Penn State falls from ranks of unbeaten

For Immediate Release

And then there were two.

With coach Joe Paterno just one win away from clinching his sixth 10-0 record, which would tie the record set by Alabama legend Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Penn State came up two points shy of remaining unbeaten. Iowa's back-up kicker who had not made a kick since the season opener, hit a 31-yard field goal to win the game. The Hawkeyes had the opportunity when Penn State QB Daryll Clark threw an interception with three minutes remaining in the game. The loss dropped the Lions four spots to No. 7, and left BCS leagues with only two unbeaten teams.

The Crimson Tide made another huge statement on Saturday, clinching the SEC West title in early November, and secured a berth in the SEC Championship game, which looks to be a BCS playoff game. However, Alabama barely held off a surging Texas Tech, with the Tide holding a one-point lead over the Red Raiders.

Alabama, which received 14 first place votes, needed overtime to defeat LSU 27-21 in Baton Rouge to remain undefeated. Texas Tech (which led on 9 ballots) beat Big XII South rival Oklahoma State 56-20 in Lubbock to setup a showdown in Norman on Nov. 22 against Oklahoma. The top two teams have three games separating them from meeting in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami.

Florida (2 first place votes), Texas, Oklahoma and USC all moved up one spot. Utah inched closer to a perfect season and a spot in the BCS Championship Game with the 13-10 win over TCU in Fort Worth. The Utes moved up to No. 8, followed by Boise State and Oklahoma State.

Georgia, which needed a last minute interception to hold off Kentucky 42-38, moved up one spot to No. 11, followed by Missouri, Ohio State and Ball State. North Carolina, which defeated Georgia Tech 28-7 and Michigan State, 21-7 victors over Purdue, both moved into the poll for the first time.

No. 11 TCU and No. 15 LSU both fell out of the rankings.