:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23870027/451599221.0.jpg)
After defeating Minnesota 20-7 and retaining Paul Bunyan's Axe -- with some added drama, too boot -- Wisconsin rose in the AP Top 25 and USA TODAY Coaches Polls released Sunday.
In the AP, which does not count toward the BCS standings that will be released later Sunday night, the Badgers rose two spots to No. 14. Ahead of them by just six points is Arizona State, the team against which Wisconsin lost via a controversial ending that has marred much of the remainder of the season. No. 14 is the targeted spot for UW in the BCS rankings, as that will make the Badgers eligible for an at-large BCS bid.
In his latest bowl projections, SB Nation's Jason Kirk once again has Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl, facing a Clemson team he believes will will replace Florida State as the ACC's No. 1 team. FSU is expected to play No. 1 Alabama in the BCS National Championship, barring a surprise loss by either team over the regular season's final weeks.
In the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, meanwhile, Wisconsin rose three spots to No. 14. Again, the coaches poll does factor into the BCS rankings and obviously bodes well for UW's BCS hopes.
AP Top 25
| Rank | Team | Record | Votes | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (56) | 11-0 | 1,496 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida State (4) | 11-0 | 1,444 | 2 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 11-0 | 1,375 | 4 |
| 4 | Auburn | 10-1 | 1,294 | 6 |
| 5 | Missouri | 10-1 | 1,202 | 8 |
| 6 | Clemson | 10-1 | 1,196 | 7 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 10-1 | 1,177 | 11 |
| 8 | Stanford | 9-2 | 1,002 | 10 |
| 9 | Baylor | 9-1 | 976 | 3 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 9-2 | 960 | 12 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 10-1 | 929 | 13 |
| 12 | Oregon | 9-2 | 731 | 5 |
| 13 | Arizona State | 9-2 | 690 | 19 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 9-2 | 684 | 16 |
| 15 | LSU | 8-3 | 642 | 18 |
| 16 | Fresno State | 10-0 | 619 | 15 |
| 17 | UCF | 9-1 | 588 | 17 |
| 18 | Northern Illinois | 11-0 | 470 | 20 |
| 19 | Texas A&M | 8-3 | 429 | 9 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 9-2 | 386 | 22 |
| 21 | Louisville | 10-1 | 383 | NR |
| 22 | UCLA | 8-3 | 300 | 14 |
| 23 | USC | 9-3 | 262 | 23 |
| 24 | Duke | 9-2 | 135 | 25 |
| 25 | Notre Dame | 8-3 | 68 | NR |
| Others Receiving Votes: Georgia 15, Texas 10, Cincinnati 10, Mississippi 7, Nebraska 6, Arizona 6, Minnesota 5, Vanderbilt 1, East Carolina 1, North Dakota State 1 |
USA TODAY Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Record | Votes | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (56) | 11-0 | 1,544 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida State (6) | 11-0 | 1,488 | 2 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 11-0 | 1,428 | 3 |
| 4 | Clemson | 10-1 | 1,289 | 6 |
| 5 | Auburn | 10-1 | 1,268 | 7 |
| 6 | Missouri | 10-1 | 1,243 | 8 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 10-1 | 1,225 | 9 |
| 8 | Baylor | 9-1 | 1,009 | 4 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 9-2 | 1,003 | 11 |
| 10 | Stanford | 9-2 | 981 | 12 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 10-1 | 962 | 13 |
| 12 | Oregon | 9-2 | 777 | 5 |
| 13 | Fresno State | 10-0 | 687 | 16 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 9-2 | 661 | 17 |
| 15 | LSU | 8-3 | 646 | 19 |
| 16 | Louisville | 10-1 | 603 | 15 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 9-2 | 581 | 18 |
| 18 | Arizona State | 9-2 | 574 | 22 |
| 19 | UCF | 9-1 | 512 | 20 |
| 20 | Northern Illinois | 11-0 | 459 | 21 |
| 21 | Texas A&M | 8-3 | 410 | 10 |
| 22 | UCLA | 8-3 | 257 | 14 |
| 23 | USC | 9-3 | 210 | 25 |
| 24 | Duke | 9-2 | 203 | 24 |
| 25 | Cincinnati | 9-2 | 47 | NR |
| Others Receiving Votes: Notre Dame 17, Minnesota 12, Texas 12, East Carolina 11, Georgia 8, Nebraska 7, Miami (FL) 6, Louisiana-Lafayette 6, Arizona 2, Vanderbilt 2 |
Harris Poll
| Rank | Team | Record | Votes | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama (99) | 11-0 | 2,595 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida State (5) | 11-0 | 2,494 | 2 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 11-0 | 2,389 | 3 |
| 4 | Clemson | 10-1 | 2,148 | 6 |
| 5 | Auburn | 10-1 | 2,139 | 7 |
| 6 | Missouri | 10-1 | 2,109 | 8 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 10-1 | 2,013 | 9 |
| 8 | Stanford | 9-2 | 1,759 | 11 |
| 9 | Baylor | 9-1 | 1,679 | 4 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 9-2 | 1,620 | 12 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 10-1 | 1,595 | 13 |
| 12 | Oregon | 9-2 | 1,284 | 5 |
| 13 | Fresno State | 10-0 | 1,206 | 14 |
| 14 | LSU | 8-3 | 1,155 | 17 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 9-2 | 1,035 | 19 |
| 16 | Arizona State | 9-2 | 976 | 22 |
| 17 | Northern Illinois | 11-0 | 936 | 18 |
| 18 | Louisville | 10-1 | 930 | 16 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 9-2 | 856 | 21 |
| 20 | Central Florida | 9-1 | 855 | 20 |
| 21 | Texas A&M | 8-3 | 698 | 10 |
| 22 | UCLA | 8-3 | 391 | 15 |
| 23 | USC | 9-3 | 385 | 23 |
| 24 | Duke | 9-2 | 298 | 24 |
| 25 | Notre Dame | 8-3 | 55 | NR |
| Others Receiving Votes: Cincinnati 47, Georgia 37, Minnesota 21, Nebraska 16, Miami (FL) 15, Mississippi 15, Texas 15, East Carolina 14, Arizona 13, Louisiana-Lafayette 4, Washington 2, Michigan 1. |