College Football Top 40: LSU Takes Command, Oklahoma State Moves Up

While LSU kicked its way past Alabama to retain its top ranking in my top 40, there were significant shakeups further down the list.

Three teams fell out of the Top 10. Nebraska dropped out of the elite part of the rankings with its loss at home to Northwestern. South Carolina’s loss at Arkansas nudged the Gamecocks out of the Top 10, and Michigan fell out with its loss at Iowa.

Around the Bowl Championship Series conferences, the jostling for position heated up as the calendar rolled over to November.

While division leaders Clemson and Virginia Tech took the week off, Florida State and Virginia kept their hopes alive to a spot in the ACC title game. The Seminoles blasted Boston College Thursday night to stay a game behind Clemson and move into a tie with Wake Forest in the Atlantic, while the Cavaliers won at Maryland to remain a game behind Virginia Tech in the Coastal.

Oklahoma State survived Kansas State to retain its lead in the Big 12. Oklahoma pulled away from Texas A&M in the second half—a familiar theme for the Aggies—to stay on course for a showdown with the Cowboys when Bedlam resumes in Stillwater Dec. 3.

Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh to remain perfect in Big East play, and Louisville stunned West Virginia in Morgantown to take sole possession of second place in the conference. Everyone else in the league has at least two losses.

Michigan State survived a scare from Minnesota and got some help to take sole possession of the Legends Division in the Big Ten. The losses by Michigan and Nebraska left the Spartans at 4-1 in the Legends, a game ahead of the Wolverines, Cornhuskers and Iowa. Penn State took a week off while Ohio State, and Wisconsin won to stay two games off the pace in the Leaders Division.

Stanford and Oregon won road games to stay on a collision course in the Pac-12 North, while UCLA upset Arizona State and took control of its own destiny in the Pac-12 South.

Georgia stepped out of SEC play to blow out New Mexico State and got a lift from Arkansas to take sole possession of the lead in the East. South Carolina now trails the Bulldogs by a half-game. The West Division is LSU’s for the taking after handing Alabama its first loss of the year. However, if Arkansas can beat the Tigers in Baton Rouge, it could set up a three-way tie between LSU, the Crimson Tide and the Razorbacks—a tie that would come down to which team is ranked highest in the BCS standings.

Two teams depart the list. Toledo fell from its No. 39 spot after its 63-60 loss to Northern Illinois Tuesday night, and Texas Tech dropped from No. 40 after being blown out at Texas.

The rankings follow.

40. North Carolina (6-4)

Last week’s ranking: 34

This week: Lost at North Carolina State 13-0

Next: at Virginia Tech (Thursday, Nov. 17)

Freshman running back Giovani Bernard was shut down by a Wolfpack defense ranked in the bottom half of the ACC.

Bernard did become the first Tar Heel to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1997, but was held to just 47 yards on 18 carries. Starting quarterback Bryn Renner was also knocked out of the game.

It was North Carolina’s fifth straight loss to North Carolina State in a rivalry that got a bit more heated late in the week when Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien and Tar Heels interim coach Everett Withers exchanged words about graduation rates and the ongoing NCAA probe at North Carolina.

39. Illinois (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 38

This week: Idle

Next: vs. Michigan

The Fighting Illini will return from their bye more than a month removed from their last win, a 41-20 victory at Indiana that left Illinois with its first 6-0 start since 1951.

Since then, Illinois has lost at home to Ohio State and followed that with road defeats at Purdue and Penn State to fall out of contention in the Big Ten’s Leaders Division.

After the Wolverines, the Fighting Illini close their regular-season schedule by hosting Wisconsin before going to Minnesota.

38. West Virginia (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 29

This week: Lost to Louisville, 38-35

Next: at Cincinnati

The Mountaineers Big East title chances may have taken a fatal blow, as the Cardinals came to Morgantown and posted their third win in a row.

Geno Smith threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns, but couldn’t bring West Virginia back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Mountaineers will likely have to win their final three games against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and South Florida and get some help to have a chance to grab the conference’s BCS berth.

