Michigan Jumps to Second Spot in AP Poll

By The Associated Press

The top two teams in the Big Ten are now the top two teams in the country. Michigan jumped to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday to become the fifth team this season to hold the spot directly behind top-ranked Ohio State.

Florida, which had been No. 2, dropped seven spots after losing 27-17 at Auburn. The Gators becomes the fourth No. 2 to lose, joining Notre Dame, Texas and Auburn.

The Wolverines hopped over No. 3 Southern California to reach their highest ranking since they were No. 1 in the final poll of the 1997 season.

Michigan (7-0) won 17-10 at Penn State on Saturday night to stay unbeaten. USC (6-0) also remained perfect, but struggled to do so for the third straight week against an unranked opponent. The Trojans needed a late touchdown to beat Arizona State 28-21 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The Big Ten becomes the first conference in six years to have the top two teams in the media poll. Nebraska and Kansas State of the Big 12 were 1-2 in October, 2000.

The last time Big Ten teams held the top two spots in the AP poll was 1985, when Iowa was No. 1 and Michigan was No. 2.

Ohio State and Michigan were Nos. 1 and 2 for two weeks in September, 1976, but Bo Schembechler's Wolverines were on top of Woody Hayes' Buckeyes back then.

This year, Jim Tressel's Buckeyes have been No. 1 since the preseason. Their archrivals to the North have been making a steady climb, starting the season at No. 14.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines play Nov. 18 in Columbus, Ohio.

In the USA Today coaches' poll, Ohio State is No. 1, but USC is second and Michigan is third. West Virginia is fourth and Texas is fifth.

The coaches' poll is used in the Bowl Championship Series standings, along with the Harris poll and computer rankings, to determine which teams play in the national title game. The first BCS standings were to be released later Sunday.

Unbeaten West Virginia moved up a spot to No. 4 in the AP's Top 25. Texas was No. 5 and unbeaten Louisville was sixth followed by three Southeastern Conference teams — Tennessee, Auburn and Florida — and No. 10 Notre Dame.

Big East rivals West Virginia and Louisville play Nov. 2.

Georgia, Iowa and Virginia Tech fell out of the rankings this week after being upset. The Bulldogs lost to Vanderbilt for the first time in 12 years, falling 24-22 between the Hedges. After two consecutive losses, Georgia is unranked for the first time since September, 2001, coach Mark Richt's first season.

No. 22 Boston College, which routed Virginia Tech 22-3 on Thursday, No. 23 Texas A&M, which handed Missouri its first loss on Saturday, and No. 25 Wake Forest moved into the Top 25.

The Demon Deacons are 6-1 for the first time since 1979 and ranked for the first time since early in the 2003 season.

California was No. 11 in this week's rankings, followed by Clemson, Georgia Tech, LSU and Arkansas.

No. 16 is Oregon with Nebraska, Boise State, Rutgers and Oklahoma rounding out the top 20.

The final five are Wisconsin, BC, Texas A&M, Missouri and Wake Forest.

college football AP Poll Michigan Wolverines Big Ten


Check out the most complete guide to coaching youth football ever created!

Do you love football? Then tune it to the Football Fanatics Show!