UNDATED (AP) — Undefeated Oregon got top billing in the first set of rankings on the road to college football’s new, 12-team playoff. A 13-member selection panel released its first top-25 list, and saw what most of the country has seen this year — that with a 9-0 record, five wins in the Big Ten by three touchdowns or more, and a key victory over Ohio State, coach Dan Lanning’s Ducks are the best in the country. Ohio State was ranked second, Georgia third and Miami fourth in the first of six weekly polls the committee will release.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina and coach Shane Beamer are off to another late surge to the finish. The Gamecocks have had some of their biggest successes late in the season under Beamer and look to be doing it once more after defeating then-10th-ranked Texas A&M 44-20 on Saturday night. Beamer said he tells his players that it would be a shame if they’re playing at a similar level in November as they did at the start of a season. Beamer takes pride in his team’s improvement and is hopeful that will continue this week at No. 24 Vanderbilt.

UNDATED (AP) — Alabama entered the season as perhaps the Southeastern Conference’s best hope to end its national title drought in men’s basketball. The second-ranked Crimson Tide are fully embracing those expectations, with Mark Sears and Grant Nelson returning and several newcomers immediately grabbing starting roles. A 110-54 win over UNC Asheville was a nice way to break into the season for a team coming off its first Final Four appearance. It’s hard to downplay a roster that includes Sears and Nelson along with talented newcomers. No SEC team has won a national championship since Kentucky in 2012.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bruce Thornton scored 20 points, and the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the 19th-ranked Texas Longhorns 80-72. Micah Parrish added 17 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes, who led wire-to-wire and shot 55.6% in the second half. Devin Royal had 16 points and John Mobley Jr. scored 14 off the bench, leading Ohio State to a 33-10 advantage in bench scoring. Freshman Tre Johnson led all scorers with 29 points and five rebounds for the Longhorns.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 20 points, and No. 2 Alabama beat UNC Asheville 110-54 in its season opener. Sears led the Crimson Tide in scoring on 6-for-8 shooting and was 3 for 4 from 3-point range. Clifford Omoruyi did not miss a shot in his Alabama debut, and the Rutgers transfer scored 16 points on six shots to go along with eight rebounds and two blocks. Five other players scored in double figures for the Crimson Tide: Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Mouhamed Dioubate, Aden Holloway, Jarin Stevenson and Labaron Philon. Jordan Marsh led UNC Asheville with 13 points.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chloe Kitts had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Tessa Johnson scored 15 points as top-ranked South Carolina defeated scrappy Michigan 68-62 on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Series. Joyce Edwards added 10 points for defending champion South Carolina. Syla Swords led Michigan with 27 points and 12 rebounds and Jordan Hobbs had 19 points. South Carolina was favored by 21 1/2 points at BetMGM Sportsbook. Michigan tried to become the first team since Big Ten Conference rival Iowa in 2023 national semifinals to beat the Gamecocks.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 29 points, Will Richard added 25 and No. 21 Florida overcame a 13-point deficit to beat South Florida 98-83 in their season opener. Still coping with the death of coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, the Bulls looked inspired while building a double-digit lead. They hit six of their first 15 shots from 3-point range and led 36-23 early. Florida missed 11 of its first 12 from behind the arc until Richard found the net. The Gators tightened up on defense in the second half and dominated inside. Jamille Reynolds led the Bulls with 17 points and six boards.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jalon Moore scored 22 points to lead five players in double figures and Sam Godwin posted a double-double to propel Oklahoma to a 93-60 victory over Lindenwood in a season opener. Moore made 8 of 13 shots from the floor with three 3-pointers and seven rebounds for the Sooners. Godwin totaled 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Freshman Jeremiah Fears finished with 16 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench for Oklahoma. Duke Miles made 4 of 6 shots from 3-point range, scoring 14 with six assists. Brycen Goodine buried three 3-points and scored 11 — all in the first half. Markeith Browning II led Lindenwood with 14 points. Freshman Jadis Jones posted a double-double in his debut with 10 points and 10 rebounds.