37. Miami (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week: Beat Duke, 49-14

Next: at Florida State

Lamar Miller ran for a pair of touchdowns and became the first Hurricane to rush for 1,000 yards since 2002, Jacory Harris threw three first-half touchdown passes and Miami scored on its first five possessions to overwhelm the Blue Devils.

Miller ran for 147 yards to reach 1,016 for the season. Willis McGahee was the last Hurricane to reach that total. Mike James also ran for a pair of touchdowns for Miami, while Tommy Streeter, Philip Dorsett and Chase Ford caught touchdown passes.

Harris was 14-for-20 for 202 yards as the Hurricanes rolled up 467 yards. Miami had 265 yards on the ground on just 39 attempts.

36. Florida (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: Unranked

This week: Beat Vanderbilt, 26-21

Next: at South Carolina

Jeff Demps ran for a career-high 158 yards and two touchdowns, and the Gators held off the Commodores.

Florida has now won 21 in a row against Vanderbilt, breaking a four-game losing streak in the process.

The Gators led 17-0 at halftime, but the Commodores scored on consecutive drives in the second half to close to within 20-14.

Florida took advantage of two penalties on Vanderbilt to keep a drive alive, and Demps burst untouched for a 52-yard touchdown with 2:13 left to seal the win.

35. Washington (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 28

This week: Lost to Oregon, 34-17

Next: at USC

The Huskies lost to the Ducks for the eighth straight time, as Oregon was able to get rolling after halftime.

Washington turned the ball over three times on a night when the school was honoring its 1991 co-national championship team and played its last game in Husky Stadium before the facility undergoes a $250 million renovation.

Keith Price was intercepted twice in the first half, and tight end Michael Hartyigson fumbled the ball away late in the third quarter. Besides the picks, Price was sacked six times, and the Huskies were held under 400 yards of offense for just the second time this season.

34. Ohio State (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 31

This week: Beat Indiana, 34-20

Next: at Purdue

Braxton Miller ran for two touchdowns, including an 81-yarder, and Travis Howard sealed the win with an interception with 4:07 to go.

The Hoosiers had driven deep into Buckeye territory when Howard picked off a pass on 2nd-and-1. Carlos Hyde added a clinching touchdown moments later on a two-yard run to give Ohio State its third win in a row.

Three Buckeyes ran for more than 100 yards. Dan Herron had 141 yards on 14 carries, Hyde finished with 105 on 15 attempts and Miller had 105 on 14 carries. It was the first time Ohio State had three 100-yard rushers in a game since 1989 against Northwestern.

33. Tulsa (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 36

This week: Won at Central Florida 24-17 (Thursday)

Next: vs. Marshall

The Golden Hurricane opened the season with three losses to Top 10 opponents, but have now won six straight to remain perfect in Conference USA play.

G.J. Kinne threw a go-ahead touchdown pass, and Kevin Fitzpatrick booted three field goals as Tulsa hung on to beat the Golden Knights.

It was Tulsa’s first win this season in a game it trailed at halftime. Kinne was 15-for-28 for 203 yards and also led the Golden Hurricane ground attack with 92 yards on 14 carries. Tulsa rushed for 251 yards against a Central Florida defense that came in allowing a league-best 85 yards per game.

32. Missouri (4-5)

Last week’s ranking: 32

This week: Lost at Baylor 42-39

Next: vs. Texas

The Tigers surrendered 697 yards to the Bears a week after overcoming an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to win at Texas A&M.

Missouri could only come close this week against a 14-point fourth-quarter hole. The Tigers scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, but were turned away when Baylor recovered an onside kick with 1:59 to play.

Missouri blew leads of 7-0 and 14-7 the day before officially being admitted to the Southeastern Conference, a league known for its defensive prowess, for the 2012 season.

31. Florida State (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 37

This week: Won at Boston College 38-7 (Thursday)

Next: vs. Miami

The Seminoles qualified to play in a 30th consecutive bowl game when EJ Manuel threw for a touchdown and ran for another to lead Florida State past the Eagles.

Manuel was 12-for-16 for 180 yards and ran 16 times for 37 yards as the Seminoles opened a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted to their fourth straight win.

