A weekend that removed three of the previous top four teams and five of the top seven forced the Coaches Poll to choose a new No. 1. The result, released after the games of October 17, placed Miami at the top with 50 first-place votes and 1,791 points. Ohio State finished second with 13 first-place votes and 1,725 points. BYU ranked third with 10 first-place votes and 1,698 points.
The three teams that entered the weekend as the leading contenders for the top spot each had a clear case. Miami entered as the previous No. 3 and remained undefeated. Ohio State, ranked No. 5 the week before, won on the road against a previously undefeated Indiana team. BYU, previously ranked No. 8, beat the previous No. 2 Notre Dame. Each outcome carried different weight with the coaches.
Miami’s Path to the Top Spot
Miami defeated Florida State 43-35 in double overtime. The game required the Hurricanes to overcome late deficits and multiple Hail Mary attempts. Because the previous No. 1 and No. 2 both lost, Miami’s survival of a close contest against an unranked opponent was enough for a majority of first-place votes. The coaches rewarded the combination of an undefeated record and the fact that the teams ranked above them had fallen.
Ohio State’s Case and the Close Win
Ohio State defeated Indiana 19-15 in Bloomington. The Buckeyes led by double digits in the fourth quarter before holding on. The result came with a significant cost: starting quarterback Julian Sayin left with an arm injury and is expected to miss several weeks. The win moved Ohio State from No. 5 to No. 2. The coaches placed the Buckeyes ahead of BYU even though Ohio State already has one loss on the season. The quality of the opponent and the road environment appeared to carry more weight than the narrow margin or the injury.
BYU’s Strongest Argument
BYU’s 28-24 victory over Notre Dame was the most direct win against a top-ranked team among the three contenders. The Cougars remained undefeated and improved from No. 8 to No. 3. The coaches recognized the quality of the win, yet still ranked BYU behind both Miami and Ohio State. The volume of first-place votes (10 compared with Miami’s 50 and Ohio State’s 13) showed that a substantial minority viewed BYU as the top team, but not enough to overtake the other two.
How the Coaches Weighed the Results
The final order reflects a preference for undefeated records when the previous top teams lost, combined with credit for a road win against a top-five opponent. Miami received the largest share of first-place votes despite the close nature of its game. Ohio State’s road victory over Indiana placed the Buckeyes second even with an existing loss and an injured quarterback. BYU’s win over Notre Dame earned the Cougars third place and a significant jump, but not the top spot.
The same weekend also dropped Georgia from No. 1 to No. 4, Notre Dame from No. 2 to No. 8, and Indiana from No. 4 to No. 6. Texas Tech, previously ranked ninth, moved into the top five. The coaches’ ballot produced a clear top three of Miami, Ohio State, and BYU, with the first-place votes deciding the order. The ranking is now set until the next set of results. Miami hosts Pittsburgh next. Ohio State has a bye before traveling to USC. BYU visits UCF. Those games will provide the next data points for the coaches.
