MCELWAIN OUT
GEORGIA moved up to No. 2 and took two first-place votes from top-ranked Alabama in a major reshuffling of the top 10 in The Associated Press college football poll.
Every team in the top 10 except idle Alabama changed positions in the poll released Sunday following Ohio State’s last-second victory over Penn State and Iowa State’s win over TCU. The Crimson Tide finished with 59 first-place votes, and Georgia snared two after turning the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” into a 42-7 runaway over rival Florida.
Ohio State moved up three places after rallying to beat thenNo. 2 Penn State 39-38 , Wisconsin climbed one spot to No. 4 and Notre Dame rounded out the top 5 by moving up four places.
Penn State dropped to No. 7 behind Clemson, followed by Oklahoma, Miami and TCU, which dropped six spots after its 14-7 loss to the Cyclones .
Alabama and Georgia give the SEC the top two spots in the poll for the first time since 2013. The last conference to go 1-2 in the poll was the Big Ten in 2015, when Ohio State and Michigan State sat atop the poll. POLL POINTS Iowa State made the biggest jump in the poll after its victory over TCU, climbing 11 spots to No. 14.
The Cyclones have their highest ranking since being No. 9 on Oct. 13, 2002, after moving into the poll for the first time in 17 years a week ago.
Iowa State became the first team to beat two top-5 teams before Nov. 1 since Florida in 2005 after knocking off the Horned Frogs and then-No. 3 Oklahoma. The Cyclones went 3-9 last season, their first under coach Matt Campbell.
Florida beat No. 5 Tennessee and No. 4 Georgia 12 years ago. TIDE CLIMBING Alabama is ranked No. 1 for the 99th time, passing Notre Dame for third on the all-time list. Ohio State has the record with 105 times at No. 1, and Oklahoma is second at 101.
Alabama plays No. 19 LSU on Saturday and will likely tie Ohio State’s record if it wins out with six polls left this season.
Florida and coach Jim McElwain have agreed to part ways a day after a third consecutive loss and nearly a week after he said his players and their families had received death threats.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin made the announcement Sunday and named defensive coordinator Randy Shannon the team’s interim coach for the final four games.
The parties are negotiating McElwain’s $12.5 million buyout.
Florida (3-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference), which is still paying former coach Will Muschamp, would like to significantly reduce McElwain’s sum and could use his actions over the last week as leverage.
Regardless of the outcome, McElwain’s tenure will be remembered for failing to fix a floundering offense. Three years ago, McElwain proclaimed he could win with his dog at quarterback. The Gators currently rank 113th in total offense. —AP