Devonta Freeman ran for 62 yards and two scores, and Nick O’Leary caught three passes for 87 yards as Florida State put the game away with touchdowns on three consecutive possessions in the first half.

30. TCU (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 33

This week: Won at Wyoming 31-20

Next: at Boise State

The Horned Frogs rushed for a season-high 390 yards and four touchdowns to beat the Cowboys and win their fourth game in a row.

But TCU lost four fumbles, including two inside the Wyoming 10-yard line. The win assured that the Horned Frogs will be unbeaten in Mountain West play heading into next Saturday’s showdown at Boise State, and ran their conference winning streak to 21 games.

Ed Wesley rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and Waymon James added a career-best 181 yards to lead TCU, which had a season-high 617 yards of offense.

29. Baylor (5-3)

Last week’s ranking: 35

This week: Beat Missouri 42-39

Next: at Kansas

Robert Griffin III threw for 406 yards and three scores and ran for another touchdown, and Terrance Ganaway had touchdown runs of 38 and 80 yards to lead the Bears.

Baylor set a school record with 697 yards total offense. Griffin topped 400 yards passing for the third straight game; however, the last two were in blowout losses.

The Bears are now 5-0 at home and are one win from being bowl-eligible for a second straight season. Baylor hasn’t gone to back-to-back bowl games since 1991-92.

28. Arizona State (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 19

This week: Lost at UCLA 29-28

Next: at Washington State

Alex Garoutte’s 46-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired, and the Sun Devils lost control of their own destiny in the Pac-12 South to the Bruins.

Arizona State rallied from a nine-point deficit in the second half, and the lead changed hands twice in the last eight minutes.

Brock Osweiler threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns while rallying the Sun Devils and scored on a one-yard dive with 7:48 left to cap a 93-yard drive to give Arizona State the lead. Then Osweiler moved the Sun Devils 47 yards in 38 seconds to set up the final field goal attempt.

27. Georgia Tech (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 27

This week: Idle

Next: vs. Virginia Tech (Thursday)

The Yellow Jackets rested a week after stunning previously unbeaten Clemson to break a two-game losing streak.

Now Georgia Tech is playing for a shot at the ACC title game when it hosts the Hokies Thursday night.

Virginia Tech is 4-1 in the Coastal Division, and the Yellow Jackets are a half-game back at 4-2. Virginia is 3-2 in the division.

26. Notre Dame (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 30

This week: Won at Wake Forest 24-17

Next: vs. Maryland at Washington, D.C.

Tommy Rees threw two touchdown passes, and the Fighting Irish shut out the Demon Deacons in the second half.

Rees was 14-for-23 for 166 yards and threw a 38-yard touchdown to Tyler Eifert and a 16-yarder to Michael Floyd. Jonas Gray added a one-yard touchdown run for Notre Dame, which outgained Wake Forest, 341-297.

The Irish scored on their first two possessions of the second half and hung on for their second straight win.

25. Cincinnati (7-1)

Last week’s ranking: 25

This week: Won at Pittsburgh 26-23

Next: vs. West Virginia

Zach Collaros threw for 214 yards and ran for two scores as the Bearcats took control of the Big East race.

Isaiah Pead ran for 118 yards, and Tony Milano kicked four field goals for Cincinnati, which won its sixth straight and moved closer to its third conference title in four years.

The Bearcats appeared to be in big trouble after the Panthers took a 23-13 lead in the third quarter, but Cincinnati rallied by forcing Pittsburgh into a pair of turnovers and converting those mistakes into points.

24. Auburn (6-3)

Last week’s ranking: 26

This week: Idle

Next: at Georgia

The defending national champions are in the position of playing spoiler in the SEC, trailing LSU by two in the loss column in the West Division.

Auburn gets a chance in that role this week when they visit the Bulldogs, who lead South Carolina by a half-game in the East Division.

23. Southern Mississippi (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 24

This week: Won at East Carolina 48-28

Next: vs. Central Florida

Jamie Collins returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown, and Deron Wilson ran one back 79 yards as the Golden Eagles blew out the Pirates.

