Pitt took advantage of losses by teams ahead of it – including its former rival on the field – to move into the top 10 in a November college football poll for the first time since 1982.
The Panthers (8-1) are ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the coaches poll.
Coach Dave Wannstedt’s team, which was ranked No. 14 by the AP before it beat Syracuse 37-10 on Saturday, took advantage of losses by Oregon, Iowa, LSU and Penn State. Pitt also leapfrogged Southern California and Houston, which had close victories on Saturday.
The Panthers weren’t as fortunate in the Bowl Championship Series standings, moving up just one spot to No. 12 – behind LSU, USC and Ohio State, all of which had two losses – as well as Iowa.
Penn State dropped eight spots – to No. 19 – in the AP poll after a 24-7 loss at home to Ohio State. The Nittany Lions are 18th in the BCS standings and 17th in the AP poll.
The first six spots were held by major college football’s six unbeaten teams, with Florida, Texas and Alabama making up the top three for the second consecutive week. Florida received 39 first-place votes, Texas received 10 and Alabama 11.
TCU moved up two spots to No. 4, bumping No. 5 Cincinnati and No. 6 Boise State back a spot.
The Horned Frogs have their highest ranking since Oct. 15, 1956, when they were also
No. 4.
The top six in the BCS standings were the same as the AP Top 25, except Alabama was second in the BCS standings and Texas was in third.
Oklahoma, Notre Dame and California dropped out after losses.
Stanford (6-3) moved into the rankings after knocking off Oregon 51-42 to become bowl eligible.
“We were confident. There was definitely no fear going into this game,” Stanford running back Toby Gerhart said.
The Cardinal finished the 2001 season ranked, but haven’t been since. That was also the last season Stanford played in a bowl.
Oregon fell seven spots to No. 14.
No. 24 Clemson also made it into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Tigers (6-3) beat Florida State 40-24 to take control of the ACC’s Atlantic division race.
South Florida moved back into the rankings during an off week.
College
Panthers move up to top 10
- College
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College basketball in brief
A closer look at Thursday night's men's and women's college basketball games:
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Penn State men absorb fifth straight loss
Penn State refused to be routed the first time No. 11 Michigan State had a chance to pull away for an easy victory.
The Nittany Lions, though, couldn’t stay consistent enough to keep their comeback hopes alive. -
South Florida rebounds with win over Pitt
South Florida’s Hugh Robertson combined a perfect night offensively with a stellar defensive performance that helped the Bulls rebound from their worst-ever Big East loss.
Robertson had a season-high 18 points and helped USF
(14-10, 7-4) hold Pittsburgh star Ashton Gibbs to a season-low four points in a 63-51 victory over the Panthers on Wednesday night. Augustus Gilchrist added 10 points for the Bulls, who lost by 30 points at Georgetown last weekend. - Local sports in brief 2-9-2012
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Michigan board gives go-ahead on Winter Classic
The University of Michigan Board of Regents on Wednesday authorized athletic director Dave Brandon to seek a contract with the NHL that would allow the league to hold next year’s Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.
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Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers dominate Seton Hill
Pat Pecora picked up his NCAA Division II record 498th career victory on Tuesday night, but just like almost every other one, he saw some things that his Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team could improve upon.
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Happy Valley readies itself for a new brand of football under Bill O’Brien
White placards with a set of rules were affixed to the glass doors of the players’ entrance at the Penn State football building about the time Bill O’Brien agreed to become the school’s next football coach.
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Panthers win fourth consecutive game
Pittsburgh senior Ashton Gibbs is a happy man now that his backcourt mate, junior Tray Woodall, is back and healthy in the starting lineup. He’s almost as happy as Woodall, who recovered from a groin/abdominal strain to turn in one of his best performances of the season.
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Panthers looking to extend winning streak
Even as the losses piled up, Pitt’s men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon said his players never abandoned hope. That can be tough in the face of an eight-game losing streak stretching from December into January.
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Nittany Lions drop 4th in a row
Bryce Cartwright has been in and out of Iowa’s starting lineup all season. Now the senior looks like he’s there to stay.
Cartwright, bothered with concussion-like symptoms earlier this season, scored 17 points to lead the Hawkeyes to a 77-64 victory over Penn State on Saturday. - More College Headlines
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College basketball in brief
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