Snell helps Kentucky crack AP’s top 25 poll

Benny Snell Jr. has answered every challenge with a punishing rushing performance that further stokes the Kentucky running back’s confidence.

The junior from Westerville Central has helped the unbeaten Wildcats (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) to their best start in a decade, and at No. 17 in this week’s Associated Press top 25 poll, their first ranking since 2007. They also were No. 17 in the coaches’ poll.

Saturday night yielded a second top-25 upset in three games for Kentucky, which pushed No. 14 Mississippi State up and down the field in a soggy 28-7 victory. The Wildcats also beat then-No. 25 Florida 27-16 on Sept. 8. Snell rushed for four touchdowns against the Bulldogs to silence another opponent determined to make him eat his words after declaring himself the SEC’s best back this summer.

Snell is now halfway toward his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, after his 25-carry, 165-yard effort gave him 540 for the season.

“I don’t want to say I love it, because this is an everyweek thing,” Snell said. “This has happened three weeks in a row, another player, they feel like they’re being targeted, so they want to say something. I’m proud and happy about this offense; we can go against anybody and I’m just speaking facts.”

The Wildcats host South Carolina (2-1, 1-1) on Saturday night.

After a season-high seven ranked teams lost, the back half of the AP poll got a makeover on Sunday. Five teams entered the top 25, including the Wildcats. Duke, at No. 22, is ranked for the first time since October 2015, and was joined by Texas (No. 18), California (No. 24) and Texas Tech (No. 25).

Virginia Tech dropped from No. 13 to out of the rankings after maybe the most stunning result of the season so far. The Hokies lost 49-35 at previously winless Old Dominion. Oklahoma State also is out, along with TCU, Texas A&M and Boston College.

It was mostly status quo at the top, with Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Ohio State staying Nos. 1-4.