SEC reaches poll milestone

The Southeastern Conference has reached a new milestone in The Associated Press college football poll, becoming the first league to place four teams in the top five -- all from the western division.

Mississippi Statestayed No. 1 after a weekend off. The Atlantic Coast Conference's Florida Stateheld its ground at No. 2 after beating then-No. 5 Notre Dame31-27.

Ole Miss remains No. 3. Alabamajumped three spots to No. 4 after a 59-0 victory against Texas A&M. Auburnmoved up a spot to No. 5 during a bye week, taking advantage of losses by previously unbeaten Notre Dame and Baylor.

The Irish dropped two spots to seventh. Baylor fell to No. 12 after losing 41-27 at West Virginia.

Thirty times since 2001 a conference has placed three teams in the top five of the AP Top 25. The SEC had done it 16 times since 2009.

The Seminoles (7-0, 4-0 ACC) control their own destiny, however, as no currently ranked teams remain on the schedule.

They are one of only three top-five teams that are still undefeated, and both No. 1 Mississippi State and No. 3 Ole Miss have at least two more games against ranked teams.

The Bulldogs and Rebels face each other in the regular-season finale in the Egg Bowl, so one is guaranteed to end the season with a loss.

"You can say whatever you want: This team is dominant,'' FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said after beating Notre Dame. "This team understands how to win. ... This team has tremendous what I call 'adversity tolerance.' It doesn't flinch. It can deal with anything.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.