Oklahoma State Rises in Latest Polls

The latest polls were released Sunday afternoon and saw a flurry of action regarding Oklahoma State and other Big XII teams.

Without playing this weekend, the Cowboys only ascended one spot in the AP Top 25—up to No. 14—after a pair of Top Ten programs suffered losses at home. The ranking matches OSU’s ranking in Sunday’s Amway Coaches Poll.

Both polls saw in-state and conference rival Oklahoma tumble nine spots to No. 12 after its shocking 38-31 defeat to Iowa State. Michigan, falling in Ann Arbor to state rival Michigan State, slid from No. 7 to No. 17.

Alabama and Clemson topped the list for another week, while Penn State, Georgia and Washington moved into the Top 5 after big wins coupled with the vacancy left following the Sooners’ loss.

The Big XII’s new leader, TCU, rose to No. 6 by keeping it’s undefeated record intact with a victory over West Virginia, which dropped out of the rankings this week. The Coaches Poll still has the Horned frogs ranked between Big Ten powers.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Wisconsin, Washington State, Ohio State—despite an early season drubbing at home to OU—and Auburn, respectively.

Four teams entered/re-entered the rankings this week. Michigan State, Stanford (the only ranked two-loss team), Texas Tech and Navy find themselves toward the back of the poll.

OSU now boasts a victory over a ranked team, hosts the Sooners in November and has suffered its only loss to the sixth-ranked Horned Frogs, which could bode well as the season moves toward the playoff.

At the halfway point of the season, teams still have plenty of time to answer questions and make statements on the field as they jockey for conference title and playoff positioning.