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USC Jumps Past Georgia

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

NEW YORK - Southern California jumped two spots to No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Tuesday, rewarded by voters for opening the season with a dominant performance on the road against a BCS conference opponent.

Georgia and Ohio State, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, started their seasons at home against Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) teams. USC, however, traveled across the country to face Virginia and could not have been more impressive in a 52-7 victory.

Georgia fell to No. 2, and Ohio State to No. 3.

"We realize that rankings so early in a season are certainly fluid. But rankings do help establish a pecking order for things later in the season," USC coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. "As for moving into the No. 1 spot, it's nice to know that people think highly of our team."

Since reaching No. 1 on Dec. 7, 2003, the final regular-season AP poll of that season, USC has been No. 1 in 39 polls, by far the most of any team during that time.

"Some have said the voters are taking our schedule into consideration," Carroll said. "Our philosophy has always been to schedule outstanding opponents."

The latest voting was close. USC received 21 first-place votes and 1,539 points from the 65-member media panel. Georgia had 20 first-place votes and 1,506 points. Ohio State got 15 first-place votes and 1,497 points.

"I'd say we've evolved as pollsters," said Stewart Mandel of SI.com, who moved USC up to No. 1. "In the past, voters just kind of automatically moved teams up and kept teams where they were if they won."

Georgia beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday, and Ohio State opened with a 43-0 win against Youngstown State.

"There's a bit of a growing backlash for the amount of teams that open with I-AA cupcakes," said Mandel, whose book "Bowl, Polls and Tattered Souls" chronicles college football's controversies. "To see a team USC go on the road and play a New Year's Day bowl team from last season, and not only play them but destroy them, how could you not reward that team?"

USC also jumped past Georgia to No. 1 in the USA Today coaches' poll, which has the same top five as the AP poll.

SOONERS INJURED: Two University of Oklahoma athletes were stabbed at a nightclub during a brawl that reportedly involved guns, knives and tire irons.

Football defensive end Frank Alexander and freshman basketball guard Ray Willis sustained knife wounds during the Sunday morning altercation.

Alexander, 18, was treated and released. Willis' condition wasn't immediately available, although police said both stabbing victims required surgery.

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