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Ohio State No. 1 After Weekend Full of Upsets

Losses by LSU, Cal clear way to top for Buckeyes in first BCS rankings

By Doug Sweeney,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2007 9:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – The first bowl series rankings of the year released today declared traditional power and undefeated Ohio State the best college football team in the US; more surprisingly, the BCS combination of human polls with computer rankings placed South Florida second. They were helped when AP poll #1 LSU and #2 Cal lost yesterday, the first time that's happened on the same day since 1996, the AP reports.

Ohio State has only one win against a ranked team at any point this season, but avoiding an upset was enough to put them on top. South Florida's rise to #2, meanwhile, has been meteoric: USF didn't start playing football until 1997, and had never been ranked in the writers' or coaches' Top 25 polls until last month.  Boston College, LSU, and Oklahoma round out the initial BCS top five.

Ohio State defensive back Donald Washington, right, returns an interception 70-yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. At left is Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State defensive back Donald Washington, right, returns an interception 70-yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. At...   (Associated Press)
Boston College running back Andre Callender (32)  runs out of the grasp of Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith (58) and defensive end Trevor Laws (98) during the third quarter of a college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007.  Boston College won 27-14. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College running back Andre Callender (32) runs out of the grasp of Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith (58) and defensive end Trevor Laws (98) during the third quarter of a college football game...   (Associated Press)
South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe celebrates with fans after the team defeated Central Florida 64-12 in a college football game Saturday afternoon Oct. 13, 2007 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe celebrates with fans after the team defeated Central Florida 64-12 in a college football game Saturday afternoon Oct. 13, 2007 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)   (Associated Press)
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford hands off in the fourth quarter of a college football game against Missouri in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford hands off in the fourth quarter of a college football game against Missouri in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)   (Associated Press)
Ohio State's Brian Hartline (9) returns a punt for a touchdown during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Ohio State's Brian Hartline (9) returns a punt for a touchdown during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)   (Associated Press)
Ohio State running back Chris Wells (28) pushes his way into the end zone for a touchdown ast Kent State's Dan Hartman, left, and Colin Ferrell (55) defend during the second quarter of a college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Ohio State running back Chris Wells (28) pushes his way into the end zone for a touchdown ast Kent State's Dan Hartman, left, and Colin Ferrell (55) defend during the second quarter of a college football...   (Associated Press)
LSU running back Charles Scott sits in dejection as Kentucky fans pour onto the field after Kentucky upset No. 1 LSU 43-37 in three overtimes in their college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007.  (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
LSU running back Charles Scott sits in dejection as Kentucky fans pour onto the field after Kentucky upset No. 1 LSU 43-37 in three overtimes in their college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
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