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AP College Football Poll 2012: Complete Week 4 Standings Released

Adam Wells@adamwells1985X.com LogoFeatured ColumnistSeptember 16, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the USC Trojans talks to quarterback Matt Barkley #7 during a game against the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium on September 8, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Rich Schultz/Getty Images

The more things change in college football, the more the Associated Press Top 25 rankings seem to stay the same. 

Thanks to USC and Michigan State's losses, the Top 10 was due for a pretty big shakeup. Thanks to the Trojans' loss to Stanford, LSU moved into the No. 2 spot in the rankings, putting it right behind—shockingly—Alabama. 

The Crimson Tide firmly have established themselves as the best team in the country. Even taking on an undermanned Arkansas team, to go into enemy territory and win 52-0 is impressive. 

And how about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? There was some thought that Brian Kelly's squad could be better this season, but a victory at Michigan State while only allowing three points and 237 yards is impressive. 

Another big winner from Week 3 was Stanford, which showed that, even with without Andrew Luck, the foundation is strong in Palo Alto. The Cardinal defense was swarming Matt Barkley all night, forcing him to get rid of the ball or scramble out of the pocket. For its efforts, Stanford moved into the Top 10 for the first time this season. 

Of course, there will be a lot more movement after next week's games. There are four huge matchups that will have a lasting impact on the rankings: Michigan vs. Notre Dame, Kansas State vs. Oklahoma, Clemson vs. Florida State and Arizona vs. Oregon. 

Here is a full look at Week 4's Associated Press Top 25

WEEK 4 AP TOP 25
 1. Alabama
 2. LSU
 3. Oregon
 4. Florida State
 5. Georgia
 6. Oklahoma
 7. South Carolina
 8. West Virginia
 9. Stanford
 10. Clemson
 11. Notre Dame
 12. Texas
 13. USC
 14. Florida 
 15. Kansas State
 16. Ohio State
 17. TCU
 18. Michigan 
 19. UCLA
 20. Louisville
 21. Michigan State
 22. Arizona
 23. Mississippi State
 24. Boise State
 25. Nebraska