Washington Regains Lead in Associated Press Poll

Washington’s 41-7 victory over nationally ranked Stanford lifted the Huskies back to No. 1 over Miami in Sunday’s Associated Press college football poll.

The Huskies, who trailed Miami by one point last week, moved six points ahead of the Hurricanes after beating then-No. 15 Stanford. Miami easily beat unranked West Virginia, 35-23, Saturday, but three late touchdowns against the Hurricanes may have cost them the No. 1 ranking in the wire-service poll.

Washington topped Miami 33 1/2 to 27 1/2 in first-place votes and 1,520 1/2 to 1,514 1/2 in points.

Miami barely retained its No. 1 ranking in the USA Today-CNN coaches’ poll, edging Washington by one point. Both 8-0 teams received 30 first-place votes from the coaches.

This week offers voters an opportunity to compare the teams. Washington plays No. 12 Arizona (5-2-1) at Tucson. Arizona is the only team to play both the Huskies and Miami. The Wildcats lost, 8-7, at Miami.

Last year’s co-national champions have taken turns at the top of the AP poll. Miami was No. 1 for the first five weeks, Washington led the next three polls and the teams tied for the top spot the following week. Miami then took sole possession of first for one week before falling to No. 2 on Sunday.

Alabama didn’t play Saturday, but the Crimson Tide (8-0) moved past Michigan to No. 3 in the AP poll. Michigan (7-0-1) dropped to No. 4 after struggling to beat unranked Purdue, 24-17.

Boston College (7-0-1) climbed two places to No. 9 after defeating Temple, 45-6. The Eagles are in the top 10 for the first time since 1984.

USC (5-1-1) moved up to 11th after beating Arizona State, 23-13.