Clemson pulls closer to Tide

Alabama’s big win over Mississippi didn’t keep Clemson from cutting into its lead in The Associated Press college football poll.

The defending national champion Tigers more than doubled their number of first-place votes after their 31-17 road win over thenNo. 12 Virginia Tech. Clemson lost ground a week ago after struggling for three quarters against Boston College, but the performance against the Hokies took the Tigers from eight to 17 firstplace votes Sunday.

The Crimson Tide went from 52 first-place votes last week to 44 despite its 66-3 rout of the Rebels.

The top four teams remained the same. Following Alabama and Clemson are Oklahoma, which lost the first-place vote it got last week, and Penn State.

Southern California’s 3027 loss at Washington State made room for Georgia to take over at No. 5 after its 41-0 win over Tennessee.

Washington, Michigan, TCU, Wisconsin and Ohio State rounded out the top 10.

Poll points.

Mississippi State is gone after its 49-10 loss at Auburn, the most lopsided game in the series since 1970. The Bulldogs, beaten by Georgia a week earlier, have been outscored 80-13 in two games.

LSU’s 24-21 loss to Troy marked the Tigers’ first defeat in 50 nonconference games since 2000.

North Carolina State returned to the poll for the first time since 2010. The Wolfpack is 4-1 for the fourth consecutive year and 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play for the first time since 2006. The Wolfpack got points on its first five possessions in a 33-25 victory over Syracuse.

Central Florida is back for the first time since it was No. 10 in the final poll of 2013. The Knights have outscored opponents 13940, including 40-13 over Memphis on Saturday.

Streaks.

The current longest streaks of consecutive poll appearances:

• 169 — Alabama. Last time unranked was the final poll of the 2007 season.

• 104 — Ohio State. Last time unranked was the final poll of the 2011 season.

• 56 — Clemson. Last time unranked was Nov. 16, 2014.

Moving up.

Washington State climbed to No. 11 from No. 16 with its stunning 3027 win over Southern California. The Cougars beat a top-five team for the first time since 2003 and are 5-0 for the first time since opening 7-0 in 2001.

No. 10 Ohio State is back in the top 10 after dropping out last week for the first time in 43 consecutive polls. The Buckeyes’ return gives the Big Ten four teams in the top 10.

Moving down.

The loss to Washington State caused USC to topple from No. 5 to No. 14.

Virginia Tech lost for the first time in five games since last season and slipped from No. 12 to No. 16.

Conference call.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has the most teams represented with five.

The Southeastern Conference, Big 12, Pac-12 and Big Ten each has four teams ranked in the top 25.

The American Athletic Conference placed two teams, and the Mountain West has one.

Upcoming ranked.

No. 17 Louisville at No. 24 North Carolina State and No. 23 West Virginia at No. 8 TCU.