Alabama No. 1 heading into final week of the regular season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — To no surprise, Alabama kept its spot at No. 1 in both the Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday. The Crimson Tide (11,0, 7-0 in the SEC) made easy work of FCS opponent Mercer on Saturday, blowing out the Bears 56-0 in what will be the last game inside Bryant-Denny Stadium this season. Alabama earned all 64 first-place votes in the coaches poll while receiving 58 of the 61 first-place votes in the AP Top 25.

The top 5 in the coaches poll remained unchanged from last week with Alabama trailed by Miami, Clemson, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. The AP Top 25 also didn’t see much change with Alabama followed by Miami (three first-place votes), Oklahoma, Clemson and Wisconsin.

Five SEC teams were represented in the coaches poll with No. 1 Alabama followed by No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Georgia, No. 17 Mississippi State and No. 18 LSU. The same five SEC schools are included in the AP Top 25 with No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Georgia, No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 19 LSU

Alabama and Auburn will meet in one of the most notable Iron Bowls in recent memory as the Crimson Tide travels to Auburn on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. The winner of the game will clinch the SEC West and advance to the SEC Championship to play Georgia.

While Sunday’s rankings won’t have an effect on Alabama’s season, the Crimson Tide is also No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Then next rankings will be released Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Every team in the top 10 won over the weekend, meaning there will unlikely be much change in the playoff picture this week. Currently, Alabama is followed by Clemson, Miami Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Auburn in the rankings.

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