Still No. 2, Miami collects its first No. 1 votes in AP poll

Nov. 26, 2000

By RICHARD ROSENBLATT

AP Football Writer

November 26, 2000

Oklahoma isn’t such a solid No. 1 anymore.

The unbeaten Sooners maintained the top ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, but No. 2 Miami made a move upward by taking away first-place votes.

The Hurricanes (10-1) completed their regular season with a 52-6 rout of Boston College (6-5), while the Sooners hung on for a 12-7 win over Oklahoma State (3-8) on Saturday.

In addition to moving closer to the Sooners (11-0), the Hurricanes strengthened their lead over No. 3 Florida State (11-1) in balloting by the 71 sportswriters and broadcasters on the AP panel.

Oklahoma received 64 first-place votes and 1,765 points, with Miami snaring six first-place votes and 1,696 points. Florida State, which completed its season last week, had one first-place vote and 1,640 points. The Sooners finish out next Saturday against Kansas State in the Big 12 title game.

For the past three polls, the Sooners had 70 first-place votes, the Seminoles one and the Hurricanes none. This is the first time this season Miami has received votes for No. 1. Miami now trails Oklahoma by 69 points and leads Florida State by 56, last week the Hurricanes trailed the Sooners by 93 points and led the Seminoles by 36.

In the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, the top three were Oklahoma, Miami and Florida State.

Miami’s move in the AP poll is significant since it sets up the possibility of split national champions. If the Hurricanes fail to get into the Bowl Championship Series’ title game — the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. — they can still become national champions in the AP media poll, in which sports writers and broadcasters vote independently of the BCS. The coaches’ poll would automatically crown the winner of the Orange Bowl.

Currently, Oklahoma and Florida State are 1-2 in the BCS standings, which uses the AP media poll and the coaches poll, eight computer rankings and schedule strength to determine who plays in its title game. Miami was third and expected to remain there when the updated BCS standings are released Monday.

Three teams cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time this season — No. 22 Louisville (9-2), No. 23 Colorado State (9-2) and No. 25 Toledo (10-1).

Washington (10-1) remained No. 4, followed by No. 5 Oregon State, No. 6 Virginia Tech, No. 7 Florida, No. 8 Kansas State, No. 9 Oregon and No. 10 Nebraska. The Huskers (9-2) dropped a spot after a last-second 34-32 win against Colorado.

Notre Dame (9-2), despite a 38-21 win over USC, remained No. 11, followed by No. 12 Texas, No. 13 TCU, No. 14 Purdue, No. 15 Clemson, No. 16 Michigan, No. 17 Georgia Tech, No. 18 Auburn, No. 19 Northwestern and No. 20 Ohio State.

Tennessee was No. 21, followed by Louisville, Colorado State, Georgia and Toledo.

Texas A&M, Mississippi State and LSU dropped out of the Top 25.

The last regular-season AP poll will be released next Sunday, as will the final BCS standings, the final AP poll will be released Jan. 4.

The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, withnumber of first-place votes and record in parentheses,total points and previous ranking:

(Records through November 26, 2000)

    TEAM                                   PTS   PVS    ----                                   ---   --- 1. Oklahoma (64) (11-0)                 1,765     1 2. Miami Fla (6) (10-1)                 1,696     2 3. Florida St (1) (11-1)                1,640     3 4. Washington (10-1)                    1,569     4 5. Oregon St (10-1)                     1,472     5 6. Virginia Tech (10-1)                 1,407     6 7. Florida (9-2)                        1,277     7 8. Kansas St (10-2)                     1,230     8 9. Oregon (9-2)                         1,183    1010. Nebraska (9-2)                       1,142     911. Notre Dame (9-2)                     1,082    1112. Texas (9-2)                            915    1213. TCU (10-1)                             844    1314. Purdue (8-3)                           785    1415. Clemson (9-2)                          750    1516. Michigan (8-3)                         747    1617. Georgia Tech (9-2)                     742    1818. Auburn (9-2)                           720    1719. Northwestern (8-3)                     499    2020. Ohio St (8-3)                          449    2121. Tennessee (8-3)                        321    2522. Louisville (9-2)                       201    NR23. Colorado St (9-2)                      170    NR24. Georgia (7-4)                          126    1925. Toledo (10-1)                           73    NR

Dropped Out: No. 22 Texas A&M, No. 23 Mississippi St, No.24 LSU

Others Receiving Votes: Texas A&M 71, South Carolina 42,Mississippi 34, Wisconsin 27, Iowa St 25, LSU 18,Mississippi St 18, Air Force 11, Western Mich 7, Boise St6, Pittsburgh 5, No Carolina St 3, Arkansas 2, Syracuse 1.

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 26, 2000)

    TEAM                                   PTS   PVS    ----                                   ---   --- 1. Oklahoma (49) (11-0)                 1,458     1 2. Miami Fla (5) (10-1)                 1,410     2 3. Florida St (5) (11-1)                1,368     3 4. Washington (10-1)                    1,298     4 5. Virginia Tech (10-1)                 1,209     5 6. Oregon St (10-1)                     1,181     6 7. Kansas St (10-2)                     1,098     7 8. Florida (9-2)                        1,026     9 9. Nebraska (9-2)                       1,001     810. Notre Dame (9-2)                       871    1011. Oregon (9-2)                           869    1112. Texas (9-2)                            771    1313. Clemson (9-2)                          768    1214. Purdue (8-3)                           675    1415. TCU (10-1)                             620    1516. Michigan (8-3)                         610    1617. Auburn (9-2)                           564    1718. Georgia Tech (9-2)                     490    1919. Ohio St (8-3)                          392    2020. Northwestern (8-3)                     378    2121. Tennessee (8-3)                        281    2422. Colorado St (9-2)                      249    2523. Louisville (9-2)                       137    NR24. Georgia (7-4)                           92    1825. Toledo (10-1)                           61    NR

Dropped Out: No. 22 Texas A&M, No. 23 Mississippi St

Others Receiving Votes: Mississippi St 52, Mississippi 38,Texas A&M 37, South Carolina 31, Iowa St 28, Wisconsin 27,Western Mich 23, No Carolina St 18, Pittsburgh 9, Texas ElPaso 9, Air Force 8, Boise St 7, So Mississippi 7, FresnoSt 3, East Carolina 1.