Florida State eased past an overmatched opponent while Clemson escaped one. As a result, the Seminoles have leapfrogged the Tigers in the latest Associated Press poll.
The 'Noles jumped a spot to No. 2 behind Alabama, which received 56 of a possible 61 first-place votes. FSU, a 52-8 winner against shorthanded Charleston Southern, received four of the others, with Michigan getting one.
Clemson fell to fifth after eking out a 30-24 win against Sun Belt Conference foe Troy, coming off a 4-8 season.
Elsewhere, Florida moved back into the poll -- at No. 23 -- following its 45-7 dismantling of Kentucky. Miami, a 38-10 winner against FAU, stayed at No. 25.
1. Alabama
2. FSU
3. Ohio State
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Houston
7. Stanford
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
10. Louisville
11. Texas
12. Michigan State
13. Iowa
14. Oklahoma
15. Tennessee
16. Georgia
17. Texas A&M
18. Notre Dame
19. Ole Miss
20. LSU
21. Baylor
22. Oregon
23. Florida
24. Arkansas
25. Miami