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
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MAC honors Roberts
Forest Hills graduate and former Delweld MVP George Roberts was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year in baseball on Tuesday.
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Sentence given, but Rutgers webcam saga not over
The legal saga is far from over for a former Rutgers University student sentenced to 30 days jail for using a webcam to spy on his roommate kissing another man. The cultural fallout could continue, too.
Dharun Ravi, 20, was sentenced Monday, two months after a jury convicted him of 15 criminal counts, including invasion of privacy and bias intimidation and seven counts dealing with covering up a crime.
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Paterno's family to get $13.4 million pension
Joe Paterno earned a state pension of $13.4 million for his 61-year coaching career at Penn State.
Paterno's family said Tuesday through a spokesman that Paterno's widow, Sue, would receive an initial payment of $10.1 million by the end of May, with the rest to be paid out over the next two years.
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O’Brien keeps message fresh in selling Penn State
After three weeks of crisscrossing the Northeast to rally and re-assure the Nittany Lions faithful that all will be well in Happy Valley, Bill O’Brien still had fresh material when the Penn State coaching caravan reached its 18th and final stop.
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[VIDEO] Panthers eager to renew PSU rivalry
It didn’t take Steve Pederson long to realize how important a renewal of the Pitt-Penn State football rivalry is to local fans.
Even the invocation at the Johnstown Panther Club’s fifth annual spring event at Sunnehanna Country Club on Thursday night included a request for the teams to meet on the field again. -
Penn State coach stops in Altoona
Bill O’Brien has quickly put to rest any notion that he plans to stick around as long as the last Penn State football coach.
Don’t expect his tenure in Happy Valley to last 46 years. -
Shepherd takes WVIAC championship
Shepherd recorded a 10-5 victory over Alderson-Broaddus in the WVIAC baseball championship Sunday afternoon at Point Stadium, earning a spot in the NCAA tournament with the league’s automatic bid.
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Mount falls in title game
Mount Aloysius’ Cinderella run through the AMCC playoffs came to an end Saturday, as the No. 6 seed Mounties fell to top-seeded La Roche 14-4 in the AMCC Championship game.
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Shepherd advances to title game
Shepherd advanced to the WVIAC Championship by defeating West Virginia State on Saturday at Point Stadium.
The conference title game will be played at 1 p.m. today at the Point. -
Two UPJ players earn WVIAC first-team honors
Pitt-Johnstown sophomore catcher Kyle Morrow and sophomore second baseman Jake Warner were named first-team All-WVIAC baseball, while senior outfielder Drew Westover and sopohomore right-hander Derek Younker each earned a spot on the second-team.
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