TULSA, Okla., Sporting Alert – Ohio State stayed No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 NCAA college football rankings, released on Sunday, but Utah fell 10 places after suffering a first loss this season.
The Buckeyes (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) received 39 first-place votes, 11 more than what they gained in Week 8, and collected 1466 points, following their 49-7 victory over Rutgers on Saturday night.
Ohio State will now head into its bye week firmly placed at the top of the rankings and the defending national champion for sure will linger there until they play again.
Baylor (7-0) stayed No. 2 in the rankings and received seven first-place votes for 1417 points.
However, there is a new No. 3 in the country, as Clemson advanced three spots to take over that position, following the dominating 58-0 win over Miami (FL).
The Tigers, who improved to 7-0 on the season, handed the Hurricanes its worst loss in program history.
LSU moved one spot up to No. 4, swapping with TCU which dropped to No. 5.
Meanwhile, Utah fell from third in the AP Top 25 rankings to No. 13 after losing for the first time this season.
The Utes (6-1) who had been questioned all season, were beaten 42-24 by UCS and many, including the oddsmakers, saw this one coming almost a week ago when they picked the Trojans to win the game.
In the meantime, the top 10 was rounded out by Michigan State at No. 6, Alabama, No. 7, Stanford, which climbed two spots to No. 8, Notre Dame, at No. 9, while Iowa, which was idle this weekend advanced two places to 10th.
The Florida Gators are on the move again as they are up two places to No. 11, Oklahoma State (12th), Oklahoma (14th) and Michigan (15th) completed the top 15.
Newcomers in this week’s AP top 25 rankings are UCLA (5-2) back in the poll at No. 24 after thrashing Utah on Saturday night, while Mississippi State finally returns at No. 25.
Dropped from the rankings were Texas A&M and California, following respective defeats.
AP Top 25 College Football Rankings In Week 9
Sunday, October 25
1 Ohio State (39)
2 Baylor (7)
3 Clemson (6)
4 LSU (5)
5 TCU (3)
6 Michigan State
7 Alabama (1)
8 Stanford
9 Notre Dame
10 Iowa
11 Florida
12 Oklahoma State
13 Utah
14 Oklahoma
15 Michigan
16 Memphis
17 Florida State
18 Houston
19 Ole Miss
20 Toledo
21 Temple
22 Duke
23 Pittsburgh
24 UCLA
25 Mississippi State
Dropped from rankings: Texas A&M 15, California 20
Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 73, North Carolina 46, USC 33, BYU 18, Georgia 17, Wisconsin 15, Northwestern 10, Appalachian State 6, California 5, Washington State 2
