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SEC rules: Conference sets record with 10 teams in AP Top 25

September 8, 2015
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By RALPH D. RUSSO
The Southeastern Conference has a record 10 teams ranked in the first Associated Press college football poll of the regular season.

Ohio State remained a unanimous No. 1 after pulling away 42-24 at Virginia Tech on Monday night.

The SEC already held the record for most teams from one conference in the Top 25 with eight, a mark it matched in the preseason. After the conference went 12-1 to open the season, No. 16 Texas A&M and No. 25 Mississippi State moved into the poll to go with the eight teams already there.

Alabama moved up a spot to No. 2. The rest of the SEC roll call is: No. 6 Auburn, No. 10 Georgia, No. 14 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi, No. 18 Arkansas, No. 20 Missouri and No. 23 Tennessee.

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FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, Louisiana Monroe running back DeVontae McNeal (28) is brought down by Georgia safety Quincy Mauger (20), defensive lineman John Atkins (97), and linebacker Davin Bellamy (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
FILE – In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, Louisiana Monroe running back DeVontae McNeal (28) is brought down by Georgia safety Quincy Mauger (20), defensive lineman John Atkins (97), and linebacker Davin Bellamy (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

POLL POINTS

The SEC has been dominating the AP poll in recent years and has had eight ranked teams six times in the regular season and three times in the preseason.

The Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast conference have each had a high of seven teams ranked in the AP Top 25. The Big Ten has done it five times. The ACC has had seven twice.

The Pac-12’s high for ranked teams is six, including in this season’s preseason poll and last season’s final rankings. The most ranked teams the Big 12 has ever had in the AP Top 25 is six, which happened for three weeks in 2011.

DROPPED OUT

Teams dropping out of the rankings were Arizona State and Stanford, part of a lackluster 7-5 start to the season for the Pac-12. Wisconsin also dropped out of the rankings after losing to Alabama.

STEPPING IN
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On the bright side of the Pac-12’s opening weekend, Utah moved into the rankings at No. 24 with its victory against Michigan in coach Jim Harbaugh’s debut with the Wolverines.

RANKED MATCHUPS IN WEEK 2

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015, file phtoo, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) celebrates his touchdown with Auburn wide receiver Melvin Ray (82) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
FILE – In this Sept. 5, 2015, file phtoo, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) celebrates his touchdown with Auburn wide receiver Melvin Ray (82) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

— No. 8 Oregon at No. 5 Michigan State. For the second straight season, Ducks-Spartans is a Top-10 matchup that could give the winner a major boost to its playoff resume.

— No. 14 LSU at No. 25 Mississippi State. The Tigers get no tuneup after their opener against McNeese State was cancelled because of lightning.

— No. 19 Oklahoma at No. 23 Tennessee. Another chance for the SEC to make a statement or be just a little bit humbled.