The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

Ohio State up to No. 6 after stomping Michigan

- By Ralph D. Russo

The Buckeyes jumped four spots and the Wolverines fell four to No. 8 on Sunday, but overall the rankings were relatively stable after the last weekend of the regular season. Going into next week, when each FBS conference will play a championsh­ip game, Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame are the top three for the sixth straight poll.

Georgia moved up a spot to No. 4 and Oklahoma is fifth. Unbeaten UCF also moved up a spot to No. 7. No. 9 Texas and Washington round out the top 10.

Washington State and LSU both dropped out of the top 10 and are tied for No. 12.

POLL POINTS >> Alabama has been ranked No. 1 for 14 straight weeks. The Crimson Tide are the first team to have three seasons of 14 straights weeks at No. 1, starting from the preseason. The Tide also accomplish­ed the feat in 2016, when it went 15 polls at No. 1 before losing the College Football Playoff championsh­ip game to Clemson, and in 2012, when it lost to Auburn on the Kick Six during the final weekend of the regular season.

Southern California is the only other school to go 14 straight weeks in a season at No. 1, doing it in 2004 and 2005. The Trojans won the national championsh­ip, becoming just the second wire-towire AP No. 1, and lost the BCS championsh­ip game to Texas to end the 2005 season.

IN>> No. 22 Texas A&M moved back into the ranking after beating LSU 7472 in a game that tied the FBS record with seven overtimes and broke the record for total points.

No. 25 Fresno State also moved back into the rankings.

OUT >> Utah State (10-2) dropped out after losing to Boise State in a game that decided a spot in the Mountain West championsh­ip game against Fresno State. The Aggies had reached No. 14.

Pittsburgh is out after losing to Miami. The Panthers had already clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference and will face No. 2 Clemson unranked and with a 7-5 record. CONFERENCE CALL >> SEC — 7 teams (1, 4, 11, 12t, 16, 20, 22).

Big Ten — 4 (6, 8, 14, 21). Big 12 — 4 (5, 9, 15, 24). Pac-12 — 3 (10, 12t, 17). ACC — 2 (2, 18). Independen­t — 2 (3, 23). Mountain West — 2 (19, 25).

American — 1 (7). RANKED VS. RANKED >> Conference championsh­ip weekend.

No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 1 Alabama, SEC championsh­ip Saturday in Atlanta. Winner goes to the playoff. Maybe the loser, too.

No. 9 Texas vs. No. 5 Oklahoma, Big 12 championsh­ip Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Playoff and Sugar Bowl ramificati­ons.

No. 17 Utah vs. No. 10 Washington, Pac-12 championsh­ip Friday in Santa Clara, California. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl.

No. 21 Northweste­rn vs. No. 6 Ohio State, Big Ten championsh­ip Saturday in Indianapol­is. Playoff and Rose Bowl ramificati­ons.

No. 25 Fresno State at No. 19 Boise State, Mountain West championsh­ip Saturday. Winner could end up in New Year’s Six bowl.

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDruss­oAP and listen at https://www.podcastone. com/AP-Top-25-CollegeFoo­tball-Podcast More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/ Collegefoo­tball and https:// twitter.com/AP—Top25

 ?? JAY LAPRETE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Ohio State running back Mike Weber, left, celebrates his touchdown against Michigan with teammate quarterbac­k Dwayne Haskins during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Michigan 62-39.
JAY LAPRETE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Ohio State running back Mike Weber, left, celebrates his touchdown against Michigan with teammate quarterbac­k Dwayne Haskins during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Michigan 62-39.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States