Amway Coaches Poll stock watch: Michigan moves to No. 2; Ohio State tumbles

Week 8’s results finally shook up the top five in the Amway Coaches Poll. The change didn’t extend all the way to the top, of course, but the voting for No. 2 was as close as it could get.

Alabama easily retained the No. 1 spot after a convincing 33-14 triumph against previously unbeaten Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide received 63 of 64 first-place votes, the most they’ve claimed this season to date.

Ohio State’s loss at Penn State put the No. 2 spot up for grabs, however, and the Buckeyes biggest Big Ten rival moved in to claim it. Michigan leapfrogged Clemson by a single poll point. The Wolverines received 31second-place votes and 23 thirds. Despite one voter putting Michigan fifth and two voting them seventh, it was still barely enough to overtake the Tigers. Clemson had the weekend off but still retained its lone first-place vote and were picked no lower than fourth on any ballot. But the Tigers got fewer No. 2 nods than Michigan with a total of 26.

Amway Coaches Poll: Top 25

Washington jumped one spot No. 4, and Louisville moved back up to round out the top five.

Stock up: West Virginia: The unbeaten Mountaineers continue to climb the polls after another impressive victory against TCU. WVU gains four places to crack the top 10 at No. 9.

Stock down: Ohio State. The Buckeyes aren’t out of the College Football Playoff hunt, but their ranking takes a six-place hit to No. 8, checking in behind undefeated Nebraska and Baylor who are tied for sixth this week.

Stock up: Auburn. The Tigers make the biggest jump of the week after their 56-3 demolition of Arkansas. They move up seven places to No. 17.

Stock down: Houston. The Cougars tumble 13 spots to 24th after a decisive loss to SMU that all but eliminates them from the playoff conversation as well as the AAC championship race.

Stock up: LSU. With Leonard Fournette back in action, the Bayou Bengals climb four places to No. 19 after taking down Ole Miss.

Stock down: Texas A&M. The Aggies are hardly the first to run into the Alabama buzz saw, but their ranking nonetheless takes a bit of a drop. They slip four places but retain a spot in the top 10.

New kids on the block: No. 23 Colorado, No. 25 Virginia Tech.

College dropouts: Arkansas, Mississippi.

PHOTOS FROM WEEK 8 IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL