By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP college football writer
No. 1 Georgia continued to lead the top 5 in The Associated Press’s college football poll on Sunday while the rest of the top 25 was shuffled after eight rankings lost — including two big upsets in the Pac-12.
For the second straight week, the Bulldogs received all but one of the 63 votes for first place in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank. No. 2 Ohio State received the other first vote.
No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 TCU and No. 5 Tennessee maintained their spots after victories on Saturday, with only the Horned Frogs facing any real challenge.
Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Tennessee won against conference opponents by a combined 203-60.
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Losses at home by Oregon (to Washington) and UCLA (to Arizona) rocked the rest of the top 10. No. 6 LSU and No. 7 Southern California each moved up a spot.
The last time two top 10 Pac 12 teams lost the same weekend at home was October 2-4, 2014, when No. 2 Oregon lost 31-24 to Arizona 31-24 and No 8 of UCLA was defeated 30-2. 28 of Utah.
Alabama jumped two spots to No. 8 after falling to a season low at No. 10 last week. Clemson moved up four spots to rejoin the top-0 at No. 8, and Utah climbed to No. 10.
Georgia is nearing a school record.
The Bulldogs are No. 1 for the ninth time this season, matching last season’s total when they won the national title for the first time in 41 years.
Georgia has been ranked No. 1 a total of 33 times in school history, one behind Michigan at No. 12 for the most in AP poll history.
The Bulldogs are in Kentucky next week and wrap up the season against Georgia Tech. Barring one major upset, they will go into the Southeastern Conference championship against LSU at 11 weeks as the top-ranked team in the country.
Of the four teams ranked this week, Coastal Carolina is the only one making its season debut. The 23rd-ranked Chanticleers have now made the top 25 in each of the past three seasons.
– No. 22 Cincinnati is at it again. The Bearcats give the American Athletic Conference a season-high out of three ranked teams along with No. 17 Central Florida and No. 21 Tulane.
– No. 24 Oklahoma State returned after ending a two-game losing streak with a win over Iowa State.
– No. 25 Oregon State is back too. The Beavers broke a nine-year drought two weeks ago, immediately lost and eliminated a close game in Washington, then retired Sunday after beating California.
Texas’ season ranked: Unranked for the first two polls, moved in for two weeks in September, out for two weeks, in for two weeks, back for a week and now gone again.
– Illinois tumbled out after a second straight home loss.
– North Carolina State is unscored for the first time this season after the Wolfpack were upset at home by Boston College.
— Liberty’s time in the top 25 lasted just one week. The Flames followed a win in Arkansas to move up the rankings, losing at UConn to drop out.
The downfall of the Ducks and Bruins dashed the Pac-12’s hopes of making a team into the college football playoffs. A consolation prize: the conference now has more ranked teams than it has since September 15, 2019.
Pac-12-6 (#7, 10, 12, 15, 16, 25).
SEC – 5 (#1, 5, 6, 8, 14).
ACC – 3 (#9, 13, 20).
American – 3 (Nos. 17, 21, 22).
Big Ten – 3 (Nos. 2, 3, 11).
Big 12 – 3 (Nos. 4, 19, 24).
Independent — 1 (#18).
The Pac-12’s big games have lost some of their luster, but they’re still at the top of the marquee.
No. 7 USC to No. 16 UCLA.
No. 10 Utah at No. 12 Oregon.
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
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