USC rises to No. 9 in latest coaches’ poll after weekend upsets

Three losses in the top 10 on “Shake-up Saturday” led to substantial shuffling in Sunday’s college football polls.

Alabama and Oregon remained entrenched in the top two spots but there is a new No. 3 in both the Associated Press writers’ and USA Today coaches’ indexes.

Didn’t we say all along USC was a top three team?

Not that USC, though. The new No. 3 is South Carolina, reaching its highest-ever USA Today ranking after its crushing 35-7 win over Georgia.

There was good news for the University of Southern California, though, as USC moved up three spots to No. 9 in the coaches’ poll. The Trojans moved up two places to No. 11 in the AP, one spot behind — ready for this? — No. 10 Oregon State.

The AP top five is Alabama, Oregon, South Carolina, Florida and West Virginia, followed by Kansas State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, LSU and Oregon State.

The USA Today top five is Alabama, Oregon, South Carolina, West Virginia and Kansas State, followed by Florida, Notre Dame, LSU, USC and Oklahoma.

Florida State, No. 3 in both polls last week, fell out of the top 10 after blowing a lead and losing at North Carolina State. The Seminoles fell to No. 11 in the coaches’ poll and No. 12 in the AP.

UCLA, a loser at Cal, dropped out of the AP poll.

The first BCS standings will be released next Sunday. The AP poll is no longer part of the formula but still crowns an independent champion. The AP poll was replaced by the Harris Interactive poll, which will begin its rankings next week.

Six computer rankings are also used in the BCS standings.

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