College football rankings: Week 2, 2021

By Kevin Kelley -

College football rankings for week 2 of the 2021 season have been released. Alabama remains the top-ranked team, while UCLA and Georgia were among several teams that moved up in both polls.

The UCLA Bruins, who upset the previously 16th-ranked LSU Tigers 38-27 at home in Pasadena, Calif., went from unranked in both polls to No. 16 in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll.

The Georgia Bulldogs moved up three spots to No. 2 in both the AP and Coaches polls after defeating the previously 3rd-ranked Clemson Tigers 10-3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

The top six teams are the same in both Week 2 polls: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Clemson.

In the Stats Performs FCS Top 25 Poll, Sam Houston remained on top with 32 of the 50 first-place votes after defeating Northern Arizona 42-16. South Dakota State moved up one spot to No. 2, while James Madison dropped a spot to No. 3. Montana moved up five spots to No. 4 following their upset win at Washington. North Dakota State rounds out the top five.

Below are the full AP, FBS Coaches, STATS FCS, and FCS Coaches polls for Week 2 of the 2021 season (first-place votes in parentheses):

AP Poll – Week 2

1. Alabama (59)
2. Georgia (4)
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Texas A&M
6. Clemson
7. Cincinnati
8. Notre Dame
9. Iowa State
10. Iowa
11. Penn State
12. Oregon
13. Florida
14. USC
15. Texas
16. UCLA
17. Coastal Carolina
18. Wisconsin
19. Virginia Tech
20. Ole Miss
21. Utah
22. Miami FL
23. Arizona State
24. North Carolina
25. Auburn

Others receiving votes: TCU 80, NC State 69, UCF 61, Liberty 57, LSU 57, Michigan 52, Oklahoma State 39, Indiana 37, Michigan State 28, Nevada 23, Kansas State 13, Louisiana 12, BYU 10, Boston College 8, Ball State 7, Maryland 6, Arizona 5, UAB 5, Florida State 4, Kentucky 3, Texas Tech 2, Army 2, Appalachian State 1

Dropped from rankings: LSU 16, Indiana 17, Washington 20, Louisiana 23

FBS Coaches Poll – Week 2

1. Alabama (64)
2. Georgia (1)
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Texas A&M
6. Clemson
7. Notre Dame
8. Cincinnati
9. Florida
10. Iowa State
11. Oregon
12. Iowa
13. Penn State
14. USC
15. Texas
16. UCLA
17. Wisconsin
18. Utah
19. Coastal Carolina
20. Ole Miss
21. Virginia Tech
22. North Carolina
23. Oklahoma State
24. Miami
25. Arizona State

Others receiving votes: Auburn 123, Michigan 99, Louisiana State 95, NC State 81, Liberty 78, Brigham Young 65, Indiana 58, Texas Christian 49, Central Florida 48, Florida State 34, Michigan State 33, Kentucky 28, Pittsburgh 20, UL Lafayette 19, Kansas State 19, Boston College 19, Appalachian State 15, Southern Methodist 14, Rutgers 11, Arkansas 11, Maryland 9, Tennessee 7, Nevada 7, Fresno State 7, Army 7, Tulane 6, Virginia 5, San Jose State 5, Missouri 5, Ball State 5, Marshall 3, UAB 2, Air Force 2, Charlotte 1.

Dropped from rankings: LSU 13, Indiana 17, Washington 21, Louisiana 23

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – Week 2

1. Sam Houston (32)
2. South Dakota State (11)
3. James Madison (2)
4. Montana (5)
5. North Dakota State
6. Delaware
7. Eastern Washington
8. Southern Illinois
9. North Dakota
10. Weber State
11. Montana State
12. Villanova
13. Southeastern Louisiana
14. UC Davis
15. ETSU
16. Jacksonville State
17. Austin Peay
18. VMI
19. Central Arkansas
20. Monmouth
21. UNI
22. Kennesaw State
23. Missouri State
24. Holy Cross
25. Richmond

Others receiving votes: Murray State 125, Chattanooga 72, Nicholls 61, Sacramento State 40, Samford 40, New Hampshire 36, Alabama A&M 34, Furman 20, Sacred Heart 17, Jackson State 14, Illinois State 10, Rhode Island 8, Stephen F. Austin 8, North Carolina Central 7.

Dropped from rankings: Chattanooga 18, Nicholls 22, North Carolina A&T 25.

FCS Coaches Poll – Week 2

1. Sam Houston (23)
2. James Madison (1)
3. South Dakota State (3)
4. North Dakota State
5. Montana (1)
6. Delaware
7. North Dakota
8. Eastern Washington
9. Southern Illinois
10. Weber State
11. Villanova
12. UC Davis
13. Montana State
14. Southeastern Louisiana
15. Northern Iowa
16. Central Arkansas
17. Jacksonville State
18. Austin Peay
19. ETSU
20. VMI
21. Monmouth
22. Richmond
23. Kennesaw State
24. Chattanooga
25. Missouri State

Others receiving votes: Samford 54, Holy Cross 32, Furman 31, Murray St. 28, Alabama A&M 24, New Hampshire 24, Rhode Island 16, South Dakota 16, Nicholls 12, Jackson State 10, Stephen F. Austin 8, Eastern Kentucky 7, Gardner-Webb 7, Charleston Southern 6, Sacramento State 5, Youngstown State 4, Illinois State 3, Southern Utah 3, Florida A&M 2, Sacred Heart 2, Yale 2, Harvard 1.

Dropped from rankings: Nicholls 23, North Carolina A&T 24