Austin American-Statesman

Ohio State still No. 1; Baylor and TCU stay in AP top four,

Memphis, Temple make their debuts in AP football rankings.

- By Ralph D. Russo

The American Athletic Conference wants to be considered closer in quality to the Power Five conference­s than it is to its fellow Group of Five leagues.

That claim is backed up by the results this season, including an American uprising in the AP Top 25.

Memphis and Temple jumped into The Associated Press college football poll for the first time this season, joining Houston to give the American Athletic Conference three ranked teams for the first time in the history of the three-year old league.

Ohio State remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 released Sunday. For the second straight week, six teams received firstplace votes in the media poll, led by the Buckeyes with 28. No. 2 Baylor has 12, No. 3 Utah received 16, No. 4 TCU got three and No. 5 LSU and No. 6 Clemson each have one.

The Utes and LSU Tigers each edged ahead one spot after home victories on Saturday.

Michigan State stayed at No. 7 after its miracle against Michigan and Alabama is No. 8 after handing Texas A&M its first loss.

Memphis (6-0) had the big upset of the weekend against Mississipp­i. The Tigers 37-24 victory vaulted them into the rankings at No 18.

“It’s one of the biggest wins we’ve had. It may be the most important based on where we are now,” Commission­er Mike Aresco said Sunday.

“UCF’s big win over Baylor (in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl) was really important because it gave us some instant credibilit­y that year.”

Memphis has only been ranked two other times: For one week during the 2004 season the Tigers were 25th and in the final poll of last season they were 25th.

Temple (6-0) was ranked No. 22. The Owls are in the AP poll for the first time since the final 1979 rankings.

“I’m really proud of our players and it’s a tribute to them that people have noticed how they have played to this point,” Temple coach Matt Rhule.

“I am thrilled that we have been able to get off to a 6-0 start. But I’ll repeat what I have said before, it’s a long season and I’ll be happier if we can finish the year ranked among the best in the country.”

No. 21 Houston is also 6-0 under new coach Tom Herman.

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