COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — While Ohio State’s new ranking in the Associated Press poll did not budge while they were on a bye, the voters have put in a new No. 1 team.
Ohio State (2-0) kept its No. 3 spot in the new AP poll for Week 4 while dropping to the same spot in the USA Today coaches poll. While the Georgia Bulldogs kept the No. 1 spot in the coaches poll, the Texas Longhorns are now the new No. 1 team in the country in the AP rankings.
This is the first time in 16 years that Texas has the top spot in the Associated Press poll.
Those top-two teams suffered setbacks on Saturday with now No. 2 Georgia limping to a 13-12 win over Kentucky in Lexington, prompting the drop from the top spot. They enter a bye week before an anticipated game on Sept. 28 at the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Further south, now No. 1 Texas ran away with a more convincing 56-7 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio but its star quarterback Quinn Ewers left with an injury in the first quarter. The Longhorns’ backup though impressed as Arch Manning, the son of Peyton and Eli’s older brother Cooper, had five touchdowns against the Roadrunners.
The top-ten had some shifts with Tennessee moving up to No. 6, Miami moving up to No. 8, and Penn State dropping to No. 10. Most of the shuffling came at the back with the likes of Northern Illinois moving up to No. 23, the Illinois Fighting Illini joining the rankings at No. 24, and Texas A&M rejoining the poll at No. 25 after beating Florida.
Associated Press Poll (Week 4)
| 1 | Texas (35) |
| 2 | Georgia (23) |
| 3 | Ohio State (5) |
| 4 | Alabama |
| 5 | Mississippi |
| 6 | Tennessee |
| 7 | Missouri |
| 8 | Miami (FL) |
| 9 | Oregon |
| 10 | Penn State |
| 11 | USC |
| 12 | Utah |
| 13 | Kansas State |
| 14 | Oklahoma State |
| 15 | Oklahoma |
| 16 | LSU |
| 17 | Notre Dame |
| 18 | Michigan |
| 19 | Louisville |
| 20 | Iowa State |
| 21 | Clemson |
| 22 | Nebraska |
| 23 | Northern Illinois |
| 24 | Illinois |
| 25 | Texas A&M |
The No. 3 Buckeyes will be back as they conclude its non-conference schedule Saturday against the Marshall Thundering Herd in Columbus at noon. Ohio State is looking to go undefeated in non-conference play for the fifth time in the last eight seasons.
Week 4 has multiple big clashes including a Big Ten showdown in Ann Arbor between No. 11 USC and No. 18 Michigan. Big 12 title contenders will meet in Stillwater when No. 14 Oklahoma State hosts No. 12 Utah. The headline Southeastern Conference game will be between No. 6 Tennessee and No. 15 Oklahoma in primetime.
NBC4’s coverage of the college football season continues with a doubleheader on Saturday. First at 3:30 p.m., No. 17 Notre Dame looks to keep momentum after its 66-7 drubbing of Purdue when they host Miami of Ohio. Big Ten Saturday Night at 7:30 p.m. will feature the Iowa Hawkeyes traveling to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
