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Washington State collects 14 votes in latest edition of Associated Press Top 25 poll

Washington State Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew (16) and defensive lineman Logan Tago (45) celebrate defeating Utah during the second half of a college football game on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash. WSU won the game 28-24. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

PULLMAN – A 28-24 win over Utah clearly did the Cougars some favors in the national polls this week.

After receiving zero votes in last week’s edition of the Associated Press Top 25 rankings, Washington State collected 14 on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Cougars edged out the Utes in Martin Stadium to improve their overall record to 4-1 and Pac-12 mark to 1-1.

WSU has yet to crack the Top 25 yet this season and the Cougars hadn’t received more than six votes in the poll. They received zero preseason votes, six after week two, four after week three, two after week four and zero after a week-five loss to USC.

Six teams are receiving more votes than WSU this week: Boise St. (86), South Florida (83), Syracuse (74), Cincinnati (35), Iowa (34) and Texas A&M (31).

The Pac-12 lost one team from the AP Top-10 after No. 7 Stanford was defeated by No. 8 Notre Dame, but bumped another team up. No. 11 Washington beat No. 20 BYU on Saturday in Seattle to claim the nation’s 10th ranking.

Stanford’s loss dropped the Cardinal seven spots to No. 14, Oregon improved from No. 19 to No. 18 after beating Cal and the Golden Bears – previously ranked No. 24 – fell out of the Top 25 poll. WSU, Cal and Arizona State are all receiving votes in this week’s poll.

There was some slight shifting near the top of the AP poll, but none of the top-five teams fell out after Saturday’s games. Alabama and Georgia remained at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, after staying unbeaten, but Ohio State jumped Clemson for No. 3 while the Tigers fell to No. 4. LSU stayed put at No. 5.