College football notebook: Penn St., 'Bama impress pollsters

By The Associated Press and The Orlando Sentinel

Penn State is back and Alabama is moving up in The Associated Press Top 25.

The 16th-ranked Nittany Lions moved into the rankings yesterday for the first time since the final media poll of the 2002 season. The Crimson Tide jumped eight places to No. 7, its highest ranking since being third in the Sept. 3, 2000, poll. - College Football -

The top three spots were unchanged. USC, with 24 consecutive polls at No. 1, again received 59 first-place votes and the other six went to No. 2 Texas. Virginia Tech is No. 3 and Florida State is up to No. 4 with Georgia at No. 5 and Ohio State at No. 6.

Penn State and coach Joe Paterno, coming off four losing seasons in the past five years, leapt into the rankings with a 44-14 win at StateCollege, Pa., on Saturday over then-No. 18 Minnesota. The loss knocked the Gophers out of the rankings. - College Football -

Alabama's move came after a 31-3 rout of Florida in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Gators dropped eight spots to No. 13 after their first loss under coach Urban Meyer.

David Paschall of the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press had the Crimson Tide No. 4 on his ballot this week, jumping the Tide 12 spots from the week before.

"I'm just a believer in significant movement based on performance," he said. "I believe (Alabama's) performance was one of the most impressive of the season at this point."

Penn State gets its chance to make a big jump Saturday, when Ohio State comes to Happy Valley. - College Football -

No. 8 Tennessee, Miami and California round out the Top 10.

In the USA Today coaches' poll, the top three are USC, Texas and Virginia Tech. Georgia is No. 4 and Florida State is No. 5.

The top six teams in the second Harris Interactive poll were the same as in the AP poll — USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State.

In the AP poll, Louisiana is 11th followed by Notre Dame, Florida, Wisconsin, Texas Tech and Penn State. - College Football -

Arizona State dropped three spots to No. 17 after its 38-28 loss to USC.

No. 18 is Boston College with Michigan State at 19 and UCLA No. 20.

Michigan's 34-31 overtime win over Michigan State put the Wolverines back in the rankings at No. 21. The Wolverines were unranked last week, snapping a string of 114 consecutive poll appearances that was the nation's longest. - College Football -

No. 22 Auburn re-enters the Top 25 for the first time since the preseason. The Tigers fell out when they lost their opener to Georgia Tech, but have won four in a row since.

No. 23 Louisville, Georgia Tech and Oregon complete the Top 25.

Falling out of the rankings along with Minnesota were Purdue, Virginia and Iowa State.

Iowa State lost to 27-20 in overtime to unbeaten Nebraska, which received 107 points in the latest poll, the most of the teams listed in the others receiving votes. - College Football -

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