The Oklahoma Sooners once again earned 32 first place votes in the new AP poll, holding their spot at the top of the rankings for the third straight week. Alabama (9 first place votes), LSU (17 first place votes), Boise State (2 first place votes) and Florida State round out the top five.
The Sooners were off this week, giving them two weeks to prepare for their big showdown in Tallahassee Saturday with Florida State. The Seminoles took apart an overmatched Charleston Southern 62-10 Saturday night, led by QB E.J. Manuel. Manuel completed 24 of 35 passes for 329 yards and 4 TD. FSU also got a nice game from James Wilder (yes, the son of that James Wilder).
The top ranking is a major milestone for the Sooners – it is their 100th week atop the AP poll. Oklahoma is the first team in NCAA history to top the AP poll 100 times in the poll’s 84-year history of the rankings.
Elsewhere, Michigan just missed making the poll, receiving the 26th most points after their wild win over Notre Dame in the first ever night game at The Big House.
Oklahoma had four Big 12 rivals in the rankings: Oklahoma State at No. 8, Texas A&M at No. 9, Baylor at No. 19 and Texas at No. 24. That would have been five of the six old Big 12 South teams until realignment began to ravage the conference a year ago.
TCU stayed in the poll after an impressive showing at Air Force. The Frogs moved up two spots to No. 23. Houston was third among the others receiving votes with 32 points, and Missouri was sixth after their overtime loss to Arizona State.