Ohio State overtook Michigan to capture the No. 2 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, released Sunday, as the bitter rivals prepare to meet next weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Wolverines, without suspended coach Jim Harbaugh, earned their 1,000th program victory on Saturday against Maryland but dropped one spot to No. 3.
Georgia, which has sat atop the poll all season, remained No. 1 and earned 61 of 62 first-place votes, with the remaining vote going to the Buckeyes.
Washington, after a 22-20 win over then-No. 10 Oregon State, rose a spot to No. 4, trading places with No. 5 Florida State. The Seminoles defeated North Alabama on Saturday but lost their starting quarterback, Jordan Travis, to an apparently serious left leg injury.
Each of the teams in the top five is 11-0. The College Football Playoff committee, which ultimately determines the four teams that will contest for the national championship, will issue its updated rankings on Tuesday.
This week, the CFP had Georgia at No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State and Washington.
The AP Top 25 ranking for the No. 6 through 9 teams remained unchanged Sunday, with No. 6 Oregon followed by Texas, Alabama and Louisville — a quartet of 10-1 teams.
Oregon State (8-3) plummeted five spots to No. 15.
Moving up one spot to No. 10 was Missouri, followed by Penn State, Ole Miss and Oklahoma, all 8-2. LSU (9-3) stands at No. 14.
With losses Saturday, James Madison (10-1) plunged six spots to No. 24, with Tennessee falling four positions to No. 25.
The biggest riser was No. 19 Kansas State (8-3), which climbed four places after defeating Kansas.
Falling out of the Top 25 for the first time this season is Utah, which was ranked No. 16 before its 42-18 loss at Arizona. The Wildcats (8-3) assumed the No. 16 position.
Also out is North Carolina following a loss to Clemson.
No. 20 Iowa rejoined the Top 25 with a win over Illinois that clinched the Big Ten west division title. Entering the poll for the first time was Toledo (10-1) at No. 23.
–Field Level Media