Notre Dame Vaults to No. 10 in Poll

Notre Dame’s 36-20 victory over defending national co-champion Michigan did more than help the Irish forget about a summer of lawsuits and rules violations--it put them back in the Top 10.

The Fighting Irish, coming off their first six-loss season since 1986, moved into the No. 10 spot in The Associated Press’ first regular-season Top 25 poll. Notre Dame, which was last ranked in the Top 10 late in the 1996 season, was No. 22 in the preseason poll.

Michigan tumbled eight places from No. 5 to No. 13.

Ohio State retained the No. 1 ranking after its 34-17 victory over West Virginia.

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North Carolina quarterback Oscar Davenport will miss two to five weeks after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage and ligament damage in his left knee.

Davenport was injured on North Carolina’s fourth play from scrimmage Saturday night in a 13-10 loss to Miami of Ohio.

Davenport’s injury was the third serious setback of his career. He tore the same knee in 1995 and broke his right ankle against Florida State last season.

The injury is similar to the one Davenport suffered in last September’s game against Virginia. He did not have arthroscopic surgery after that injury and returned to action after missing only one game.