Clemson replaces Ohio State atop AP poll

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Clemson is the new No. 1 team in The Associated Press college football poll, knocking Ohio State from the top spot for the first time this season.

The Tigers are top-ranked in the AP media poll for the first time since the final poll of the 1981 season, when Clemson won its only AP national title.

The Tigers (9-0) received 31 first-place votes and 1,489 points after beating Florida State 23-13 on Saturday. Ohio State (9-0) had 26 first-place votes and 1,460 points. The defending national champions have been first since the preseason, when they became the first team to be a unanimous preseason No. 1 in the 79-year history of the AP rankings.

Saturday, Ohio State defeated Minnesota, 28-14. The Buckeyes weathered two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Golden Gophers in the lackluster win.

Ezekial Elliott ran for 114 yards — his 14th straight 100-yard game — and Vonn Bell returned an interception 16 yards for his first career touchdown for a 21-0 lead that held up despite the Gophers’ late surge.

The Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) struggled to move the ball most of the game with Cardale Jones back at quarterback for one game because J.T. Barrett was suspended.

Meyer said after the game that Barrett will return to practice this week and could get the job back.

“It was a grind,” Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry said. “Tough game. We thought they were going to run the ball on us, and they did some other things.”

No. 3 Alabama (8-1) climbed four spot and got two first place votes. No. 4 Baylor also received two first-place votes.