MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Duke returns to the USA Today coaches' Top 25 for the first time since 1994 but it's the usual suspects of Alabama and Florida State still on top.
Duke improved to 8-2 last week and leads the ACC's Coastal Division to end a 20-year drought of appearing in the poll. The Blue Devils are 24th.
But at the top, Alabama (10-0) continues its season-long run at No. 1. The Crimson Tide claimed 56 of the 62 first-place mentions by the Board of Coaches and was second on the other six. No. 2 Florida State (10-0) was first on the ballots that put Alabama second. If the current standings hold, the Seminoles would play Duke for the ACC title.
Ohio State (10-0) remains fourth and Baylor (9-0) retains the No. 4 spot this week.
Related
Those are the same order as last week. The biggest movers in the latest poll are Michigan State and Wisconsin, both up three to 13th and 17th, respectively, while Stanford falls seven places to 12th after a loss to Southern California.
Oregon (9-1) is up two places to fifth, jumping ahead of No. 6 Clemson (9-1). Seventh-ranked Auburn (10-1) also moves up two places, passing Missouri (9-1), which is again eighth. Oklahoma State (9-1) takes the No. 9 spot and Texas A&M (8-2) is 10th.
South Carolina (8-2) is up one place to 11th and Stanford (8-2) drops to 12th ahead of Michigan State (9-1). UCLA (8-2) goes from 15th to No. 14 this week and Louisville (9-1), 13th a week ago, is No. 15.
Fresno State (9-0) also drops two places and is 16th followed by Wisconsin (8-2). No. 18 Oklahoma (8-2), 19th-ranked Louisiana State (7-3) and No. 20 Central Florida (8-1) each are down one rung this week.
Northern Illinois (10-0) remains 21st and Arizona State (8-2) is again 22nd. Minnesota goes from 25th to No. 23. Duke enters the poll at 24th and Southern Cal (8-3) returns to the Top 25 for the first time since Sept. 3 -- the first poll of the regular season.
Miami (Fla.) and Texas fall out of the rankings this week.
The game of the week has Baylor heading to Oklahoma State for a Saturday night contest. Other games sending ranked teams against each other have Texas A&M visiting LSU, Arizona State playing at UCLA and Wisconsin meeting Minnesota in Minneapolis with the Paul Bunyan's Ax trophy at stake.
