georgia | 3-1 | Ole Miss |
| 13 | Stanford | 3-1 | Georgia |
| 14 | Mississippi State | 4-0 | Stanford |
| 15 | LSU | 4-1 | USC |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 3-1 | LSU |
| 17 | Nebraska | 5-0 | BYU |
| 18 | Ohio State | 3-1 | Wisconsin |
| 19 | BYU | 4-0 | Nebraska |
| 20 | USC | 3-1 | East Carolina |
| 21 | East Carolina | 3-1 | Ohio State |
| 22 | Kansas State | 3-1 | Oklahoma State |
| 23 | Oklahoma State | 3-1 | Kansas State |
| 24 | Arizona State | 3-1 | Clemson |
| 25 | TCU | 3-0 | Arizona State |
Analysis
With very few upsets in the Top 25 outside of South Carolina losing to Missouri, there wasn't too much notable change in this week's Coaches Poll. There are, however, plenty of questions for a few teams in those rankings.
For the second week in a row, Florida State received all it could handle, this time rallying from a 24-7 first-quarter deficit to NC State, winning 56-41. One way to look at the result is to wonder how much longer the Seminoles can live on the edge. The other opinion is that the team can overcome adversity and continues to battle.
Head coach Jimbo Fisher chose the latter viewpoint, as he told reporters after the game:
"We can take a punch and stand up and compete. Now I'd rather start blocking and dodging some and playing, but there's something to that now. I'm going to tell you what: that takes time. That's a culture. That's the way you think, the way you believe in each other and there's a lot of inner trust in that locker room.
"
Texas A&M was also really tested, needing overtime to survive Arkansas, 35-28. But once again, it was Kenny Hill who had Aggies fans asking, "Johnny Football who?"
Just consider the following, from Fox Sports Live on Twitter:
"Not bad, Kenny Hill. Not bad at all. #FSLive pic.twitter.com/qW1403PfhH
— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) September 28, 2014"
Things are about to really heat up for the Aggies, however, as they face Mississippi State next, followed by Ole Miss and Alabama. Auburn, Missouri and LSU also remain on tap. Suffice to say, the SEC slate down the stretch is loaded with exciting matchups between top teams. Once again, the conference appears to be the most competitive in college football.
One of those SEC teams was really challenged this past week, as Georgia was taken to the limit by Tennessee before winning 35-32. Once again it was Todd Gurley that led the Bulldogs to the win, rushing 28 times for 208 yards and two scores. He's going to look very good in an NFL uniform next season.
And he might just look very good striking the Heisman pose this season.
Stanford's Kevin Hogan won't be striking up that pose anytime soon, but he was the hero for Stanford on Saturday as his late touchdown run carried the Cardinal to a 20-13 win and possibly saved their season. Another loss would have erased any hopes—however slim they may already be—that the club could qualify for this season's playoff.
While they have quite the battle in front of them to reach that goal, it's still a possibility after Saturday. It nearly was taken off the table against Washington.
And so we head into this week with many of the top teams intact atop the rankings and some truly intriguing matchups to come. Alabama vs. Ole Miss, LSU vs. Auburn and Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State will sort more than a few things out in the SEC and in the playoff picture, while Stanford vs. Notre Dame is a huge matchup for both teams.
In the Big Ten, Nebraska and Michigan State will battle it out in a clash of the two teams in the conference that aren't underwhelming thus far this season, while in the Pac-12 Arizona State and USC face off in a big contest.
It's going to be a brilliant week of action, folks, and these rankings will look at lot different next week. Sit back and enjoy the show.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
