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The SEC continues to rule, this time 1-2-3. LSU on top of course, remaining undefeated, with Alabama moving back to no.2 after an easy win over Georgia Southern. Arkansas, enjoying the Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Oregon losses, moved to #3, making it the first same conference 1-2-3 since the Big Big Eight in 1971.
It was Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado back then. Stanford, enjoying the Oregon loss, moved up to fourth.
1. LSU Tigers, 11-0 (60 First Place Votes) – Still undefeated, still going strong. LSU destroyed Ole Miss 52-3 and right now, only Arkansas can stop the Tigers from reaching the SEC championship game undefeated.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide, 10-1 – The Tide are back at #2 after giving themselves a rather easy weekend, beating Georgia Southern 45-21 with Trent Richardson running for three touchdowns.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks, 10-1 – A 44-17 win over Mississippi State and big upsets have moved Arkansas into national championship contention. All they need to do is beat LSU. Only that.
4. Stanford Cardinal, 10-1 – Rebounded from their loss to Oregon with a tough 31-28 win over California, moving them up four spots.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 10-1 – From a sure thing to another big missed opportunity and the Oklahoma game to survive. Stunned by Iowa State in a double overtime game on Friday 37-31 sent the Cowboys down three spots.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies, 10-1 – A 24-21 win over North Carolina moved the cream of the ACC up three spots.
7. Boise State Broncos, 9-1 – A 52-35 win over San Diego State seems like small consolation after their heart breaking loss to TCU.
8. Houston Cougars, 11-0 – The only other undefeated team in the nation, but no chance of making the national title game. A 37-7 win over SMU while Case Keenum keeps setting records moved Houston up 3 spots.
9. Oregon Ducks, 9-2 – How many times have the Ducks ruined national title hopes for USC? Matt Barkley and the Trojans played the part this time around, beating Oregon in Eugene 38-35, dropping the Ducks five spots.
10. USC Trojans, 9-2 – Their big win over Oregon moved them up into the Top 10 for the first time this season, which won’t do them any good come bowl season.
11. Michigan State Spartans, 9-2 – A huge 55-3 win over abysmal Indiana moved the Spartans, the highest ranked Big Ten team, up one spot.
12. Oklahoma Sooners, 8-2 – The Sooners fell to more Robert Griffin III heroics, losing a huge game against Baylor 45-38, dropping 7 spots and finally ending their national title hopes.
13. Georgia Bulldogs, 9-2 – Clinching the SEC East, Georgia beat Kentucky 19-10. LSU, most likely, await in the conference championship game.
14. South Carolina Gamecocks, 9-2 – An easy opponent like Citadel was mere semi-preparation for their big showdown against Clemson coming up next.
15. Wisconsin Badgers, 9-2 – Earned a tough 28-17 win over Illinois in Champaign, with Montee Ball scoring his 30th touchdown of the season.
16. Kansas Wildcats, 9-2 – Snyder’s boys got a big 17-13 win over Texas (or maybe wins over Texas aren’t that big anymore), moving them nowhere in the rankings.
17. Michigan Wolverines, 9-2 – A huge 45-17 win over Nebraska, getting four touchdowns from Denard Robinson (two passing, two running), moved Michigan three spots.
18. Clemson Tigers, 9-2 – Falling 11 spots after a humiliating 37-13 loss at Raleigh against North Carolina State.
19. TCU Horned Frogs, 9-2 – A 34-10 win over Colorado State clinched TCU a share of the Mountain West title.
20. Penn State Nittany Lions, 9-2 – Moving up a spot thanks to their first win without Joe Pa, beating Ohio State 20-14 in Columbus.
21. Baylor Bears, 7-3 – The highest ranked three loss team in the nation got another big win for their 2011 resume, ruining it for Oklahoma, beating the Sooners 45-38.
22. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 8-3 – Fell five spots after their 17-45 defeat at the hands of Michigan.
22 (shared). Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 8-3 – Climbing two spots with a win in the ‘Holy War’, beating Boston College 16-14.
24. Virginia Cavaliers, 8-3 – One of the more surprising names to see in the Top 25 this late in the season, scored a very late touchdown to beat Florida State 14-13 with the VT showdown lurking around the corner.
25. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 8-3 – A 38-31 win over Duke moved the Yellow Jackets back into the rankings.
Dropped from the rankings – Southern Miss, Florida State.