AP Top 25: Michigan rises to No. 2; Oklahoma State up to 5th

Junfu Han - USA TODAY NETWORK
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Michigan jumped to No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday and Oklahoma State joined the top five for the first time since 2015.

Georgia was a unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank for the eighth consecutive week. For the fourth straight week, there is a different No. 2 team behind the Bulldogs.

Michigan has its highest ranking since it peaked at No 2. in 2016. The Wolverines moved up four spots after emphatically beating Ohio State on Saturday to break an eight-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Cincinnati moved up to No. 3, flip-flopping with Alabama at No. 4. The Crimson Tide slipped after beating Auburn in overtime.

Oklahoma State moved up two spots after beating Oklahoma for the first time since 2014. The Sooners fell three places to No. 13.

Notre Dame dropped a spot to No. 6 and Ohio State tumbled five spots to No. 7 a week after it peaked at second last week.

The week before the Buckeyes were No. 2, Alabama held that spot. The Tide had replaced Cincinnati the week before.

Mississippi, Baylor and Oregon rounded out the top 10.

POLL POINTS

The longest streak of weeks as unanimous No. 1 was Alabama’s run of nine in 2018.

There are two more polls left this season, after next week’s championship games and then after the College Football Playoff national title is decided on Jan. 10.

If Georgia can beat Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game next weekend and make a run through the playoff, it could break Alabama’s record.

But something to keep in mind for the Bulldogs: Alabama’s run of unanimous No. 1 rankings ended in a national championship game loss to Clemson and the Crimson Tide finished No. 2.

IN

– No. 22 Clemson (9-3) is back in the Top 25 after falling out after the last weekend of September. The Tigers have climbed back, winning seven of their final eight games.

– No. 25 Kentucky (9-3) returns after routing rival Louisville on Saturday. The Wildcats had a run of five weeks in the rankings.

OUT

– Wisconsin dropped out after its seven-game winning streak was snapped by Minnesota.

– UTSA tumbled out of the rankings after its first loss of the season. The Roadrunners were thumped by North Texas on Saturday to end their unbeaten regular season, but they will still host the Conference USA title game next week.

CONFERENCE CALL

SEC – 6 (Nos. 1, 4, 8, 23, 24, 25).

ACC – 4 (Nos. 17, 18, 21, 22).

Big Ten – 4 (Nos. 2, 7, 11, 15).

Big 12 – 3 (Nos. 5, 9, 13).

American – 2 (Nos. 3, 16).

Pac-12 – 2 (Nos. 10, 14).

Mountain West – 1 (No. 19).

Sun Belt – 1 (No. 20).

Independents – 2 (Nos. 6, 12).

RANKED vs. RANKED

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama, SEC championship.

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Iowa, Big Ten championship.

No. 3 Cincinnati vs. No. 16 Houston, American Athletic Conference championship.

No. 5 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Baylor, Big 12 championship.

No. 10 Oregon vs. No. 14 Utah, Pac-12 championship.

No. 17 Pitt vs. No. 18 Wake Forest, ACC championship.

Missouri linebacker Chad Bailey suspended after arrest

Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri linebacker Chad Bailey was suspended from the team after he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the team said.

The 23-year-old, who was a team captain last season, was booked at about 2:45 a.m. and released after posting $500 bond, according to online records from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are aware of the situation involving Chad Bailey,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a statement to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s been suspended according to Department of Athletics policy. We have high expectations for all of our student-athletes, on and off the field, and we will follow all departmental and campus policies.”

Bailey was Mizzou’s third-leading tackler with 57 stops last season. He started all 11 games he played, missing two with an injury. He’ll be a sixth-year senior this fall after opting to return for his final year of eligibility, the Post-Dispatch reported.

The Missouri student-athlete handbook says any athlete who is arrested must serve a minimum one-week suspension.

Bailey was pulled over at about 1 a.m. not far from the Columbia campus for an expired license plate and lane violation, a police statement said. Bailey told the officer he had consumed alcohol and then performed poorly on a field sobriety test, the Post-Dispatch reported.

Nebraska’s leading rusher Anthony Grant suspended indefinitely

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska opened spring practice with running back Anthony Grant suspended indefinitely to work on academics and other issues, first-year coach Matt Rhule announced.

Grant led the team in rushing with 915 yards and six touchdowns last season. He also caught 18 passes for 104 yards.

“Working on academics and general things. Nothing bad other than just our standards as a program,” Rhule said. “That will be day by day. Good kid. Just have to get him going in the right direction.”

Rhule said kick returner and reserve receiver Tommi Hill also is suspended. He did not specify a reason.

Backup tight ends Chris Hickman and James Carnie and reserve cornerback Tyreke Johnson left the team.