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Utah jumps back into the AP top 25 at No. 21; Utah State remains No. 14

Utes endured a one-week absence after their Nov. 3 loss at Arizona State.

Utah wide receiver Demari Simpkins (7) eludes Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (15) in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday Nov. 10, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah's fourth-quarter rally to beat Oregon earned the Utes a return to the AP Top 25 on Sunday.

Knocked out of the rankings after a loss to Arizona State, Utah (7-3) jumped to No. 21 following a 32-25 defeat of the Ducks, who once were ranked No. 12 this season. The Utes' comeback gave the Pac-12 three teams in the Top 25, as they joined No. 8 Washington State and No. 17 Washington.

Utah State's ninth straight victory, a 62-24 rout of San Jose State in Logan, kept the Aggies (9-1) at No. 14 in the AP Top 25.

USU is ranked second among Group of Five teams, behind No. 11 Central Florida. Cincinnati is No. 19 and Boise State is No. 23, coming off a 24-17 win over Fresno State. The Bulldogs fell out of the Top 25.

The Aggies will await the third edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday. This could become an interesting week for USU, with the potential for its first CFP ranking and UCF hosting Cincinnati in a key game Saturday.

The highest-ranked Group of Five school is awarded a berth in a New Year's Six game. Because of Fresno State's loss, the CFP rankings may become irrelevant regarding USU's hopes of hosting the Mountain West championship game. If the Aggies win Saturday at Colorado State and Nov. 24 at Boise State, they'll win their division and remain the MW's only unbeaten team in conference play, earning the host's role.

In the Coaches Poll, Utah State moved up three spots to No. 13 and Utah jumped five spots to No. 24.