Nevada gets first AP Top 25 ranking in 62 years

? The only previous time Nevada was ranked in the AP Top 25, the Wolf Pack ended the season playing in the Harbor Bowl in San Diego.

That was 1948.

It took 62 years, but Nevada is back in the Associated Press poll. The Wolf Pack were No. 25 in the poll released Sunday and are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1991, the year before they jumped from I-AA to I-A.

“It’s very exciting news,” coach Chris Ault told the AP in a telephone interview Sunday. “I’m sure our players will be fired up.”

The first month of the season closed with the preseason top three in the rankings unchanged: Alabama is No. 1, followed by Ohio State and Boise State.

The Crimson Tide had its toughest challenge yet Saturday, coming from behind to beat Arkansas, 24-20. The road victory helped the Tide gain five first-place votes to 57.

Ohio State, which rolled to a 73-20 victory against Eastern Michigan, received two first-place votes, and Boise State, which beat Oregon State 37-24, received one.

The USA Today coaches’ poll has the same top three teams.

No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 TCU flip-flopped spots this week. No. 6 Nebraska held its position, and No. 7 Florida moved up two heading into its big game at Alabama on Saturday.

No. 8 Oklahoma was followed by Stanford, which jumped seven spots to No. 9 and No. 10 Auburn, which also gained seven spots.

The Cardinal are 4-0 for the first time since 1986 after beating Notre Dame, 37-14, and have their best AP ranking since ending the 1992 season No. 9.

No. 21 Texas dropped 14 spots after a stunningly lopsided 34-12 home loss to UCLA.