UNDATED (AP) — Vanderbilt and Kentucky’s entrance to the top 10 on Monday was historic as it gave the Southeastern Conference five of the first seven teams in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. It’s the first time that’s happened in the poll’s 50-year history. The seventh-ranked Commodores pulled off their first win over a top five program since the 2008-09 season when they edged then-No. 5 LSU on Sunday. Texas is second, South Carolina third and Oklahoma is fifth. Kentucky moved up to six on Monday. It may be tough for the conference to keep all those high rankings as many of those teams will face each other over the next few weeks. Sixth-ranked Kentucky hosts No. 5 Oklahoma on Sunday.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood is staying at Michigan for his sophomore season to play for first-year coach Kyle Whittingham. Underwood announced his decision Monday night. As the nation’s top-rated recruit, Underwood signed with the Wolverines under former coach Sherrone Moore and became the fourth true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan. Underwood completed 60% of his throws for 2,428 yards with nine passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions, including three in the last 18 minutes of a 41-27 loss to Texas in the Citrus Bowl. He ran for 392 yards and six touchdowns, including 77 yards and a score against the Longhorns.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Fernando Mendoza spent all season stealing headlines and collecting awards. Indiana running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black were content doing the dirty work in the shadows of their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, propelling the top-ranked Hoosiers into college football’s version of the Final Four. Now, less than a week after dominating Alabama on the ground, the Hoosiers dynamic duo hopes to replicate that performance against No. 5 Oregon in Friday night’s Peach Bowl. Like Indiana, the Ducks have a high-scoring offense, a likely first-round draft pick at quarterback and, yes, the second best rushing attack among the remaining teams.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Coen Carr scored 18 points and Jaxon Kohler added 16 on perfect shooting to lead No. 12 Michigan State to an 80-51 blowout against Southern California. Jeremy Fears Jr. had 15 points and seven assists for the Spartans, who took control with a 27-6 run early in the game and led by at least 20 for much of the second half. Kohler made all six of his field goal attempts, including a trio of 3-pointers, and sank his only free throw. He also grabbed eight rebounds, two short of a sixth straight double-double. Ezra Ausar scored 16 points and Jerry Easter added 12 for the Trojans, who lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Tariq Francis made 10 of 16 from the field, hit 10 of 11 from the free-throw line, and scored 30 points to help Rutgers beat Oregon 88-85 in overtime. Darren Buchanan Jr. hit a corner 3-pointer and threw down a two-hand dunk before Francis made a jumper that capped a 7-1 spurt and gave Rutgers (8-7, 1-3 Big Ten) an 87-82 lead with 1:09 to play. Buchanan, Jamichael Davis and Lino Mark each scored 13 points for the Scarlet Knights. Nate Bittle tied his season high with 28 points for Oregon (8-7, 1-3). Wei Lin, who went into the game shooting 20.7% (6 of 29) from 3-point range, hit six 3s and finished with 23 points — both career highs. Kwame Evans Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braden Frager scored 15 points off the bench and No. 10 Nebraska held off a late rally by Ohio State to win 72-69. Rienk Mast added 12 points while Jamarques Lawrence and Pryce Sandfort each had 11 as the Cornhuskers improved to 15-0, extending the best start in school history. John Mobley Jr. led Ohio State with 22 points. Bruce Thornton scored 16 and Devin Royal added 14. Playing as a top-10 team for the first time since 1966, Nebraska led by 14 in the first half. Ohio State briefly took the lead, but Nebraska's late 9-0 run sealed the victory. The Cornhuskers outscored Ohio State 22-0 in bench points. Nebraska next plays Indiana on Saturday.
UNDATED (AP) — Rocco Becht has announced he will follow coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a veteran quarterback to replace Ethan Grunkemeyer. Becht stated his decision in a social media post late Sunday. Multiple media outlets report Grunkemeyer will reunite with James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Grunkemeyer started seven games after Drew Allar was injured. Those transfers follow Drew Mestemaker’s weekend decision to join Eric Morris at Oklahoma State.
UNDATED (AP) — Arizona holds onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 by a single point over Michigan. This marks one of the closest races in the poll's 78-year history. The Wildcats received 32 first-place votes, while the Wolverines got 29. The top six teams remain unchanged, with Iowa State, UConn, Purdue, and Duke following Michigan. Nebraska is in the top 10 for the first time since 1966, riding an 18-game winning streak. The Big 12 has seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10, while the Big Ten has six in the poll and three in the top 10.
