Missouri, K-State move up in this week’s AP rankings

Missouri and Kansas State each moved up in this week’s Associated Press top 25 football rankings.

The Tigers, 2-0, jumped four spots to No. 20 after acing a road test Saturday at Toledo 49-24.

Missouri is just behind the Wildcats, 2-0, who moved up one place to No. 19 after rallying past Iowa State for a 32-28 win in Ames, Iowa.

The SEC and Big 12 occupy seven of the top 10 spots in the newest AP poll.

However, neither conference has one of the top two teams. Oregon leapfrogged Alabama for the No. 2 spot after hammering Michigan State in the second half and pulling away for a 46-27 victory. The Spartans slipped six spots to No. 13.

Reigning national champion Florida State remains No. 1, while Oklahoma and Auburn round out the top five followed by Georgia, Texas A&M, Baylor, Southern California and LSU.

Two other SEC teams — Mississippi, which moved up one place to No. 14, and South Carolina, which slipped three spots to No. 24 — also are ranked.

The biggest mover was Virginia Tech, which wasn’t ranked and received only the 38th-most points last week. The Hokies vaulted to No. 17 after overrunning Ohio State 35-21 in front of the largest crowd ever at the Horseshoe (107,517).

The Buckeyes plummeted from eighth to No. 22.

However, in the Amway coaches’ poll, Ohio State remained ahead of Virginia Tech despite the head-to-head loss.

The Buckeyes are No. 18 and the Hokies are No. 19 in a vote by 62 Football Bowl Subdivision coaches, including Missouri’s Gary Pinkel.

Meanwhile, K-State and Missouri stayed put at No. 20 and 22, respectively, in the coaches’ poll.

This story was originally published September 7, 2014 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Missouri, K-State move up in this week’s AP rankings."