Steppe’s Week 6 AP ballot: Alabama is new No. 1, Georgia falls to No. 7

IOWA CITY — Alabama needed to prove itself before getting a top-five ranking on my ballot.

It had a new coach. It suffered severe attrition via the transfer portal.

With Alabama’s 41-34 win over Georgia on Saturday night, Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide did exactly that (and did it with somewhat of an exclamation point).

The first half showed how dominant Alabama can be as the Crimson Tide claimed a 28-0 lead against a team that had only lost twice in the previous three seasons. The second half perhaps tempered enthusiasm as Georgia clawed back.

Looking at the game in totality, Alabama delivered a signature win against its national-title-contending rival and did enough to earn the No. 1 spot on my AP Poll ballot this week.

Texas, now at No. 2, still has an impressive resume after its win earlier this month at then-No. 10 Michigan. But Alabama’s win over Georgia carries more weight than Texas’ win over Michigan.

Penn State rose to No. 5 after its win against No. 19 Illinois -- one of the few teams already had multiple ranked wins going into Week 5. Oregon also received consideration at that spot, especially with how good the Ducks’ Week 2 over Boise State now looks.

Georgia fell to No. 7 on my ballot (behind undefeated national title contenders such as Ohio State, Tennessee, Penn State and Oregon). The Bulldogs showed why they should be a top-10 team in the second half, but the first half was an obvious red flag.

I might be more bullish on Notre Dame than some of my fellow voters at No. 10. But with two ranked wins (against teams that should remain ranked this week), Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois earlier this year appears to be a aberration rather than a bellwether.

Farther down on the ballot, Kansas State reentered my ballot after a definitive, 42-20, win over No. 20 Oklahoma State. Texas A&M also reentered my ballot; the Aggies have two power-conference wins, with the lone loss coming to Notre Dame.

Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Duke and especially Indiana received consideration as undefeated teams in power conferences. But their lack of quality opponents kept them off my ballot for now.

Here is my full ballot:

John Steppe’s Week 6 ballot

Also under consideration: Pittsburgh, Indiana, Kentucky, Rutgers

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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