Southern Mississippi took control of the East Division in Conference USA with its seventh straight win. The Golden Eagles also got two touchdowns in the punting game, as Tracy Lampley returned a kick 70 yards for a score and Emmanuel Johnson took a blocked punt to the house from 15 yards out.

Southern Mississippi gave up a 72-yard scoring pass on the second play of the game, but scored the next four touchdowns on the way to a 38-14 halftime advantage.

22. Texas A&M (5-4)

Last week’s ranking: 23

This week: Lost at Oklahoma 41-25

Next: at Kansas State

The Aggies surrendered touchdowns on four straight possessions in the third quarter after trailing just 13-10 at halftime.

It was a continuation of the second-half struggles for Texas A&M—the Aggies had surrendered big halftime leads in its their three previous losses.

Texas A&M, heading to the SEC after this season, has lost seven straight in Norman; the previous six had been by an average margin of 41 points.

21. Michigan State (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 20

This week: Beat Minnesota 31-24

Next: at Iowa

The Spartans overcame frustration and losses of composure to beat the Golden Gophers. Kirk Cousins threw for 296 yards and two touchdowns, and Michigan State finally took the lead for good on Le’Veon Bell’s 35-yard scoring run with 10:58 to go.

Bell ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and the Spartans took sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Legends Division after losses by Michigan and Nebraska.

Michigan State was coming off a 24-3 loss at Nebraska, and the Spartans didn’t lead against Minnesota until the final seconds of the first half.

20. USC (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 21

This week: Won at Colorado 42-17 (Friday)

Next: vs. Washington

Matt Barkley threw for a school-record six touchdowns and saved another with a tackle after throwing an interception as the Trojans bounced back from its triple-overtime loss to Stanford.

Curtis McNeal rushed for 87 yards on 10 carries in his first career start for USC, but missed most of the second half after bruising his hip.

Robert Woods and Marqise Lee each caught two touchdown passes from Barkley, who was 25-for-39 for 318 yards.

19. Nebraska (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 8

This week: Lost to Northwestern 28-25

Next: at Penn State

The Cornhuskers surrendered two touchdowns on the ground and one in the air to Wildcat backup quarterback Kain Colter and fell into a second-place tie with Iowa and Michigan behind Michigan State in the Big Ten Legends Division.

Nebraska, missing Jared Crick and two other defensive linemen to injury, couldn’t stop Northwestern’s running game on the Wildcats’ last touchdown drive.

Taylor Martinez threw for 289 yards and two scores for the Cornhuskers and moved Nebraska to within three points on a 14-yard pass to Kenny Bell with 18 seconds to go, but the Wildcats recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

18. Michigan (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 10

This week: Lost at Iowa 24-16

Next: at Illinois

Denard Robinson had four chances for a potential game-tying touchdown with 16 seconds and three yards to go, but came up empty as the Hawkeyes struggling defense stopped the Wolverines four times.

Michigan drove 79 yards to the Iowa three-yard line, but Robinson missed on four straight throws. The Wolverines appeared to have gotten the potential tying score when Vincent Smith burst 82 yards after bouncing off a Hawkeye tackler. But replay officials ruled his elbow had touched the ground, and the score was wiped out.

Robinson finished 17-for-37 for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

17. Georgia (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 18

This week: Beat New Mexico State 63-16

Next: vs. Auburn

Even without their top three tailbacks, the Bulldogs cruised. Andy Murray threw five second-quarter touchdown scores, former walk-on wide receiver Brandon Harton ran for 98 yards and Georgia won its seventh in a row by crushing the Aggies.

The Bulldogs turned to Harton after Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas were suspended for the game after failing drug tests. Georgia was also without top reserve tailback Richard Samuel, out for the season after ankle surgery.

Murray was 18-for-23 for 238 yards and five touchdowns and didn’t play in the second half after the Bulldogs opened a 49-3 halftime lead.

16. Wisconsin (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 22

This week: Beat Purdue 62-17

Next: at Minnesota

Montee Ball ran for a career-high 223 yards with three touchdowns, and the Badgers rebounded from back-to-back heartbreaking losses with a rout of the Boilermakers.

Russell Wilson was 15-for-20 for 206 yards with two touchdowns and also ran for 76 yards and a score before sitting out the fourth quarter.

