The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

AP Top 25: Michigan rises to No. 2; Oklahoma State up to 5th

- By Ralph D. Russo Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ ralphDruss­oAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts. com

Michigan jumped to No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday and Oklahoma State joined the top five for the first time since 2015.

Georgia was a unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank for the eighth consecutiv­e week. For the fourth straight week, there is a different No. 2 team behind the Bulldogs.

Michigan has its highest ranking since it peaked at No 2. in 2016. The Wolverines moved up four spots after emphatical­ly beating Ohio State on Saturday to break an eight-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Cincinnati moved up to No. 3, flip-flopping with Alabama at No. 4. The Crimson Tide slipped after beating Auburn in overtime.

Oklahoma State moved up two spots after beating Oklahoma for the first time since 2014. The Sooners fell three places to No. 13.

Notre Dame dropped a spot to No. 6 and Ohio State tumbled five spots to No. 7 a week after it peaked at second last week.

The week before the Buckeyes were No. 2, Alabama held that spot. The Tide had replaced Cincinnati the week before.

Mississipp­i, Baylor and Oregon rounded out the top 10.

POLL POINTS » The longest streak of weeks as unanimous No. 1 was Alabama’s run of nine in 2018.

There are two more polls left this season, after next week’s championsh­ip games and then after the College Football Playoff national title is decided on Jan. 10.

If Georgia can beat Alabama in the Southeaste­rn Conference title game next weekend and make a run through the playoff, it could break Alabama’s record.

But something to keep in mind for the Bulldogs: Alabama’s run of unanimous No. 1 rankings ended in a national championsh­ip game loss to Clemson and the Crimson Tide finished

No. 2.

IN » — No. 22 Clemson (93) is back in the Top 25 after falling out after the last weekend of September. The Tigers have climbed back, winning seven of their final eight games.

— No. 25 Kentucky returns after routing rival Louisville on Saturday. The Wildcats had a run of five weeks in the rankings.

OUT » — Wisconsin dropped out after its seven-game winning streak was snapped by Minnesota.

— UTSA tumbled out of the rankings after its first loss of the season. The Roadrunner­s were thumped by North Texas on Saturday to end their unbeaten regular season, but they will still host the Conference USA title game next week.

CONFERENCE CALL » SEC — 6 (Nos. 1, 4, 8, 23, 24, 25).

ACC — 4 (Nos. 17, 18, 21, 22).

Big Ten — 4 (Nos. 2, 11, 15).

Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 5, 9, 13). American — 2 (Nos. 3, 16).

Pac-12 — 2 (Nos. 10, 14). 7,

Mountain West — 1 (No. 19).

Sun Belt — 1 (No. 20). Independen­ts — 2 (Nos. 6, 12).

RANKED VS. RANKED » No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama, SEC championsh­ip.

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Iowa, Big Ten championsh­ip.

No. 3 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Houston, American Athletic Conference championsh­ip.

No. 5 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Baylor, Big 12 championsh­ip.

No. 10 Oregon vs. No. 14 Utah, Pac-12 championsh­ip.

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/ hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ APTop25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews. com/cfbtop25

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