Michigan State Returns to Top 25; Fresno State Exits

Michigan State is back and Fresno State is out of the Associated Press college football poll, while Notre Dame remains on top for the 12th straight week.

The Fighting Irish, who beat Penn State 34-23 Saturday, received 57 of 60 first-place votes and 1,497 of a possible 1,500 points from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Notre Dame puts its 23-game winning streak on the line Saturday at No. 7 Miami. Win or lose, the Irish are expected to return to the Orange Bowl for a New Year’s battle against second-ranked Colorado.

Colorado, a 59-11 winner over Kansas State, received the other three first-place votes and 1,439 points today after completing an 11-0 regular season. The points for Notre Dame and Colorado were the same as last week.

Michigan held third place with 1,359 points after trouncing Minnesota 49-15. The Wolverines were followed by Alabama, Florida State, Nebraska and Miami--the same order as the previous week.

Alabama defeated Southern Mississippi 37-14, Florida State crushed Memphis State 57-20, Nebraska downed Oklahoma 42-25 and Miami routed San Diego State 42-6.

Southern California was held to a 10-10 tie by UCLA, dropping the Trojans from eighth to 12th.

Tennessee, a 33-21 winner over Mississippi, moved up from ninth to eighth, while idle Arkansas rose from 10th to ninth. Auburn moved up one place to No. 10 by defeating Georgia 20-3.

Michigan State returned to the Top 25 after a five-week absence by crushing Northwestern 76-14 for its fourth consecutive victory.

Previously unbeaten Fresno State lost to New Mexico 45-22 and dropped out of the rankings after a three-week stay.

Penn State fell five spots to No. 22 after losing to Notre Dame.

THE TOP 25

The top 25 teams in the AP college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses.

1. Notre Dame (57): 11-0-0

2. Colorado (3): 11-0-0

3. Michigan: 9-1-0

4. Alabama: 10-0-0

5. Florida St.: 8-2-0

6. Nebraska: 10-1-0

7. Miami, Fla.: 9-1-0

8. Tennessee: 8-1-0

9. Arkansas: 8-1-0

10. Auburn: 8-2-0

11. Illinois: 8-2-0

12. USC: 8-2-1

13. Houston: 7-2-0

14. Texas A&M;: 7-2-0

15. Clemson: 9-2-0

16. Virginia: 10-2-0

17. West Virginia: 7-2-1

18. Texas Tech: 8-2-0

19. Pittsburgh: 6-2-1

20. Ohio St.: 8-2-0

21. Brigham Young: 9-2-0

22. Penn St.: 6-3-1

23. Duke: 8-3-0

24. Hawaii: 8-2-0

25. Michigan St.: 6-4-0