Huskies climb to No. 4 in both AP, coaches polls

Ohio State’s 24-21 loss at Penn State Saturday night enabled the Washington Huskies to move up from No. 5 to No. 4 in both the Associated Press and coaches national college football rankings released Sunday. A 41-17 winner over Oregon State Saturday, the Huskies (7-0, 4-0) are at their highest poll placement since finishing the 2000 season at No. 3.

In the Associated Press poll, Washington received 1,373 points to trail No. 1 Alabama (1,524), No. 2 Michigan (1,446) and No. 3 Clemson (1,382). The Crimson Tide bashed No. 6 Texas A&M 33-14 Saturday while the Wolverines, No. 3 last week, defeated Illinois 41-8. The Tigers, No. 4 last week, moved to No. 3 despite not playing Saturday. Ohio State, No. 2 last week, fell to No. 6 ( 1,143).

Washington’s 1,373 points this week represents a bump over the 1,304 the Huskies received last week when they were idle following a 70-21 rout at Oregon.

Utah and Colorado are the only other Pac-12 schools ranked by AP. The Utes, a 52-45 winner over UCLA Saturday, are 17th with 584 points, up from 19th. The Buffaloes unranked last week, are 23rd.

Also receiving votes in the AP rankings: Washington State (93), which defeated Arizona State 37-32 Saturday night, and USC (7).

In the coaches poll, Washington collected 1,434 points. Alabama remained No. 1 with 1,599 while No. 2 Michigan got 1,486 and No. 3 Clemson 1,485. Utah moved from No. 18 to No. 16 with 664 points. Colorado jumped from No. 26 to No. 23 with 242 points.

Washington, 7-0 overall for the first time since 1993 and 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1997, travels to Salt Lake City Saturday to face the Utes (7-1) in a battle of Pac-12 North and South division leaders.

Washington has been installed as an 11-point favorite despite the Saturday performance of Utah RB Joe Williams, who ran for 332 yards and four touchdowns against the Bruins, an effort that Sunday netted him the Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week award.