Clemson rises back to No. 2; App State earns first ranking

Clemson is back at No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll behind top-ranked Alabama, moving up to where it started, after a convincing victory and Ohio State’s first loss of the season.

The Crimson Tide are a unanimous No. 1, with all 61 first-place votes for the first time this season.

The Tigers trailed only Alabama in the preseason rankings, but a couple of close wins in September — combined with seemingly impressive performances by other highly ranked teams — dragged Clemson to as low as No. 4. Coming off a lopsided win against North Carolina State, Clemson rose a spot this week. Notre Dame is No. 3 and LSU is No. 4, setting the stage for a topfive matchup between the Tigers and Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 3. Both have an open date this week.

Michigan is No. 5 and Ohio State dropped to No. 11 after being upset by Purdue.

Poll points: No. 25 Appalachian State is ranked in the AP poll for the first time in school history. The Mountaineers (5-1) have not lost since opening the season with an overtime defeat at Penn State. App State transitioned to the FBS, the highest level of Division I football, in 2014 after years as an FCS power.

Up: No. 14 Washington State was the only big mover to rise in the rankings this week, jumping 11 spots after beating Oregon.

Down: Ohio State dropped out of the top 10 for the first time this season, tumbling nine spots. No. 19 Oregon dropped seven spots after taking its second loss. No. 22 North Carolina State fell six spots after losing for the first time this season.

In: No. 23 Utah is ranked for the first time this season, making it five straight years the Utes started the season unranked but moved into the rankings at some point. No. 24 Stanford is back in the rankings after falling out two weeks ago.

Out: Michigan State and Mississippi State fell out of the rankings again after losing for the third time this season. Cincinnati’s first loss of the season, in overtime to Temple, cost the Bearcats their first ranking since 2012.

Ranked vs. ranked this week: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 9 Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., the first of two games involving the Bulldogs that will decide the SEC East. Georgia faces Kentucky on Nov. 3.

No. 14 Washington State at No. 24 Stanford. The Cougars try to grab control of the Pac-12 North.

No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State. The Nittany Lions will help decide the Big Ten West with home games against the Hawkeyes and No. 20 Wisconsin.

MIKE COMER / GETTY IMAGES Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins makes a catch in the open field against North Carolina State during the Tigers’ 41-7 home victory Saturday. Clemson has returned to No. 2 in the AP rankings after slipping as low as fourth.