The Big Ten placed three teams in the top five of The Associated Press college football poll for the first time in 56 years, setting up a No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup for Ohio State and Michigan.

Alabama was a unanimous No. 1 in the poll released Sunday.

The Buckeyes were No. 2 and Wolverines No. 3.

They meet in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday in a game with Big Ten and national championship implications.

Clemson is No. 4, and No. 5 Wisconsin gives the Big Ten three of the first five for the first time since Nov. 7, 1960, when Minnesota was No. 1, Ohio State was No. 3 and Iowa was No. 5.

Louisville dropped eight spots to No. 11 after getting trounced by Houston, which jumped in at No. 18.

TEXAS: Texas Athletic Director Mike Perrin says football coach Charlie Strong’s future with the Longhorns will be decided after the Longhorns’ next game.

Perrin called multiple reports that Texas has decided to fire Strong “rumors,” and said Strong will be evaluated after the Longhorns play TCU on Friday.

That leaves Strong with an uncertain future Monday at his weekly news conference, despite intense speculation that he’ll be dismissed.

Perrin issued his statement Sunday night.

Texas is 5-6 after losing in overtime to lowly Kansas on Saturday.

Strong is 16-20 in his three seasons and still has two years left on a guaranteed contract that pays him more than $5 million per season.

Strong has three straights seasons of six losses or more.

A team spokesman said Strong met with his assistants earlier Sunday to prepare for the upcoming game.

FCS PLAYOFFS: Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State is the No. 1 seed in the FCS playoffs.

The NCAA announced the 24-team playoff field on Sunday. The top eight seeds receive first-round byes and host second-round games. Joining the Bison in the top four are Eastern Washington at No. 2, Jacksonville State, last season’s runner-up, at No. 3 and James Madison at No. 4.

No. 5 Sam Houston State, No. 6 The Citadel, No. 7 North Dakota and No. 8 South Dakota State also have first-round byes.

North Dakota State will begin defense of its title on Dec. 3 against the winner of Cal Poly and San Diego.

Youngstown State under former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is in the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Penguins host Samford on Saturday.

Four teams from the CAA received bids to the tournament, including New Hampshire, which beat the University of Maine 24-21 on a late field goals Saturday to knock the Black Bears from contention.

Joining automatic qualifier James Madison are New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova.

New Hampshire, making its 13th straight appearance in the tournament, opens at home against Lehigh at 2 p.m. Saturday.

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