Georgia edged past Alabama to No. 4 in The Associated Press college football poll after the Bulldogs had a quality road victory and the Crimson Tide lost star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the season.
LSU remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, receiving 54 first-places votes. No. 2 Ohio State (five first-place votes) and No. 3 Clemson (three first-place votes) maintained their spots. Georgia moved up one place after winning 21-14 at Auburn.
The Crimson Tide beat Mississippi State 38-7 on Saturday, but Tagovailoa dislocated his right hip while being tackled late in the second quarter and is done for the year. Alabama fell a spot to fifth.
Minnesota and Baylor both lost for the first time and dropped in the rankings. The 11th-ranked Gophers slipped four spots after losing at Iowa. No. 13 Baylor dropped one after blowing a 28-3 lead at home to Oklahoma.
Iowa jumped four to No. 19 and Oklahoma moved up two spots to No. 8.
POLL POINTS
There is more separation at the top of college football this season than last. At this point in 2018, the AP Top 25 had:
— Four unbeaten teams.
— Eight one-loss teams.
— Three two-loss teams.
— Eight three-loss teams.
— Two four-loss teams.
The latest poll has:
— Three unbeaten teams.
— 13 one-loss teams.
— Four two-loss teams.
— Five three-loss teams.
TOP-FIVE TIDE
Alabama extended its record for consecutive weeks in the top five of the AP poll to 67, dating back to Nov. 8, 2015. The second-longest streak of top-five appearances is Miami, which had 55 from Oct. 8, 2000-Oct. 26, 2003.
Breakdown of the streak:
— No. 1 — 49.
— No. 2 — 12.
— No. 3 — 2.
— No. 4 — 2.
— No. 5 — 2.
IN
— No. 23 Appalachian State moved into the rankings for the second time this season.
— No. 24 Texas A&M returned to the Top 25. The Aggies started the season in No. 12, but losses to Clemson, Auburn and Alabama dropped them out. A&M has won four straight.
— No. 25 Virginia Tech is ranked for the first time this season. It has been quite a bounce-back for the Hokies, who suffered their worst home loss in decades against Duke in September but have won five of six since.
OUT
— Navy was bounced after being routed at Notre Dame.
— Texas fell out of the rankings again after a last-second loss to Iowa State.
— Indiana lasted one week in the rankings after a 25-year absence. The Hoosiers lost at Penn State.
CONFERENCE CALL
Big Ten — 6 (Nos. 2, 9, 11, 12, 14, 19).
SEC — 6 (Nos. 1, 4, 5, 10, 16, 24).
American — 3 (Nos. 17, 18, 21).
Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 8, 13, 22).
ACC — 2 (Nos. 3, 25).
Pac 12 — 2 (Nos. 6, 7).
Mountain West — 1 (No. 20).
Sun Belt — 1 (No. 23).
Independent — 1 (No. 15).
RANKED vs. RANKED
No. 9 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been rolling, but they still have their heaviest lifting to do.
No. 24 Texas A&M at No. 4 Georgia. The Aggies are positioned to complicate things in the SEC, with the Bulldogs this week and LSU next.
TOP PHOTO: Iowa defensive back Riley Moss, center, intercepts a pass intend for Minnesota wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, left, as Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner, right, looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/
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