AP poll excludes Miami

Auburn new No. 2

? Miami is out of the rankings for the first time since 1999, and Auburn is the new No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25.

The Hurricanes’ latest lopsided loss – a 31-7 debacle at Louisville – ended a streak of 107 consecutive poll appearances that was the nation’s longest current streak.

“That doesn’t really change anything,” Miami coach Larry Coker said Sunday. “The poll didn’t help us yesterday, and the poll won’t help us tomorrow. Doesn’t change anything.”

With seven games matching ranked teams Saturday, the poll got its first significant shake-up of the season.

Not at the very top, though, as Ohio State remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week. The Buckeyes received 59 first-place votes from a panel of 65 media members.

Notre Dame’s first loss of the season vacated a spot right behind Ohio State, and Auburn took advantage.

The Tigers, who beat, LSU 7-3, have their highest ranking since tying for No. 2 with Oklahoma on Nov. 13, 2004. The Tigers received two first-place votes and are the third team to hold the second spot in the Top 25 this season, along with Notre Dame and Texas.

“We’ve got a lot of games to play. We’re very fortunate to be where we’re at,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. “I don’t know whether we’re a top-five team. We’re playing pretty good, but we’re not playing to our potential on both sides of the ball yet.”

Auburn was 13 points ahead of No. 3 USC.

West Virginia was up to No. 4. Both the Trojans and Mountaineers received two first-place votes. Florida was fifth, up two places after a 21-20 win at Tennessee.

In the USA Today coaches’ poll, Ohio State was No. 1 with USC second and Auburn, West Virginia and Florida rounding out the top five.

Michigan moved up five spots to No. 6 after its 47-21 victory at Notre Dame, and the Fighting Irish fell 10 spots to No. 12. Texas was No. 7, and the Longhorns now have the longest current streak of poll appearances at 96, dating to Oct. 15, 2000.