Texas is changing some minds.
The second-ranked Longhorns picked up two more first-place votes in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, gaining on No. 1 Southern California.
USC is on top of the rankings for a record 27th straight poll. The Trojans received 55 first-place votes and 1,615 points. The Longhorns, coming off a 52-17 victory over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, received the remaining 10 first-place votes and 1,569 points in the media poll.
“I didn’t move USC down as much as I moved Texas up,” said Joe Giglio of The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., one of two voters to switch Texas and USC this week. “I feel (the Longhorns) have a more complete resume, and I’m really impressed with how they’ve handled their business.”
After a Saturday with no major upsets, the top nine teams held their positions in the Top 25. Virginia Tech is No. 3, followed by Georgia, Alabama, Miami, LSU, UCLA and Notre Dame.
Texas Tech was the only top-10 team to fall. The Red Raiders dropped seven spots to No. 17 after their first loss of the season. That leaves six unbeaten teams — USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama and UCLA.
With USC and UCLA set to finish the season against each other and a Georgia-Alabama matchup in the Southeastern Conference title game possible, the regular season could end with four unbeaten teams.
Northwestern moved into the rankings this week for the first time since 2001. The Wildcats (5-2) defeated Michigan State 49-14 on Saturday and are now 21st in the country. The Spartans fell out of the rankings.
Michigan is back in the rankings after a 23-20 overtime win at Iowa. The Wolverines have been in and out of the poll in an up-and-down season that has been filled with close games.
Earlier this season, Michigan snapped a string of 114 straight weeks in the rankings, which was the longest in the nation and dated back to 1998. The Wolverines moved back into the poll after a win, then dropped back out after another loss. Two straight last-play victories over Penn State and the Hawkeyes have Michigan at No. 25.
The top five teams in the USA Today coaches’ poll and the Harris Interactive poll were identical to the AP rankings with USC, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Alabama.
