The Times’ rankings: Alabama takes No. 2 spot after rally against Arkansas

If ya’ll detect a Southern accent, it’s because Alabama has moved into the No. 2 slot after its come-from-behind win at Arkansas. Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy still hasn’t lost a game since junior high school and you can bet his first is not going to be against Gainesville’s “Swamp Thing.” With grits and practice, Alabama has a chance to be as good as Boise State this year. Stanford uses the myth-of-beating-Notre Dame theory to jump six spots in advance of its big game at Oregon. We welcome Nevada and North Carolina State this week, and prepare to jettison Texas.

1; Boise State 3-0; Saturday’s sellout crowd of 34,137 would be smallest spring-game turnout in ‘Bama history. (1)

2; Alabama 4-0; If they had a Mallet, they’d Mallett in the morning, all over this land. (4)

3; Ohio State 4-0; Buckeyes docked for unwillingness to play a road game. (2)

4; Oregon 4-0; Boosters contributing to Kelly’s contract extension will receive Oregon donor cards. (6)

5; Texas Christian 4-0; Going easy on SMU was the Methodist thing to do. (3)

6; Stanford; 4-0; Cardinal is a color, not a bird, but that doesn’t mean team isn’t flying high. (12)

7; Nebraska 4-0; Um, 17-3 over South Dakota State is only acceptable as a first-quarter score. (5)

8; Florida 4-0; Meyer told to keep career win total (100 and climbing) below his cholesterol level. (15)

9; Oklahoma 4-0; Only top-10 team to have been outscored 41-10 in fourth quarter this season. (8)

10; Arizona 4-0; Guest speaker Carrot Top helps team overcome big-game stage fright. (13)

11; Arkansas 3-1; Hogs also blew fourth-quarter lead to Texas in 1969 “Game of the Century.” (9)

12; Auburn 4-0; Two big comeback wins over Palmetto State (Clemson and South Carolina). (18)

13; Utah 4-0; Noduh.com reports team started 4-0 in each of its last two undefeated seasons. (10)

14; Iowa 3-1; Paterno checks into Iowa City hotel and requests wake-up call for 1982. (14)

15; Miami 3-1; Time flies: win over Pitt last Thursday seems like only a week ago. (17)

16; South Carolina 3-1; Spurrier screams “bring me the head (phones) of Stephen Garcia!” (11)

17; Louisiana State 4-0; Knocked two teams, North Carolina and West Virginia, out of the AP park. (23)

18; Wisconsin 4-0; Dropped two spots in AP after 67-point win over AP (Austin Peay). (16)

19; USC 4-0; Kid coaches Sarkisian and Kiffin meet at midfield to sign each other’s yearbook. (19)

20; Michigan 4-0; QB Robinson (knee) is OK, ready to not lace ‘em up at Indiana. (21)

21; Penn State 3-1; Auntie Em tells Paterno trailing Temple at half just a bad dream. (22)

22; Nevada 4-0; Didn’t need a pistol offense pointed at head to bump Wolf Pack into top 25. (NR)

23; Texas 3-1; No turkey (legs) at Texas State Fair — played one last week vs. UCLA. (7)

24; North Carolina State 4-0; Please get together with team No. 22 to figure out how to spell Wolfpack. (NR)

25; James Madison 3-0; Introduced to wife Dolley in May of 1794 through mutual friend, Aaron Burr. (25)

Dropped out: Pittsburgh (20), Oregon State (24).

Moved in: Nevada, North Carolina State.

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