USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll 

Tennessee remained in the top spot in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Polll for the ninth straight week, the association announced Wednesday. 

The Lady Vols’ nine-week reign at the top matches the longest consecutive hold on No. 1 since Michigan closed out 2005 with a nine-week venture atop the poll. UT leads a group of three SEC squads in the top 10, matching the Pac-10 for the most among all conferences. 

Alabama gave the SEC a hold on the top two spots for the second straight week, staying at No. 2 after a 5-0 week that included a sweep of in-state rival Auburn. LSU rounded out the SEC’s trio of top 10 teams, coming in at No. 6 for the third straight week. 

Oklahoma remained at No. 3, while Big 12 opponent Texas A&M slipped one place to fifth this week. The Aggies switched spots with Arizona after the Wildcats swept two games from Arizona State, who dropped one place to eighth. A pair of Big Ten foes surround the Sun Devils this week as Northwestern moved up to seventh while Michigan stayed at No. 9. 

Oregon rounded out the top 10 for the second straight week after splitting the opening two games of the Civil War series with Oregon State. 

Texas remained in the No. 11 position, while Washington took sole possession of the 12th spot after UCLA slipped two places to No. 14. Baylor matched the poll’s biggest jump this week, leaping three places to 16th following a 2-0 week that included a win over Texas A&M. The Bears’ three-place advance matched Hawaii’s ascent to No. 15. 

Oregon State climbed one place this week, while conference foe Stanford fell three places to No. 17 after dropping its weekend series with California. DePaul moved up one place to 18th, while Louisiana-Lafayette fell four places following an 0-4 week. 

Missouri Valley Conference foes Southern Illinois and Illinois State remained Nos. 20 and 21, respectively, while Florida advanced one place to 22nd. North Carolina, Fresno State and Georgia Tech rounded out this week’s rankings.