Ohio State Moves Atop Polls

MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- Ohio State is used to being atop the rankings. South Florida is not. The Buckeyes jumped two spots and grabbed the top position while the surprising Bulls moved into the No. 3 slot in the latest USA Today coaches poll released Sunday afternoon. Then-No. 1 Louisiana State suffered a crushing 43-37 triple-overtime loss to Kentucky on the road Saturday to drop four spots to the fifth position - bolstering Ohio State's case for the top spot.

One of the nation's top programs, the Buckeyes are coming off a disappointing loss to Florida in last January's BCS Championship Game. However, after losing a slew of key performers, Ohio State (7-0) has won its first seven contests this campaign, earning 56 first-place votes from a panel of coaches. The Buckeyes continued to roll Saturday, posting an easy 48-3 victory over Kent State.

South Florida (7-0) is a relative newcomer to big-time college football but is making a remarkable run at a BCS bowl game and a possible national title. The Bulls left no doubt that they would avoid a classic trap game - routing in-state rival Central Florida, 64-12, on Saturday.

Boston College (7-0) moved up two spots to No. 2 with a 27-14 win over Notre Dame in South Bend. Oklahoma (6-1) and LSU (6-1) occupy the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, while West Virginia (5-1), South Carolina (6-1), Southern California (5-1) and California (5-1) round out the top-10. The final two clubs tied for the ninth spot. The then-No. 2 Golden Bears were upset, 31-28, by Pac-10 Conference rival Oregon State - dropping them precipitously in the rankings.

Virginia Tech (6-1), Arizona State (7-0) and Kentucky (6-1), which moved up five spots after its impressive win, start the second 10. Idle Florida (4-2), surprising Kansas (6-0), Hawaii (7-0), Missouri (5-1), Texas (5-2), Auburn (5-2) and Georgia (5-2) round out the first 20.

The final five welcome four previously unranked teams, including Texas Tech (6-1) and Tennessee (4-2) at Nos. 21 and 22. Cincinnati (6-1) fell back six spots to No. 23 after a 28-24 loss to Louisville on Saturday. The other two newcomers Virginia (6-1) and Penn State (5-2) round out the rankings.