Bama jumps Cincy for 2
Alabama jumped Cincinnati to No. 2 behind Georgia in the Associated Press poll released Sunday, and Oklahoma dropped eight spots to No. 12 after losing for the first time this season.
Georgia is the unanimous No. 1 for the sixth consecutive week, and the SEC has the top two teams in the poll for the sixth time this season.
Alabama and Georgia were flip-flopped at Nos. 1 and 2 for five weeks in September and early October.
The switch from Cincinnati to Alabama at No. 2 was more about the Bearcats than the Crimson Tide, who closed the gap on Cincinnati to four points last week. Alabama took care of business against overmatched New Mexico State on Saturday.
Alabama has the longest current streak of top-five appearances in the AP poll at 29. Georgia is second after running its streak to 12 this week. Cincinnati is third at seven straight polls. The Tide hold the all-time record for top-five appearances with 68 from 2015-19.
Cincinnati remained unbeaten after winning at South Florida 45-28 on Friday. It was the fourth straight week the Bearcats played a team with a losing record and found themselves in a competitive game in the second half. That tipped a few more voters to drop them.
“It was an evaluation of their overall resumes,” said voter Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman. “Alabama’s win over New Mexico State didn’t do much on the surface, but other factors — Ole Miss’ win over Texas A&M, as well as Cincinnati’s less-than-dominant performances against lesser competition in recent weeks — led me to raise the Crimson Tide ahead of the Bearcats.”
Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times made the switch to put Alabama ahead of Cincinnati last week and then further separated the Tide and Bearcats this week.
“I’ve seen Alabama and Cincinnati both with my own eyes,” Baker said. “Neither one is on Georgia’s level, but I see a gap between ’Bama and Cincinnati.”
Behind the Bearcats, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 Michigan and No. 9 Oklahoma State all moved up one spot after Oklahoma tumbled.
Washington dumps coach after 13 games
Washington fired coach Jimmy Lake, less than two years after he was chosen to succeed Chris Petersen. Athletic director Jen Cohen said the school will honor the terms of Lake’s contract, which puts Washington on the hook for more than $9 million.
Lake (7-6) was suspended without pay for the 35-30 loss to Arizona State on Saturday after a sideline incident the previous week against Oregon, when Lake swatted at and then shoved one of his players. Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory will serve as interim coach.
Illini extend ‘D’ coordinator through ’24
Illinois agreed to a contract extension with defensive coordinator Ryan Walters that will carry him through the 2024 season, the school announced. Walters’ contract will move his compensation to third in the Big Ten and into the top 10 nationally among defensive coordinators, according to Illinois. The Illini defense has improved by 13.3 points per game from last season, the second-best improvement in the nation.