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Northwestern college football rankings: Wildcats No. 19 in AP Poll after Cal win, No. 20 in Coaches Poll

Northwestern's first in-season trip to the top 20 is fun, but I will miss Taylor Swift.

By Rodger Sherman

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

There are no Taylor Swift songs about the number 19, but we will go ahead and be pleased with the Wildcats jumping into the top 20 of this week's AP Poll after a 44-30 win against Cal.

NU was 22 to start the season -- in case you didn't notice that -- and with TCU, Oregon State, and Boise State losing, those three teams dropped below Northwestern. The Wildcats also passed Nebraska, who really, really, really struggled against Wyoming, but were passed by UCLA after the Bruins dominated Nevada.

Obviously, we're pretty disappointed with the fact that I can no longer think about Taylor Swift when I think about the Wildcats. But I really think I'm going to settle for being in the top 20.  Northwestern was last a top 20 team, well, at the end of last year, when the Cats finished the year at No. 17, but before that you'd have to go back to 2001.

And you know what? I think we can keep dancing like we're 22 regardless of where the stupid AP Poll ranks our team.

The Wildcats are also ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll, with the difference being Nebraska one ahead of NU instead of three behind.

Here's a full look at the rankings:

Rank Team Record Votes Previous
1 Alabama (58) 1-0 1,497 1
2 Oregon 1-0 1,355 3
3 Ohio State (1) 1-0 1,330 2
4 Clemson (1) 1-0 1,304 8
5 Stanford 0-0 1,277 4
6 South Carolina 1-0 1,181 6
7 Texas A&M 1-0 1,085 7
8 Louisville 1-0 1,073 9
9 LSU 1-0 971 12
10 Florida State 1-0 953 11
11 Georgia 0-1 894 5
12 Florida 1-0 875 10
13 Oklahoma State 1-0 780 13
14 Notre Dame 1-0 707 14
15 Texas 1-0 674 15
16 Oklahoma 1-0 612 16
17 Michigan 1-0 583 17
18 UCLA 1-0 387 21
19 Northwestern 1-0 320 22
20 Washington 1-0 315 NR
21 Wisconsin 1-0 287 23
22 Nebraska 1-0 219 18
23 Baylor 1-0 150 NR
24 TCU 0-1 148 20
25 USC 1-0 135 24
Others Receiving Votes: Miami (FL) 127, Mississippi 50, Arizona State 48, Michigan State 42, Northern Illinois 27, Cincinnati 27, Fresno State 22, Virginia Tech 12, Bowling Green 9, Georgia Tech 8, Arizona 6, Penn State 4, Boise State 3, Virginia 2, Arkansas 1

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