Alabama Holds Ninth in AP Poll After Bye
Alabama stayed at No. 9 in the AP Poll after a bye week as several top-ranked teams lost over Halloween weekend.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
Alabama had a bye week and is ranked ninth in the AP Poll. Ohio State lost to unranked USC, 30-18, while Notre Dame fell to No. 8 BYU, 28-24, and BYU later lost to UCF, 39-31.
Why it matters
The shake-up at the top of the poll reshuffles the College Football Playoff picture heading into the committee's first rankings. Alabama's position depends on results from upset-heavy weekends that have reordered contenders.
Alabama is ranked ninth in the AP Poll, while Miami holds the top spot. Ohio State lost to unranked USC, 30-18, and Notre Dame lost to No. 8 BYU, 28-24, while BYU later fell to UCF, 39-31.
The players
Alabama Crimson Tide
The University of Alabama football program, based in Tuscaloosa, is one of the most storied programs in college football history.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State University football program is a perennial national contender that competes in the Big Ten Conference.
The details
Alabama had a bye week and remained in the AP Poll at No. 9. Over Halloween weekend, Ohio State, the No. 2 team in the country, lost to USC, and several other upsets reshaped the rankings.
Timeline
Halloween weekend: Ohio State lost to USC and several upsets occurred.
Nov. 3, 6:00 p.m. CT: The College Football Playoff committee releases initial rankings on ESPN.
Nov. 7: Alabama plays at LSU.
Season Trajectory
Alabama's ninth-place ranking reflects a season reshaped by upsets that have reordered the top of the poll. The committee's first ranking on Nov. 3 will place Alabama within a playoff field still in flux.
The committee's first rankings will set the playoff bracket's early shape, and Alabama's Nov. 7 trip to LSU could move its standing. Fans tracking the poll should watch the committee release before updating their expectations.
The takeaway
Early-season rankings can shift quickly when top teams fall, so Alabama's position will likely change after the committee's first release and its game at LSU.
What happens next
The College Football Playoff committee unveils its initial rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN, and Alabama plays at LSU on Nov. 7.
Further reading
For more on the teams and rankings shaping the season, explore Football coverage.
