NEW YORK -- LSU is getting a second chance at No. 1.
The Tigers took advantage of Ohio State's loss and regained the
top ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday. Oregon is not
far behind at No. 2.
As for unbeaten Kansas, the Jayhawks are No. 4, behind Big 12
rival Oklahoma. Ohio State fell to No. 7 after its first loss of
the season, a 28-21 setback against Illinois on Saturday. The
Illini moved back in the rankings at No. 20.
LSU started the season ranked No. 2 behind Southern California
and rose to No. 1 on Sept. 30. It was the first time since 1959 the
Tigers held the top spot in the AP media poll, but they weren't
there very long.
Two weeks later, LSU lost in triple overtime at Kentucky and
dropped to No. 5. A month later, the Tigers are back on top, having
received 40 of a possible 65 first-place votes and 1,590 points.
After a string of close games and thrilling finishes, LSU had an
easy time Saturday night, beating Louisiana Tech 58-10 at Tiger
Stadium.
LSU is the first team to lose the No. 1 ranking and regain it in
the same season since Miami in 2002. Those Hurricanes were
preseason No. 1, lost the top-ranking for a week to Oklahoma, and
got it right back. Miami ended up losing the national championship
at the Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State.
Oregon received 22 first-place votes and 1,574 points this week.
The Ducks were last No. 2 at the end of the 2001 season.
Oklahoma, Kansas and No. 5 West Virginia also received
first-place votes.
The Jayhawks moved to 10-0 with a 43-28 victory at Oklahoma
State on Saturday night.
No. 6 Missouri gives the Big 12 three teams in the top six. Ohio
State was followed by Georgia at No. 8, Arizona State and Virginia
Tech.
In the BCS standings, LSU was in first, followed by Oregon,
Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
No. 11 Southern California started the second 10, followed by
Texas and unbeaten Hawaii. The Warriors and Jayhawks are the only
unbeaten teams left in major college football.
Florida is No. 14, with Clemson, Virginia, Boise State, Boston
College, Tennessee and Illinois rounding out the top 20.
Cincinnati and Wisconsin also returned to the rankings this
week. The Bearcats were No. 21 after beating Connecticut 27-3. The
Badgers, coming off a 37-21 victory against Michigan, were No. 24.
No. 22 is Kentucky, Michigan is No. 23 and UConn is ranked 25th.
Michigan and Ohio State will still play for the Big Ten title
and a likely spot in the Rose Bowl on Saturday, but the Buckeyes'
hopes for playing in a second consecutive national title games were
dashed with the loss at home to Illinois. It's the first time since
1959 the Wolverines and Buckeyes lost the week before they played.
Falling out of the rankings this week were Alabama, which lost
its second straight game, and Auburn and California, which both
lost for the fourth time this season.