Las Vegas Review-Journal

Clemson edges Oklahoma for No. 1; unbeaten Wisconsin climbs to No. 3

- By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press

Clemson is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll , taking a close vote with Oklahoma after the top two teams in the rankings lost in the same weekend for the first time since 2012.

The Tigers jumped from fourth to No. 1 after blowing out South Carolina on Saturday night. Clemson received 27 first-place votes and No. 2 Oklahoma had 24. No. 3 Wisconsin received 10 first-place votes.

Auburn rose to No. 4 after beating Alabama, which had been No. 1 since the preseason . The Crimson Tide slipped to fifth. Georgia moved up a spot to No. 6 and

Miami fell five spots to No. 7. The Hurricanes lost for the first time this season on Friday at Pittsburgh.

The last time the top two teams in the AP poll lost on the same regular-season weekend was Nov. 17, 2012. Then, No. 1 Oregon lost to No. 14 Stanford and No. 2 Kansas State went down to Baylor.

Ohio State, Penn State and TCU roundoutth­etop10.

Poll points

■ Defending national champion Clemson is No. 1 for the first time since finishing atop the AP poll last season and ninth time overall. The Tigers were No. 1 for five weeks in 2015, entering the College Football Playoff title game against Alabama that way before losing.

■ Alabama’s loss means there still will be only two teams in the history of the AP poll to go from preseason to final poll as No. 1: Florida State was first to do it in 1999 and Southern California did it in 2004.

■ Wisconsin has its best ranking since the Badgers were No. 2 on Oct. 21, 1963.

In

■ No. 25 Fresno State was the only team to move into the rankings this week. The Bulldogs replaced Boise State after beating the Broncos on Saturday. Fresno State is ranked for the first time since spending most of the 2013 season in the Top 25.

Ranked vs. ranked

■ No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 7 Miami, ACC championsh­ip in Charlotte, North Carolina. The winner likely goes to the College Football Playoff.

■ No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 TCU. Big 12 championsh­ip in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners beat the Horned Frogs in Norman and now have to do it again in the return of the Big 12 title game.

■ No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Ohio State, Big Ten championsh­ip in Indianapol­is. The last time the Buckeyes and Badgers played in the conference title was 2014 and Ohio State won 59-0 to lock up a playoff spot.

■ No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 6 Georgia, SEC championsh­ip in Atlanta. The Tigers handed the Bulldogs their only loss earlier this month in Auburn.

■ No. 11 Southern California vs. No. 14 Stanford, Pac-12 championsh­ip in Santa Clara, California. USC beat the Cardinal in September.

■ No. 12 UCF vs. No. 16 Memphis, American championsh­ip game in Orlando, Florida. The Knights try to stay unbeaten against the Tigers, whom they beat in September.

Late Saturday Utah 34, Colorado 13:

■ At Salt Lake City, Zack Moss rushed for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns as Utah became bowl eligible. The Utes (6-6, 3-6 Pac 12), who started the season 4-0, will now play in a fourth straight bowl game. The Buffaloes (5-7, 2-7) finish last in the Pac-12 South division one year after playing in the conference­titlegame.

At Colorado Springs, Colo., quarterbac­k Isaiah Sanders ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, including a goahead 10-yard score with 1:38 remaining, to lead Air Force. Sanders had a school-record 44 carries. His final rush put the Falcons ahead on the fourth lead change of the final quarter. Jacob Stafford added 112 yards rushing and Tim Mcvey ran for a score for the Falcons (5-7, 4-4 Mountain West), who snapped a three-game losing streak. For Utah State (6-6, 4-4), freshman Jordan Love passed for 284 yards, including two touchdowns to Ron’quavion Tarver.

Air Force 38, Utah State 35:

 ?? Sean Rayford ?? The Associated Press Clemson QB Kelly Bryant, left, and teammate Maverick Morris are atop the college football rankings after Alabama’s loss to Auburn.
Sean Rayford The Associated Press Clemson QB Kelly Bryant, left, and teammate Maverick Morris are atop the college football rankings after Alabama’s loss to Auburn.

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