Dan Buckner directs “Bear Down, Arizona” after the victory over South Carolina State. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
The Arizona Wildcats moved up two spots to No. 22 in the AP poll, appearing on all but two ballots this week.
UA was mentioned on only 31 of 60 ballots a week ago.
As was the case last week, the voter most enamored of Arizona’s resume is Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. He picks the Cats at No. 11.
Arizona’s opponent this week is third-ranked Oregon, which moved up a spot ahead because of USC’s loss at Stanford. Alabama is No. 1, receiving 58 first-place votes. The other first-place votes went to second-ranked LSU.
UA is No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll.
Arizona’s conference opener at Oregon (7:30 p.m. PT, ESPN) is one of four matchups this week involving teams ranked in the AP poll. The others are No. 10 Clemson at No. 4 Florida State; No. 18 Michigan at No. 11 Notre Dame; No. 15 Kansas State at No. 6 Oklahoma.
For my AP ballot this week, I moved the Wildcats to No. 20.
Here is my full Top 25:
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Oregon
4. Georgia
5. Florida State
6. Oklahoma
7. West Virginia
8. South Carolina
9. Stanford
10. Florida
11. Notre Dame
12. USC
13. Clemson
14. Texas
15. Michigan
16. Ohio State
17. Kansas State
18. Louisville
19. UCLA
20. Arizona
21. Michigan State
22. TCU
23. Boise State
24. Oklahoma State
25. Northwestern