LSU, Alabama clear 1 and 2 in AP poll

[November 29, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The voters in The Associated Press college football poll are clear on which two teams they believe are the best in the country.

LSU is the unanimous No. 1 for a third consecutive week and Alabama received all the second-place votes for a second straight week.

The SEC West powers are on course for a rematch in the BCS championship game on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.

Alabama (11-1) finished its regular season with a 42-14 victory against Auburn on Saturday, a day after LSU (12-0) beat Arkansas 41-17 to clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game against No. 12 Georgia.

At this point, even with a loss to the Bulldogs in Atlanta, LSU might move on to the national championship game.

Oklahoma State moved up to No. 3 in the Top 25 during an off week, taking advantage of Arkansas' tumble from No. 3 to No. 6 after the Razorbacks lost at LSU on Friday.

Stanford (1,281) is No. 4, just five points behind Oklahoma State (1,286). Virginia Tech is No. 5.

No. 7 Houston (12-0) is the only other undefeated team in major college football. The Cougars play No. 24 Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA title game on Saturday, with a chance to earn their first BCS bid, and the league's first spot in the Bowl Championship Series, too.

Oregon was No. 8 and Boise State and Southern California are tied for ninth. There are only seven points separating Arkansas (1,060) and Boise State and USC (1,053).

Michigan State was No. 11. The Spartans will play No. 15 Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game on Saturday.

No. 13 Oklahoma visits Oklahoma State and the winner takes the Big 12 title.

South Carolina was No. 14, giving the SEC five teams in the rankings.

Kansas State was No. 16, followed by Michigan, TCU, Baylor and Nebraska.

No. 21 Clemson takes a two-game losing streak into its Atlantic Coast Conference title rematch against Virginia Tech.

West Virginia re-entered the rankings at No. 22 and is in the running, along with Cincinnati and Louisville, for the Big East championship.

Penn State dropped three spots to No. 23.

Florida State moved back into the rankings at No. 24.

Falling out this week were Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Virginia.

[Associated Press; By RALPH D. RUSSO]

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