Complete Associated Press Poll
NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Alabama remained the top team in the latest Associated Press college football poll and there was little change among the top 10, but Michigan State's thrilling overtime win against Notre Dame vaulted the Spartans into the 25th spot.
The Crimson Tide (3-0) rolled to a 62-13 victory over Duke on Saturday with
Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram back in the lineup after missing the first
two games of the season. Alabama received 53 first-place votes, one more than
last week, and a total of 1,492 points from a nationwide media panel to keep a
firm hold of the top spot.
Ohio State (3-0), after a 43-7 rout of Ohio University at the Horseshoe, again
picked up five first-place votes and 1,435 points to remain second, while
Boise State (2-0) earned one No. 1 tally for the second week in a row and sits
third following a 51-6 romp at Wyoming.
TCU and Oregon, also easy winners on Saturday, maintained their positions at
fourth and fifth, while Nebraska's 56-21 victory at Washington helped the
Cornhuskers move up two spots to sixth. Texas, which again received one first-
place vote, dropped a spot for the second straight week and is seventh,
despite a solid 24-14 win at Texas Tech.
Oklahoma dropped one spot to eighth after a narrow 27-24 win at home against
Air Force, while Florida moved up one place to ninth following a 31-17 win at
Tennessee. Arkansas leaped two spots to 10th after holding off Georgia, 31-24,
and next Saturday will host top-ranked Alabama in the marquee matchup of the
weekend.
The second 10 consists of Wisconsin, South Carolina, Utah, Arizona, LSU,
Stanford, Auburn, Iowa, Miami-Florida and Southern California. Arizona rose 10
places from 24th after a 34-27 win over Iowa, while the Hawkeyes dropped nine
spots from ninth following the setback in the desert.
Michigan, West Virginia, Penn State, Oregon State and Michigan State are the
last five teams ranked this week.
Michigan State used a fake field goal in overtime to pull out a 34-31 win over
Notre Dame on Saturday night, improving to 3-0. On Sunday morning, Spartans
head coach Mark Dantonio was hospitalized after suffering from symptoms
consistent with a heart attack. He is resting comfortably after undergoing a
procedure and his return the sideline will be determined at a later date.
Houston fell out of the poll after a one-week stay at No. 23. The Cougars
dropped a 31-13 decision at UCLA on Saturday night and lost quarterback Case
Keenum to a leg injury in the second quarter.
In addition to the Alabama/Arkansas contest, there are three other matchups of
ranked teams. Another SEC battle pits South Carolina at Auburn, while LSU
hosts West Virginia and Oregon State visits Boise State.