(AP) -- Clemson is back at No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll behind top-ranked Alabama, moving up to where it started, after a convincing victory and Ohio State's first loss of the season.
The Crimson Tide are a unanimous No.1, with all 61 first-place votes , for the first time this season.
The Tigers trailed only Alabama in the preseason rankings, but a couple of close wins in September -- combined with seemingly impressive performances by other highly ranked teams -- dragged Clemson to as low as No. 4.
Coming off a lopsided win against North Carolina State, Clemson rose a spot this week. Notre Dame is No. 3 and LSU is No. 4, setting the stage for a top-five matchup between the Tigers and Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 3. Both have an open date this week.
Michigan is No. 5 and Ohio State dropped to No. 11 after being upset by Purdue.
No. 25 Appalachian State is ranked in the AP poll for the first time in school history.
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 20, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
Record Pts Pvs
1. Alabama (61) 8-0 1,525 1
2. Clemson 7-0 1,454 3
3. Notre Dame 7-0 1,400 4
4. LSU 7-1 1,327 5
5. Michigan 7-1 1,250 6
6. Texas 6-1 1,186 7
7. Georgia 6-1 1,136 8
8. Oklahoma 6-1 1,065 9
9. Florida 6-1 998 11
10. UCF 7-0 996 10
11. Ohio St. 7-1 985 2
12. Kentucky 6-1 754 14
13. West Virginia 5-1 747 13
14. Washington St. 6-1 692 25
15. Washington 6-2 677 15
16. Texas A&M 5-2 622 17
17. Penn St. 5-2 528 18
18. Iowa 6-1 489 19
19. Oregon 5-2 450 12
20. Wisconsin 5-2 357 23
21. South Florida 7-0 291 21
22. NC State 5-1 186 16
23. Utah 5-2 180 -
24. Stanford 5-2 144 -
25. Appalachian St. 5-1 79 -
Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 54, Utah St. 50, San Diego St. 48, Fresno St. 35, Miami 34, Virginia 25, Houston 19, Purdue 17, Michigan St. 8, Cincinnati 7, Auburn 5, Mississippi St. 2, Boston College 2, UAB 1.
