Idle Ohio State climbs to No. 1 in AP poll; SEC champ LSU is No. 2

NEW YORK -- Let's try this again.

Ohio State was No. 1 and LSU was 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, just as they were a month ago, before four weeks of upsets and unlikely results capped the most unpredictable college football season in recent memory.

Essentially, voters in the media poll hit the reset button.

After the top two teams in the rankings lost for the second straight week, Ohio State jumped two spots to No. 1. The Buckeyes, who haven't played since they wrapped up the Big Ten title with a 14-3 victory over Michigan on Nov. 17, received 50 first-place votes out of a possible 65.

LSU moved up three spots from No. 5 after winning the Southeastern Conference championship with a 21-14 victory over Tennessee on Saturday. The Tigers got 11 first-place votes.

Ohio State and LSU (11-2) were also Nos. 1 and 2 in the coaches poll, with Oklahoma (11-2) third and Georgia (10-2) fourth.

Ohio State (11-1) was expected to be on top of the Bowl Championship Series standings when they were released Sunday at 5 p.m. ET and earn a spot in the national championship game. The spot opposite the Buckeyes was a tough call after Saturday night's results, with several two-loss teams in the running.

The BCS uses the Harris poll and coaches' poll, along with computer ratings, to determine which teams play for the national title.

The final AP poll will be released after the BCS title game.

Missouri and West Virginia were the latest teams unable to deal with success and lose with the loftiest rankings in the AP Top 25. When Missouri lost 38-17 to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game Saturday, it marked the fourth time this season No. 1 has lost. Ohio State was No. 1 when it lost Nov. 10 to Illinois and LSU has lost twice as No. 1, including a triple-overtime setback to Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving.

The Tigers have also had two previous stints at No. 2, but haven't lost while ranked second in the nation. They should consider themselves lucky. What a burden No. 2 has been this season.

West Virginia became the seventh team ranked No. 2 to lose this season, when it fell 13-9 to Pittsburgh. The Panthers made it six times that No. 2 has lost to an unranked team.

Oklahoma jumped six places to No. 3 and got a first-place vote, as did No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Virginia Tech, which won the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 30-16 victory over Boston College.