By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
Sports
LSU is No. 1 again in AP Top 25, edging Oregon; Kansas No. 4
- Sports
-
-
Rockets defused by Yellowjackets
Neshoba Central's Victoria Stewart got the inbound pass with 12 seconds. The Starkville defender pressed her toward the sideline, but Stewart would have none of it. The senior raced up the middle of the floor, studdered and headed right toward the basket. The senior jumped and layed the ball off of the backboard. The roar of the crowd told her what she needed to know - the shot went in and overtime loomed.
- Area Roundup: KA girls keep rolling
-
Knights advance to title round
The West Lauderdale Lady Knights survived a scare against the Laurel Tornadoes beating them 54-51. The Lady Knights came back from a first half 13 point deficit to ultimately claim their spot in the 5-4A division title game. “I am so proud of our girls,” said Lady Knights coach Amy Fairchild. “This is by far the best game that we have ever had since I have been the WL coach here.”
-
Choctaw, SEL advance to title game
As expected, Choctaw Central and Southeast Lauderdale will meet tonight for the Division 5-3A Tournament girls’ championship.
But the old rivals advanced to the tourney finals in very different fashion here Thursday night. -
Kemper survives Southeast Lauderdale in OT
Southeast Lauderdale’s boys were hoping to ride the momentum of one of their most impressive victories of the season.
Kemper County was simply looking to survive and advance. In the end, the Wildcats did so – barely. -
All-American
Kemper County High School basketball standout Devonta Pollard made his desire to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game no secret – mentioning it as a goal on more than one occasion during the last couple of seasons.
Thursday afternoon, that goal became a reality. -
Clarkdale downs Puckett at buzzer
Crystal Clay barely beat the final horn, but her shot in the lane carried Clarkdale to a 48-46 MHSAA Division 6-2A semifinal win over Puckett on Thursday.
-
Young Eagles expect some growing pains in 2012
The 2012 edition of the Meridian Community fast-pitch team will sport a multitude of new faces when it hits the field Friday for its season opener. The Eagles lost seven sophomores from last year as well as two returning freshmen.
-
Meridian splits with Southern Shreveport
The Meridian Community College Eagles won its second straight Miss-Lou Conference game by defeating Southern Shreveport by a final score of 68-66.
-
Back in the spotlight
SCOOBA – Sporting a current 12-game winning streak, the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team has re-entered the NJCAA Division I Top 20 tied for 19th nationally in this week’s poll. Head coach Mark White’s 15-2 EMCC Lions tipped off the current season ranked seventh nationally on the strength of back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament appearances in Hutchinson, Kan.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Rockets defused by Yellowjackets





