Ohio State Falls, Michigan Rises

Another close call dropped Ohio State even further in the Associated Press college football poll.

The defending national champion Buckeyes fell two spots to No. 5 in the poll released Sunday after their second straight close call, a 44-38 triple-overtime win over North Carolina State.

Ohio State, which has the nation’s longest winning streak at 17 games, fell one spot last week after edging San Diego State, 16-13.

Oklahoma and Miami remained in the top two spots in balloting by the panel of sports writers and broadcasters. The Sooners, who have been No. 1 all season and play host to UCLA on Saturday, received 50 of the 65 first-place votes and 1,601 points.

Michigan, which got four first-place votes, moved up two spots to No. 3 -- matching its highest ranking since winning a share of the national title in 1997 -- after a 38-0 win over Notre Dame, the most lopsided ever in the storied rivalry. The Irish fell from 15th to out of the poll.

USC remained fourth with two firsts, and Ohio State is fifth with the remaining six top votes.

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Tyrone Willingham’s patience with quarterback Carlyle Holiday appears to be wearing thin.

The Irish coach hinted for the first time after Notre Dame’s 38-0 loss to No. 3 Michigan (3-0) that he might consider a change at quarterback.

Asked if Holiday’s poor performance cast any doubt on who the best player was, Willingham responded: “Potentially, but not yet.”

Holiday was five for 14 for 55 yards and had one pass intercepted.