College football: USC tumbles, Stanford soars in AP poll
NEW YORK — After another humiliating loss, Southern California tumbled to its worst ranking since Pete Carroll's Trojans began their run as one of college football's best programs in 2002.
USC is No. 22 in The Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday, dropping 11 spots after losing 55-21 to Stanford. The Trojans have been ranked in 128 consecutive media polls dating to the start of the 2002 season, but never this low.
The Trojans haven't been ranked lower than No. 13 since October 2002.
Meanwhile, Stanford soared up the rankings to No. 14, its best showing since being No. 11 in the last regular-season poll of 2001.
Florida remained No. 1 and Alabama leapfrogged Texas into the No. 2 spot, one of only two small changes to the top 10.
The Gators received 36 first-place votes. Alabama received 14 first-place votes after its most convincing victory — 31-3 at Mississippi State — in more than a month.
Texas got 10 first-place votes. The Crimson Tide and Longhorns are separated by just five points.
The other three undefeated major college teams were next, with TCU at No. 4, Cincinnati at No. 5 and Boise State No. 6 for the second consecutive week.
No. 7 Georgia Tech and No. 8 Pittsburgh also held their places. No. 9 Ohio State and No. 10 LSU flip-flopped for the only other change in the top 10.
For USC, the lopsided loss to Stanford marked the second time in the last three games the Trojans were handed the worst loss of the Carroll era. Oregon beat USC 47-20 in Eugene on Halloween night.
The latest embarrassment happened at the Coliseum, where USC has lost only two of its last 49 games — both times to Stanford.
"This isn't what we grew up watching," USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley said after the Stanford game.
Carroll's first USC team went 6-6. The Trojans then went 82-9 between 2002-08, winning at least a share of seven straight Pac-10 titles. Though USC has not been eliminated from Pac-10 title contention, it will be the Trojans' first season with more than two losses since 2001.
Only Texas with 153 consecutive poll appearances has a longer streak than USC. The Trojans have a week off before playing UCLA on Nov. 28.
Six teams, including USC, ranked between 11-20 last week lost, giving the middle of the rankings a new look.
No. 11 Oregon moved up three spots, No. 12 Oklahoma State jumped five and No. 13 Penn State gained six places.
Stanford made the biggest move up of all the ranked teams last week, gaining 11 spots.
Iowa held its spot at No. 15 and was followed by Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Clemson, BYU and Oregon State, which moved into the rankings for the first time this season at No. 20.
Recent comments
I don't think Utah will get the Las Vegas bowl invite, even if Utah...
Anonymous | Nov. 16, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.
Texas
Wins over ranked teams: at Oklahoma State (No. 12 in BCS)...
SlickFrog | Nov. 16, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
I agree that the Utes have no reason to trash talk, "THIS SEASON." I...
Re: Silly Utes | Nov. 16, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.
- Atheist groups flourish on campuses 10:37 a.m.
- Griffin edges Ortiz in split decision 10:26 a.m.
- China mine disaster recounted 10:02 a.m.
- VMI faces sexism accusations 9:56 a.m.
- Mubarak warns Israel over Jerusalem 9:39 a.m.
- 65 leaders set for climate summit 9:36 a.m.
- Nevada grabs rushing records 9:34 a.m.
- RSL will play for MLS Cup tonight 3:06 a.m.
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime 3:06 a.m.
- Utah Utes whip SDSU 3:05 a.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Utah Utes whip SDSU
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Can BYU throw vs. Air Force?
- Y. coach Hill up for Portland State job
- Christian leaders not backing down
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
193 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
173 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
157 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
122 - BYU records with win
110 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
Shanme on you PETA flakes. You are putting and the rats ahead of the good and...
Maybe the UofU is in rebuilding this team again, they just don't look as...
A wonderful event! Is the Timpview High School in Provo? We live near Provo's...
Today we add a major league title to our state!
A difference between soccer and hoops is that in basketball, if you've got...
Re: From what I've seen According to the BBC News, handgun crime in the...
Lest we forget! There are some of us left who still remember. We need...
why there are so many negitive comments on this board from ute fans about...
Out of all of the AAF WWII training bases, Wendover has the greatest...
Anyone who has been a fan of college football since before 2008 knows that...


