The Oklahoma Sooners got some much-needed rest after a 9-0 start to the season. The first nine games were littered with excitement, drama, and a quarterback change that saw the Oklahoma Sooners explode for more than 50 points in three of their last four contests.
Though the Oklahoma Sooners have played several close contests this season, they’ve made it through undefeated and in position to win their seventh-straight Big 12 championship. A slate of November contests will determine where Oklahoma stands at the end of the season, but for now there’s a bit of a dichotomy between the voters in the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll and the initial College Football Playoff rankings that were released on Tuesday.
In the latest Coaches Poll, the Sooners stayed at No. 4 in the nation. The College Football Playoff committee inexplicably ranked the Sooners No. 8 behind four one-loss teams.
In the Coaches Poll, the Sooners come in behind unanimous No. 1 Georgia. Alabama comes in at No. 2 after a close win over the LSU Tigers and No. 3 Cincinnati takes the No. 3 spot after a narrow victory over Tulsa.
Michigan State, who appeared in the top four of the College Football Playoff committee rankings, dropped to No. 9 after their loss to unranked Purdue.
The Oklahoma Sooners still have two top 25 opponents on the schedule with Oklahoma State joining the top 10 at No. 10 and Baylor, who lost to TCU, falling five spots to No. 18.
The Sooners will travel to take on the No. 18 Baylor Bears next Saturday in a pivotal Big 12 matchup, giving the Sooners a chance to improve their resume.
A look at the full coaches poll after this week’s slate of games.
Full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll:
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Change |
| 1 | Georgia | 9-0 | 1,600 (64) | – |
| 2 | Alabama | 8-1 | 1,483 | +1 |
| 3 | Cincinnati | 9-0 | 1,430 | -1 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 9-0 | 1,423 | – |
| 5 | Ohio State | 8-1 | 1,356 | – |
| 6 | Oregon | 8-1 | 1,291 | +1 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 8-1 | 1,182 | +1 |
| 8 | Michigan | 8-1 | 1,099 | +2 |
| 9 | Michigan State | 8-1 | 1,074 | -3 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State | 8-1 | 1,045 | +1 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 7-2 | 1,023 | +1 |
| 12 | Ole Miss | 7-2 | 862 | +3 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 8-1 | 769 | -4 |
| 14 | Iowa | 7-2 | 636 | +2 |
| 15 | BYU | 8-2 | 552 | +5 |
| 16 | UTSA | 9-0 | 525 | +2 |
| 17 | Houston | 8-1 | 472 | +2 |
| 18 | Baylor | 7-2 | 449 | -5 |
| 19 | NC State | 7-2 | 445 | +3 |
| 20 | Auburn | 6-3 | 382 | -6 |
| 21 | Coastal Carolina | 8-1 | 335 | – |
| 22 | Pittsburgh | 7-2 | 293 | +3 |
| 23 | Penn State | 6-3 | 249 | – |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 6-3 | 177 | +7 |
| 25 | UL Lafayette | 8-1 | 164 | +1 |
Dropped from the rankings:
No. 17 Kentucky; No. 24 Southern Methodist
Others receiving votes:
Arkansas 116; San Diego State 103; Purdue 77; Kentucky 74; Utah 34; Iowa State 21; Appalachian State 19; Southern Methodist 18; Minnesota 10; Nevada 3; Fresno State 3; Clemson 3; Tennessee 2; Arizona State 1.