But Wisconsin’s special-teams problems resurfaced, as they allowed a 74-yard kickoff return after coming under scrutiny for breakdowns in losses at Michigan State and Ohio State.

15. Kansas State (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 14

This week: Lost at Oklahoma State 52-45

Next: vs. Texas A&M

The Wildcats gave the undefeated Cowboys a scare with three shots at the end zone from the Oklahoma State 5-yard line in the last 12 seconds of the game.

Collin Klein missed on three straight passes. Klein finished with 231 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. He ran for 144 yards and three scores.

Kansas State rocked the Cowboys early, running off 24 straight points after Oklahoma State took an early 14-0 lead.

14. Virginia Tech (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 15

This week: Idle

Next: at Georgia Tech (Thursday)

The Hokies were off after escaping at Duke and will visit the Yellow Jackets with a chance to take a big step toward a return trip to the ACC title game.

Virginia Tech leads the Coastal Division with a 4-1 record, a half-game better than Georgia Tech and a game ahead of Virginia.

13. Texas (6-2)

Last week’s ranking: 17

This week: Beat Texas Tech 52-20

Next: at Missouri

Freshman Joe Bergeron ran for 191 yards and three scores, and the Longhorns are bowl eligible after missing the postseason a year ago.

Texas ran for 439 yards against one of the nation’s worst run defenses. Bergeron had his second straight 100-yard game, and Fozzy Whitaker ran for two second-quarter touchdowns.

The Longhorns only completed two passes while taking a 31-6 halftime lead.

12. South Carolina (7-2)

Last week’s ranking: 9

This week: Lost at Arkansas 44-28

Next: vs. Florida

The Gamecocks were outgained 435-207, but kept it close, as the Razorbacks missed a pair of field goals and suffered several key dropped passes. South Carolina got to within 30-28 early in the fourth quarter on a touchdown run by quarterback Connor Shaw.

Shaw, playing in his third game since Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team, struggled against an Arkansas defense that sacked him five times. He was finally knocked out of the game with what was called a concussion late in the game.

South Carolina had scored just 14 points in each of its last two games and continued to struggle offensively against the Razorbacks, with just 49 yards on 25 plays in the first half.

11. Penn State (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 16

This week: Idle

Next: vs. Nebraska

While the Nittany Lions took a week off after Joe Paterno’s Division I record 409th victory, the program was rocked Saturday when former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with sexually abusing eight boys.

The fallout was severe. Athletic director Tim Curley and another university administrator are facing perjury charges for allegedly failing to report what they knew about allegations against Sandusky.

Paterno was not charged, and a grand jury report does not appear to implicate him in any wrongdoing. Sandusky retired from the university in 1999, but was working with at-risk children through a nonprofit organization he founded in the 1970s.

10. Houston (9-0)

Last week’s ranking: 12

This week: Won at UAB 56-13

Next: at Tulane (Thursday)

Case Keenum set another NCAA record as the Cougars secured their first 9-0 start in school history by blowing out the Blazers.

Keenum threw for 407 yards to pass Hawaii’s Timmy Chang’s record of 17,072 passing yards. The sixth-year senior was granted an extra year of eligibility after a knee injury in 2010.

Keenum was 39-for-44 with two touchdowns. UAB took an early 7-0 lead, but was held to 13 first downs and 269 yards.

9. Clemson (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 11

This week: Idle

Next: vs. Wake Forest

Tajh Boyd has been great in his first year as the Tigers starting quarterback, throwing for 2,754 yards and 25 touchdowns with just five picks through nine games.

Clemson is ranked 17th in the nation in total offense, but offensive coordinator Chad Morris told the Charleston Post & Courier that more is needed from Boyd in the running attack. 

8. Arkansas (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 13

This week: Beat South Carolina 44-28

Next: vs. Tennessee

The Razorbacks put together a solid first half to go with a strong second half to beat the Gamecocks after some early game struggles the last four weeks.

Tyler Wilson threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns to Jarius Wright, and Dennis Johnson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score as Arkansas pulled away late.

