Notre Dame, Clemson take advantage of Big Ten frailty
Irish move up to No. 3, Tigers to No. 4; ’Bama, Georgia keep top spots
Notre Dame and Clemson climbed while Ohio State and Penn State tumbled out of the top 10, leaving the latest Associated Press college football poll looking a lot like the College Football Playoff rankings — with one big difference.
Alabama remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, as it has been since the preseason. No. 2 Georgia picked up three more first-place votes for a total of five. In the playoff rankings, Georgia is No. 1 and Alabama is No. 2. Notre Dame moved up two spots to No. 3 and Clemson did the same to No. 4. Oklahoma jumped three spots to No. 5, leaving those three in the same order as the selection committee had them on Tuesday.
Unbeaten Wisconsin slipped two spots to No. 6 but is now the highest ranked team in the Big Ten. Ohio State fell eight spots to No. 11 after getting blown out at Iowa and Penn State dropped nine to No. 16 after spending all season in the top 10.
Poll points
■ For the first time this season, the Big Ten has only one team ranked in the top 10. The conference has had as many as four teams in the first 10 at times this season, but with Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan beating up each other, plus surprising losses by those East Division powers to Iowa and Northwestern the past two weeks, the Big Ten has devoured itself.
■ Notre Dame has its highest AP ranking since the 2012 season, when the Irish had an unbeaten regular season and reached No. 1 before losing the BCS title game to Alabama.
■ No. 7 Miami has its best ranking since 2013, when the Hurricanes reached No. 7 for two weeks in late October. That team lost four of six to finish the season unranked. The last time Miami was ranked in the top 10 in November was 2005.
Ranked versus ranked
For the second straight week, seven games on Saturday will match ranked teams, which ties an AP poll-era (1936-present) record:
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With some help from Georgia, the Tide can clinch the Southeastern Conference West.
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The Bulldogs already have clinched a trip to Atlanta as SEC East champs, but this is for playoff positioning.
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Just like old times. The first meeting between the Irish and Hurricanes as top-10 teams since 1990.
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The winner grabs sole possession and firm control of first place in the Big 12.
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Badgers can clinch the Big Ten West.
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First in the Big Ten East on the line.
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Cyclones already have victories against TCU and Oklahoma.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 18 Mississippi State: No. 2 Georgia at No. 10 Auburn: No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 7 Miami: No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 Texas Christian: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 25 Iowa: No. 11 Ohio State vs No. 13 Michigan State: No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 24 Iowa State: Late Saturday No. 12 Washington 38, Oregon 3 —
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At Seattle, Dante Pettis became the NCAA’S career leader in punt return touchdowns and had a 47-yard TD reception, helping the Huskies (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) beat the Ducks (5-5, 2-5).
Pettis sparked Washington’s blowout with his ninth career punt return touchdown. The senior caught the line drive punt from Oregon’s Adam Stack, made the initial defenders miss, hurdled an attempted tackle from Stack at the Oregon 40 and found open space as he sprinted to the end zone.
The 64-yard play was the fourth punt return for a score this season by Pettis, tying a Pac-12 record.
Pettis, who had 87 yards receiving, opened the Huskies’ second half with his seventh TD catch of the season.
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At Los Angeles, Ronald Jones II rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns, including two 1-yard scores inside the final six minutes, as the Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) overcame a big second-half rally by the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2).
Sam Darnold passed for 311 yards and two TDS for USC, which led 28-6 midway through the third quarter before Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate finally got the Wildcats rolling. Arizona scored 29 points in about 11 minutes, tying the score at 35 on Zach Green’s TD run and a 2-point conversion with 8:23 to play.
But Jones capped 72- and 69-yard drives with 1-yard scoring bursts to give the Trojans the win.
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At San Jose, Calif., Rashaad Penny ran for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Aztecs (8-2, 4-2 Mountain West) had 648 total yards, including a school-record 554 rushing, in beating the Spartans (1-9, 0-5).
San Diego State had six rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time since 1991. Juwan Washington ran for 134 yards and two scores.
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At Fresno, Calif., Jordan Mims rushed for two touchdowns to help the Bulldogs (6-3) beat the Cougars (2-8) in a nonconference game. BYU will play UNLV on Friday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
After Squally Canada’s 4-yard TD run for BYU tied the score at 13 late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs answered with a 14-play, 88-yard drive to take the lead for good when Mims scored on a 2-yard run with 12:40 remaining.
No. 17 Southern California 49, No.23arziona35— San Diego State 52, San Jose State7— Fresno State 20, Brigham Young 13 —