FSU down, Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes up in AP Top 25

Louisville has an ACC showdown at Clemson looming on October 1.

Alabama received 50 first-place votes while remaining in the top spot after beating Mississippi. Then in Tallahassee last season, U of L led 14-13 in the third quarter before the Seminoles won 41-21.

Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 158 yards and ran for 146 more, but it was unlikely touchdowns from Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne and Eddie Jackson that proved to be the biggest plays of the game.

Meanwhile, North Dakota State may want to consider moving up from the FCS following its sixth consecutive victory over an FBS opponent.

The 43-point margin of victory over Florida State is the third-largest over a top-two team in the 80-year history of the AP poll. North Dakota State isn’t just another Football Championship Subdivision team, though.

— No. 15 Miami moved up 10 spots after winning 35-10 at Appalachian State.

— Florida State’s loss to Louisville was the third-most lopsided for a team ranked No. 2 and its drop in the poll was the largest by a No. 2 team since Southern California fell to No. 13 after losing to Stanford 21-14 on September 15, 2012.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Darell Garretson threw for 172 yards and ran for a touchdown asOregon State snapped a 10-game losing streak that dated back to last season with a victory over Idaho State. He threw for 397 yards, ran for a score and connected on a 12-yard pass to Chad Hansen that broke a 43-all tie and gave coach Sonny Dykes his biggest win in four seasons at Cal (2-1). The Sooners, who lost their opener to Houston, fell 11 spots.

He had reason to be concerned, given the frequency with Florida State has rallied in the second half to win games in recent years. The Seminoles fell to 2-1, 0-1. The Group of Five added another member to the poll with San Diego State debuting at No. 22. Utah moved into the poll at No. 24 and two-loss Oklahoma stands No. 25 after falling to Ohio State.

— Iowa’s loss to North Dakota State cost the Hawkeyes a place in the rankings.

Clemson led 45-0 at the half against the FCS Bulldogs (0-3), and the third- and fourth quarters were 12 minutes each instead of the usual 15 minutes.

– Tommy Armstrong Jr. scored on a 34-yard quarterback draw with 2:29 left before Nebraska’s defense held on Oregon’s final series to wrap up a 35-32 win over the 22nd-rated Ducks.

Florida State: The Seminoles were never in the game after their first TD and figure to fall hard in which they hoped to establish themselves as division favorites and national contenders. The Badgers sleep-walked through a victory against Georgia State before starting a daunting stretch that includes back-to-back games against the Spartans and No. 4 MI. The Gators have won 11 straight meetings, but won’t have quarterback Luke Del Rio (knee). The Bulldogs have found their quarterback of the future and present in Jacob Eason.

Miami (3-0) came in having scored a school-record 108 points in its first two games in wins over Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic. No. 17 Arkansas at Arlington, Texas. For the third straight game this season (and fifth straight dating back to last season), he ran (146) and passed (216) for more than 100 yards.

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AP Sports Writer Paul Montella contributed. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

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