Nebraska Edges U.M. In Coaches' Poll
Nov. 11, 2001
Miami was able to hold off Boston College on Saturday, but still lost its No. 1 ranking in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches’ football poll released Sunday morning.
Nebraska (11-0), the top-ranked team in the Bowl Championship Series standings, hurdled Miami with 30 first-place votes, 12 more than last week, and 1,469 points.
Miami (8-0) needed a late defensive turnover to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 18 games on Saturday. The Hurricanes were clinging to a 12-7 lead when Boston College drove deep into Miami territory. But safety Edward Reed returned a lateral for a touchdown with 13 seconds left to complete a bizarre 91-yard scoring play in an 18-7 victory.
Nebraska did not exactly breeze to victory either and even trailed at halftime against Kansas State on Saturday. But the Cornhuskers turned the momentum with a seven-minute drive on its first possession of the second half and posted a 31-21 win.
The Hurricanes lost 11 first-place votes from 41 to 30 and fell 10 points behind Nebraska.
Florida (8-1) rolled to a 54-17 rout of South Carolina and picked up a second first-place, but remains No. 3 overall. The Gators are just seventh in the BCS poll.
Oklahoma (9-1), which is No. 3 in the BCS, is fourth in the USA-ESPN poll followed by Texas (9-1), Tennessee (7-1), and Oregon (9-1).
Brigham Young (10-0), one of three remaining unbeatens in Division I-A, moved up one one spot to No. 8.
Maryland (9-1) and Washington State (9-1) complete the top 10.
Florida State (6-3) suffered its first ever Atlantic Coast Conference loss at home, falling to North Carolina State on Saturday, and dropped 10 spots to No. 20.
UCLA (6-3) descended another five places to No. 21 after losing its third straight game on Saturday, a 21-20 decision to Oregon.
Michigan (7-2) and Illinois (8-1) are 11 and 12, respectively, and Syracuse (8-2) continued its steady climb, rising five spots to No. 13 with its eighth straight win.
Washington (7-2), Stanford (6-2), Colorado (8-2) and Virginia Tech (7-2) follow Syracuse.
Auburn (7-2) crached the poll at No. 18 and knocked Georgia out with a 24-17 win over the Bulldogs.
Louisville (9-1) is 19, South Carolina (7-3) slipped seven spots to No. 22 and Georgia Tech (6-3) dropped six places to No. 23.
Marshall (8-1) and Fresno State (8-2) rejoined the poll at 24 and 25, respectively.
The USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 college football coaches'poll, with number of first-place votes and record inparentheses, total points and previous ranking:
(Records through November 11, 2001)
TEAM PTS PVS —- — — 1. Nebraska (30) (11-0) 1,469 2 2. Miami Fla (28) (8-0) 1,459 1 3. Florida (2) (8-1) 1,350 3 4. Oklahoma (9-1) 1,329 4 5. Texas (9-1) 1,261 5 6. Tennessee (7-1) 1,183 6 7. Oregon (9-1) 1,136 7 8. BYU (10-0) 1,055 9 9. Maryland (9-1) 956 1110. Washington St (9-1) 926 1211. Michigan (7-2) 902 1312. Illinois (8-1) 860 1413. Syracuse (8-2) 703 1814. Washington (7-2) 658 815. Stanford (6-2) 639 1916. Colorado (8-2) 605 2017. Virginia Tech (7-2) 505 2218. Auburn (7-2) 394 NR19. Louisville (9-1) 383 2520. Florida St (6-3) 361 1021. UCLA (6-3) 278 1622. South Carolina (7-3) 251 1523. Georgia Tech (6-3) 161 1724. Marshall (8-1) 139 NR25. Fresno St (8-2) 74 NR
Dropped Out: No. 21 Georgia, No. 23 Michigan St, No. 24Purdue
Others Receiving Votes: Ohio St 63, Texas Tech 58, Georgia57, No Carolina St 43, Mississippi 42, LSU 37, Toledo 33,Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 26, Boston College 24, Utah 20,Michigan St 13, Purdue 7, Hawaii 5, Clemson 3, NorthCarolina 2, East Carolina 1, Louisiana Tech 1.
