A week ago, Arizona led then-No. 2 Michigan by a single point for the top spot to barely avoid what would have been only the second-ever tie at No. 1 in the poll's 78-year history. But with Wisconsin handing the Wolverines their first loss, the Wildcats (16-0) became the easy choice at the top by earning 60 of 61 first-place votes in the latest poll.
Manning had been injured in Texas' overtime win over Mississippi State and spent the week in concussion protocol. By Friday night, he'd been removed from the team's injury report to the Southeastern Conference and started against the Commodores. Against Vanderbilt, Manning went 25 of 33. Quintrevion Wisner rushed 18 times for 75 yards and a score, and Wingo had two receptions for 89 yards for Texas (7-2, 4-1 SEC).
This is a sentence I never thought I'd type: Undefeated Vanderbilt is rolling into Tuscaloosa with playoff chatter starting to swirl. And yet, here we are. The Commodores are 5-0, playing with confidence and looking nothing like the program we've come to expect. Across the field is Alabama; 3-1 and fresh off a statement upset over Georgia that reminded everyone that it is still a heavyweight, even if it looks a little different these days.
