Gators up to No. 2 behind Tide; Sooners edge 'Horns for third

Unbeaten Utah was No. 8 after finishing off its regular season and virtually locked up a Bowl Championship Series with a 48-24 victory over rival BYU.

No. 9 Boise State also stayed unbeaten, but will likely be shut out of the BCS because of Utah.

Ohio State rounds out the top 10.

No. 11 Oklahoma State gets another shot to turn the national championship race upside down Saturday. The Cowboys host Oklahoma. Oklahoma State is already 0-2 against the Big 12's Big Three, having lost at Texas and Texas Tech.

No. 12 Missouri gives the Big 12 five of the first 12 teams in the poll. The Tigers have already locked up the North Division and will play the team that emerges as the champ of the South in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 6 in Kansas City, Mo.

Georgia is No. 13, followed by TCU and Ball State, the fourth major college football unbeaten team.

No. 16 Cincinnati is a victory away from locking up its first Big East title and BCS berth. The Bearcats host Syracuse on Saturday.

No. 17 Oregon State can also secure a BCS bid and the Pac-10's Rose Bowl berth with a victory in its finale. The Beavers host No. 19 Oregon.

No. 18 Georgia Tech is still in the running for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, but needs Virginia Tech to lose to Virginia for that to happen.

BYU and Boston College are tied at No. 20. BC can advance to the ACC title game by beating Maryland.

Michigan State slipped five spots to No. 22 after losing 49-18 to Penn State.

Florida State, which has bounced in and out of the poll much of the season, is back in at No. 23.

No. 24 Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi are in the ranking for the first time this season.

Dropping out this week were North Carolina, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh and defending national champion LSU.