Georgia claimed the top spot in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll following a closely contested victory over seventh-ranked Alabama on October 10 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Bulldogs overcame a 14-10 halftime deficit to secure a 20-17 win, reinforcing their status as the leading team in college football heading into the midseason stretch.
The game marked a significant milestone for Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart, who notched only his third win in ten attempts against Alabama, a program where he previously served as defensive coordinator under Nick Saban. This victory also ended a long-standing losing streak for Georgia at Alabama’s home stadium, with their last triumph there occurring in 2007.
Georgia’s offense was led by quarterback Gunner Stockton, who completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown. The running game was resilient despite injuries, with Dwight Phillips rushing 17 times for 120 yards and a touchdown, while Bo Walker contributed 69 yards on 10 carries. The Bulldogs’ determining moment came in the fourth quarter when Stockton’s key 17-yard third-down completion extended a final drive, culminating in a Peyton Woodring field goal with just over five minutes remaining. A critical personal foul penalty against Alabama’s Dijon Lee Jr. during the drive helped seal the victory for Georgia.
Alabama, trailing 14-10 at halftime, briefly regained momentum following an 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from EJ Crowell just before the break. However, the Tide managed only a field goal after halftime, tying the game at 17-all in the third quarter. Quarterback Keelon Russell, in his sixth start, finished 16-for-30 for 185 yards and one touchdown. Late in the game, Alabama appeared poised to retake the lead, but an incomplete pass on a critical second-down play in the end zone—where defensive contact was not flagged—along with a subsequent sack, pushed the Tide out of scoring range and forced a punt.
Following the win over Alabama, Georgia moved to the No. 1 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll for the first time this season, receiving 60 of 74 first-place votes. Alabama, despite the loss, remained at No. 7. Notre Dame rose to No. 2 after an easy win against Stanford, collecting three first-place votes, while Miami (Florida) advanced to No. 3 with one first-place vote. Indiana climbed to No. 4, buoyed by a narrow victory over previously undefeated Nebraska, and Ohio State settled at No. 5 with one first-place vote.
Texas fell to No. 6 following its loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. Big 12 teams BYU and Texas Tech maintained their positions at Nos. 8 and 9 respectively, while Ole Miss reentered the top 10 ahead of No. 11 Utah. UCLA experienced the most significant rise, jumping 10 spots to No. 12 after an upset win at Oregon, and Kentucky advanced eight places to No. 17 following an overtime victory over then-No. 10 LSU.
Oklahoma State debuted at No. 20, Wake Forest entered at No. 23, and Boise State appeared at No. 24. Teams dropping out of the poll included Florida, Duke, and Pittsburgh.
This shift atop the rankings signals a renewed sense of competition among contenders as the 2026 college football season unfolds, with Georgia positioning itself as a frontrunner for both the SEC championship and the College Football Playoff.