Oklahoma football up one more spot, to 18th, in national polls
By Chip Rouse
The Oklahoma football team continued its steady climb upward in the national rankings, moving into the No, 18 spot this week.
The Sooners advanced one more spot this week in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll.
It’s been a long, steady climb back, but Oklahoma has regained the position it held six weeks ago in the AP poll after losing 38-35 to Kansas State in the Sooners’ second game of the season. The week before that, however, Oklahoma was ranked No. 3 in the country in both major polls.
In two weeks (OU has a bye and does not play again until Nov. 21), the Sooners play their biggest game of the 2020 season when they entertain in-state rival Oklahoma State in Bedlam. Oklahoma State (5-1, 4-1) is ranked four spots higher than OU in the AP poll, at No. 14. The Cowboys are at No, 13 this week in the Coaches Poll.
The Sooners (5-2, 4-2) must beat Oklahoma State to preserve their chances of playing for the Big 12 championship.
Iowa State also remains in the hunt for the Big 12 title. The Cyclones are No. 17 in the AP poll and 16 in the Coaches Poll. Texas (5-2, 4-2) also is still alive in the Big 12 title chase. The Longhorns, the fourth Big 12 team in this week’s national rankings, are No, 21, according to the media representatives who vote in the AP poll, and moved back into the Coaches Poll at No. 24.
Alabama is the new No. 1 team in both major polls, courtesy of Clemson’s loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night. Notre Dame leapfrogged Ohio State to take over the No. 2 spot, with the Buckeyes holding steady at No. 3. Clemson dropped to No. 4 in both polls.
The biggest movers this week were Liberty and Indiana, both of which climbed three spots, to No. 22 and 10, respectively. Georgia, which lost to AP No. 6 Florida fell the furthest, dropping down to No. 12 in the AP poll, from No. 5 last week.