Post by cviller on Sept 5, 2007 15:31:34 GMT -5
By Staff, wire reports
The first week of college football games yielded good poll news for West Virginia University, particularly in the USA Today coaches poll.
The Mountaineers climbed two spots, from No. 6 to No. 4, in the coaches poll, thanks to No. 5 Michigan’s stunning 34-32 home loss to Appalachian State and No. 4 Texas’ unimpressive 21-13 win over Arkansas State. The Wolverines dropped out of the Top 25, while Texas slipped to No. 7.
Wisconsin, which climbed from No. 7 to No. 5, and Oklahoma, which rose from No. 8 to No. 6, also benefited. (See college polls, Page 2B.)
In the Associated Press media poll, WVU held fast at No. 3. Southern Cal and LSU remained 1-2 in both polls after opening-week wins.
Michigan’s fall from No. 5 to unranked is unprecedented since the AP poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989.
No. 10 California moved up two spots after a 45-31 victory over Tennessee. The Volunteers dropped eight spots to No. 23.
Florida State also fell out of the rankings. The Seminoles were 19th heading into their season opener at Clemson and lost 24-18 in the Bowden Bowl.
Clemson moved into the rankings at No. 25 and Georgia Tech also moved into the Top 25. The Yellow Jackets were 21st after winning at Notre Dame 33-3.
Before Michigan’s fall, Notre Dame held the ignominious record for largest drop in the AP rankings in the Top 25-era. The Fighting Irish dropped 16 spots — from No. 9 to No. 25 — after losing to Northwestern 17-15 on Sept. 3, 1995.