▁T ide ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁ranked ▁No .   2 4 , ▁and ▁they ▁defeated ▁No .   9 ▁C lem son ▁in ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁Ch ick - fil - A ▁College ▁K ick off ▁to ▁open ▁the ▁season . ▁They ▁followed ▁the ▁victory ▁with ▁home ▁wins ▁over ▁Tul ane ▁and ▁W K U ▁and ▁won ▁on ▁the ▁road ▁over ▁Ark ansas ▁before ▁a ▁much - h yp ed ▁game ▁at ▁Georgia . ▁Rank ed ▁No .   8 ▁and ▁playing ▁against ▁the ▁No .   3 ▁Bul ld ogs ▁in ▁what ▁was ▁de emed ▁a ▁" black out " ▁game ▁by ▁Georgia ▁head ▁coach ▁Mark ▁R icht , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁took ▁a ▁ 3 1 – 0 ▁hal ft ime ▁lead ▁en ▁route ▁to ▁a ▁ 4 1 – 3 0 ▁ups et ▁victory . ▁After ▁their ▁win , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁moved ▁into ▁the ▁No .   2 ▁ranking ▁and ▁then ▁defeated ▁Kentucky , ▁Ole ▁Miss , ▁Tennessee ▁and ▁Ark ansas ▁State ▁on ▁home coming ▁to ▁extend ▁their ▁record ▁to ▁ 9 – 0 . ▁ ▁After ▁No .   1 ▁Texas ▁lost ▁to ▁Texas ▁Te ch , ▁the ▁C rim son ▁T ide ▁achieved ▁their ▁first ▁regular ▁season ▁No .   1 ▁ranking ▁in ▁the ▁AP ▁Pol l ▁since ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁season ▁and ▁their ▁first ▁ever ▁No .   1 ▁Bowl ▁Championship ▁Series ▁( BC S ) ▁ranking ▁prior ▁to ▁their ▁game ▁at ▁L SU . ▁In ▁what