The top three -- No.1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame -- continue to sit comfortably in the top four, though the Fighting Irish moved up one spot in this week's rankings, which were released Tuesday night.
The Wolverines resoundingly defeated Big Ten rival No. 20 Penn State last week to move from No. 5 to No. 4. LSU stumbled from No. 3 to No. 7 after being shut out at home against the dominant Crimson Tide.
"Their defense is extremely strong,'' selection committee chairman Rob Mullens said of LSU still being ranked No.