The Razorbacks had been outscored 87-59 in the first half of their last four games, but led 24-14 at the half against South Carolina, holding the Gamecocks to 49 yards of offense before halftime.

7. Oregon (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 7

This week: Won at Washington 34-17

Next: at Stanford

LaMichael James showed he’s 100 percent after coming back from a dislocated elbow, running for 156 yards and a touchdown. The Ducks forced three turnovers and remained unbeaten in Pac-12 play to set up next week’s North Division showdown at Stanford.

Eddie Pleasant intercepted two passes in the first half, and Terrance Mitchell forced a fumble last in the third quarter. Oregon turned those miscues into 14 points.

Darron Thomas was 13-for-25 for the Ducks for 169 yards and a touchdown.

6. Boise State (8-0)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week: Won at UNLV 48-21

Next: vs. TCU

The Broncos beat the Rebels behind five touchdown passes from Kellen Moore, but Boise State hardly looked like a national title contender while slogging its way to a 21-14 halftime lead.

Moore threw two touchdowns each to Tyler Shoemaker and Matt Miller to earn his 46th win, breaking the mark formerly held by Texas’ Colt McCoy.

The Broncos pulled away from UNLV in the second half, with Moore and Shoemaker connecting for a 51-yard touchdown down the middle of the field with 8:37 left in the third quarter.

5. Oklahoma (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 6

This week: Beat Texas A&M 41-25

Next: at Baylor (Nov. 19)

It was an expensive win for the Sooners, who lost All-American wide receiver Ryan Broyles for the season with a torn ACL.

Oklahoma broke open a close game with four third-quarter touchdowns after leading the Aggies just 13-10 at halftime.

Jaz Reynolds had six catches for 86 yards, and Kenny Stills had two grabs for 44 yards, and each scored a touchdown. Reynolds and Stills will be counted on to fill the production lost with Broyles.

4. Stanford (9-0)

Last week’s ranking: 5

This week: Won at Oregon State 38-13

Next: vs. Oregon

The lowly Beavers closed to within 17-13 in the third quarter before the Cardinal pulled away.

Andrew Luck fought through a cold rain to throw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, but Stanford lost senior wide receiver Chris Owusu to a concussion in the second quarter.

The Cardinal has the longest winning streak in the country, 17 games, and are 9-0 for the first time since 1952.

3. Alabama (8-1)

Last week’s ranking: 2

This week: Lost to LSU 9-6 (OT)

Next: at Mississippi State

The defenses in the Game of the Century lived up to their advance billing, as neither team was able to score a touchdown. The Crimson Tide missed four field goals and blew another scoring chance with a goal-line interception by AJ McCarron.

Cade Foster missed a 52-yard field goal after Alabama got the ball first in overtime before the Tigers won it with a field goal of their own.

Ferocious defense was the order of the day. The Crimson Tide finished with 295 yards of total offense, while LSU won with 239.

2. Oklahoma State (9-0)

Last week’s ranking: 3

This week: Beat Kansas State 52-45

Next: at Texas Tech

Brandon Weeden threw for a school-record 502 yards and four touchdowns, and Joseph Randle had the biggest score, a 23-yard run with 2:16 left to break a tie and lift the Cowboys past the Wildcats.

Oklahoma State matched its best start in school history, the perfect season by the 1945 Sugar Bowl winners when the school was still known as Oklahoma A&M, and survived a scare from Kansas State, which had three shots from the Cowboy five-yard line in the last 12 seconds.

Justin Blackmon caught 13 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns and made up for two lost fumbles with a 54-yard touchdown grab with 4:47 to go that gave Oklahoma State the lead.

1. LSU (9-0)

Last week’s ranking: 1

This week: Won at Alabama 9-6 (OT)

Next: vs. Western Kentucky

Drew Alleman kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Tigers past the Crimson Tide. Alabama missed four field goals and threw a goal-line interception.

After the Crimson Tide missed a 52-yard field goal on its first overtime possession, it appeared LSU had won the game when Michael Ford scored after taking a pitch, but it was ruled that he stepped out of bounds at the Alabama seven-yard line.

Two plays later, Alleman booted the game winner on third down.