College football rankings: Alabama Crimson Tide take top spot in Associated Press (AP) poll

AJ McCarron #10 of the University of Alabama calls the play at the line during the first quarter of the game against the University of Michigan.
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Posted: 09/04/2012

By: Associated Press

Alabama is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, moving past Southern California after its resounding victory against Michigan.

The Crimson Tide swayed more than enough voters with its 41-14 win Saturday night in Texas to overtake the preseason No. 1 Trojans, who beat Hawaii 49-10. USC entered that game a 40-point favorite at home.

The Tide receives 45 first-place votes, up 28 from last week. USC draws 11 first-place votes and No. 3 LSU four.

It's the 47th time Alabama has been No. 1, the 16th under coach Nick Saban.

This is the 86th time in the 76-year history of the AP media poll that the top-ranked team won and dropped in the rankings. It's happened at least once every year since 2007.