Iowa moved to No. 3 in The Associated Press college football poll (No. 5 College Football Playoff), taking advantage of the first losses by Ohio State and Oklahoma State to slip in behind No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama.
Notre Dame is fourth (No. 4 CFP) and Oklahoma is fifth (No. 7 CFP).
The unbeaten Hawkeyes (11-0) have their best ranking since being No. 3 in 2002. They have clinched the Big Ten West and a spot in the conference title on Dec. 5.
Michigan State jumped three spots to No. 6 (No. 9 CFP) after upsetting Ohio State 17-14 on Saturday. The Buckeyes, who began the season as a unanimous No. 1 and slipped to No. 2 earlier this month, fell to eighth.
Oklahoma State's 45-35 loss to Baylor dropped the Cowboys from fourth to ninth and pushed Baylor to seventh.
Iowa State's Rhoads fired
Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads is out after seven seasons.
Iowa State said Athletic Director Jamie Pollard told Rhoads on Sunday that he's making a change.
Rhoads went 32-54 with the Cyclones. But he won just eight games in his final three seasons as the program slipped back into mediocrity.
Rhoads led Iowa State to just its third bowl victory in his first season. But Iowa State is 3-8 this season; blowing a 35-28 lead with 1:31 to go in Saturday's loss at Kansas State.
Iowa State signed Rhoads to a 10-year, $20 million contract before the 2012 season. Rhoads is due a $4.5 million buyout under the terms of that deal.
Rhoads will coach his final game with Iowa State on Saturday at West Virginia.
Irish lose leading rusher
Notre Dame's leading rusher C.J. Prosise is doubtful with a sprained ankle for the biggest game of the season, when the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish play No. 11 (No. 13 AP) Stanford on Saturday with a college football playoff berth on the line.
Cornerback KeiVarae Russell, the team's second-leading tackler, is out for the game with a broken right leg.
Prosise has a high ankle sprain. The injury occurred when his left foot got caught under Boston College defensive lineman Connor Wujciak as he was being tackled in the second quarter of Saturday's 19-16 victory.
Coach Brian Kelly said Sunday that Prosise is doubtful.
Russell broke a bone in his leg late in the fourth quarter when he hit running back Tyler Rouse hard, knocking the ball loose with 70 seconds left.
Kelly said Russell is out six to eight weeks.
Sooners' Mayfield iffy
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield's status is uncertain for Saturday's showdown with Oklahoma State.
Mayfield was injured during Saturday's 30-29 victory over TCU. He was shaken up early in the second quarter by a helmet-to-helmet hit from TCU linebacker Ty Summers, who was ejected for targeting.
The seventh-ranked (No. 5 AP) Sooners (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) can clinch the conference title with a victory over the sixth-ranked (No. 9 AP) Cowboys (10-1, 7-1). Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops said Mayfield will be evaluated this week by medical staff before a decision is reached.
"That'll all be up to our doctors and trainers," Stoops said after the game. "It's a short time after the game. I sure don't know anything right now. They'll be thorough, though, in checking him, and do what they need to do."
Mayfield played the rest of the first half after the hit from Summers.
"Our trainers and doctors were constantly, with each series, every time Baker was off, checking him, asking him questions, making sure he was OK, and everything was checking out fine," Stoops said. "And then at halftime, they approached him again to go over some things and Baker admitted to having a headache, and that's when our doctors said we're not going to have him play."
Mayfield rose on Heisman Trophy watch lists after leading the Sooners to victory at Baylor the previous week. He has completed 69 percent of his passes this season, with 32 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also has rushed for 343 yards and six scores.
Sports on 11/23/2015