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Washington State moves up to No. 16 in Associated Press Top 25 while USC stays put at No. 5

Washington State Cougars running back Jamal Morrow (25) celebrates with teammates after defeating Nevada during the second half on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at Martin Stadium in Pullman. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson theol@spokesman.com(509) 459-5584

PULLMAN – Friday’s game between Washington State and USC will feature the teams respectively ranked No. 16 and No. 5 in the country.

After a 45-7 blowout of Nevada Saturday at Martin Stadium, WSU (4-0, 1-0) moved up two spots to No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25, giving the Cougars the highest ranking of the season and their highest since 2003. WSU entered the Holiday Bowl that year ranked No. 15 in the AP poll and No. 14 in the coaches poll.

The Cougars also moved up two spots in the coaches poll Sunday to No. 16.

WSU hasn’t started a season 4-0 since 2001. That year, the Cougars got to 7-0 before losing to Oregon.

The fifth-ranked Trojans (4-0, 2-0) neither slipped or fell after hanging on to beat Cal 30-20 Saturday in Berkeley.

Friday’s Pac-12 game at Martin Stadium will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on ESPN.

Washington moved up to No. 6 after flattening Colorado on the road, and Utah moved up three spots to No. 20 thanks to a Pac-12 win at Arizona. Oregon was previously No. 24, but dropped out of the AP Top 25 with a loss to Arizona State.

In the coaches poll, both USC and Washington held their respective places (No. 5 and No. 6), while Utah moved up two spots to No. 19.