AP Top 25 College Football Poll: Alabama No. 5 in final poll of season

Alabama finished at No. 5 in the final AP Top 25 College Football Poll of the 2023 season.

The Crimson Tide finished the year at 12-2, losing to Texas 34-24 in the second game of the season, when Alabama was struggling in several key areas, and to Michigan 27-20 in overtime in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl.

Michigan went on to win the national championship and was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final poll. The Wolverines beat Washington to win their first national title in 26 years. The Wolverines received all 61 first-place votes.

Washington was second, the Huskies’ best final ranking since finishing No. 2 in 1991. That year, Washington was No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll to claim its only national title. Texas, Georgia and Alabama rounded out the top five.

Even though Alabama was ranked one spot lower than Georgia, the Crimson Tide had beaten the Bulldogs 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game, giving Georgia its only loss of the season.

Florida State, left out of the playoff after a perfect regular season, finished tied with Oregon for sixth.

AP TOP 25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL (First-place votes in parentheses; SEC teams in bold):

1. Michigan (61) 15-0
2. Washington 14-1
3. Texas 12-2
4. Georgia 13-1
5. Alabama 12-2
6. Oregon 12-2
6. Florida State 13-1
8. Missouri 11-2
9. Ole Miss 11-2
10. Ohio State 11-2
11. Arizona 10-3
12. LSU 10-3
13. Penn State 10-3
14. Notre Dame 10-3
15. Oklahoma 10-3
16. Oklahoma State 10-4
17. Tennessee 9-4
18. Kansas State 9-4
19. Louisville 10-4
20. Clemson 9-4
21. NC State 9-4
22. SMU 11-3
23. Kansas 9-4
24. Iowa 10-4
25. Liberty 13-1

Troy received 10 votes in the final poll. Auburn did not receive any votes.

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)