A new – but familiar – number one Alabama has supplanted Clemson to claim the top spot in this week’s MaxDiff Poll. While the Tide’s MaxDiff score is not significantly greater than the Tigers’, Alabama took a small majority of the head-to-head sets when it appeared alongside Clemson. This reflects a slight consensus that Alabama is the best team in the country at the present time. This is a reasonable stance when you take into account the two teams’ resumes so far. While Alabama got off to a slow start in the first half of its season opener against Duke, the Tide have looked unstoppable ever since. Alabama has posted over 500 yards of total offense in each of its three games so far, and their formidable offensive weapons were certainly on display last Saturday. Heisman front-runner Tua Tagovailoa racked up 444 yards through the air, distributing production to separate 100-yard receivers in DeVonta Smith and speedster Henry Ruggs. Tagovailoa’s stable of stud receivers composed of former Biletnikoff winner Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Smith, and Ruggs is arguably the best in college football. On the other hand, Clemson, while winning games handily, has looked slightly underwhelming on offense. Preseason Heisman favorite Trevor Lawrence has now slipped to fourth in the updated Heisman odds. This is due in no small part to logging five interceptions over the first three games. By comparison, Lawrence only threw four picks total last season. Lawrence has an opportunity to pad his numbers and rebound this week against inferior competition as the Tigers lock up against UNC-Charlotte in Death Valley, SC.

All aboard the Oklahoma State train. By landing in the #21 spot in the MaxDiff Poll versus a #27 placement in the AP, Oklahoma State was voted as the most underrated team in the AP this week. While Mike Gundy and company have looked reasonably impressive in road wins over Oregon State and Tulsa, the Cowboys have yet to play a ranked team. That changes on Saturday as Oklahoma State travels to Austin to take on Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns, another team voters feel are not quite getting their due in the AP.

Fans still think Army deserves more respect Army was voted as one of the most underrated teams in the AP in this season’s first MaxDiff Poll. Fans have not softened on this stance, particularly after the Black Knights took Michigan to double overtime two weeks ago. While the Black Knights eventually lost that game, the impressive outing – particularly by the Army defense – made quite an impression on fans, particularly the more ardent ones, who were already likely to have a more favorable opinion of Army to begin with. Army has a tune-up game this weekend against FCS Morgan State, but has a chance to impress in two weeks when the Black Knights host Willie Fritz’s Tulane Green Wave, a team that has looked more impressive than expected this season after a 42 – 14 trouncing of Florida International and a competitive loss to AP #8 Auburn. On Thursday, Tulane hosts Dana Holgorsen’s Houston Cougars in Yulman Stadium in uptown New Orleans. Before the season started, no one would have expected the Green Wave to be favored in this game, but that’s exactly where things stand, as Tulane is currently favored by 5 points. If Tulane is able to knock off Houston, its matchup with Army in two weeks will be one of the more anticipated G5 clashes.

Fans give BYU credit for big wins over Tennessee and USC In the past two weeks, the Cougars have had the odd fortune of facing both Tennessee and USC – two traditionally strong programs who are currently dealing with a host of issues. Nevertheless, BYU seized the opportunity and racked up two wins over Power Five opponents in consecutive weeks. With the exception of UCF, the voters in this poll (which over-index toward a more hardcore, informed college football fan) traditionally have not given G5 teams much credit. However, BYU has earned their respect as they were voted as one of the more underrated teams in this week’s AP. The Cougars have another chance to impress this weekend as they host AP #22 Washington. If BYU pulls off the upset, expect them to be ranked in the top 25 of both the AP and the MaxDiff Poll next week.

Fans are not impressed by Florida Florida, who was ranked #9 in the AP, but #17 in the MaxDiff Poll was by far the team fans felt was most overrated in this week’s AP. Despite remaining undefeated, the Gators have not looked the part of a top ten team in very ugly wins over Miami in Week 0 and Kentucky this past weekend. Furthermore, it does not help that Florida lost three-year starting quarterback Felipe Franks for the season to a brutal ankle injury during the Kentucky game.