Cal’s Ranking Is Best Since ’52

A 27-0 victory over Arizona State, coupled with losses by two teams that had been ranked above it, catapulted California to its highest ranking in 52 years.

The Golden Bears (6-1 overall, 4-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference) moved up three spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 4 -- their highest ranking since Oct. 20, 1952.

The Bears, who have posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1968, passed Miami and Florida State, both of which lost Saturday, and unbeaten Wisconsin, which did not play.

Miami (6-1) fell seven spots, to No. 11, after its 31-28 loss to North Carolina. Florida State (6-2) dropped eight places, to No. 13, after a 20-17 loss to Maryland.

USC, Oklahoma and Auburn remained 1-2-3. Wisconsin moved up from No. 6 to No. 5. Texas, Utah, Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan round out the top 10.

Texas El Paso is No. 25, the first time in the program’s history that the Miners have been ranked.

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Louisiana State center Ben Wilkerson will sit out the remainder of the season because of a ruptured knee tendon.

Wilkerson was injured in the fourth quarter of LSU’s 24-7 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. He was expected to have surgery on the tendon today.

Wilkerson, a senior, has started 41 games at LSU and is considered one of the top centers in the country.

LSU Coach Nick Saban also said Sunday that freshman wide receiver Xavier Carter will be sidelined at least four weeks because of a broken collar bone.

Carter has caught five passes for 118 yards with two touchdowns.