Miami widens lead in Coaches' Poll

Sept. 23, 2001

New York (SportsTicker) – – After one off the most shocking losses in school history, Florida State fell 10 spots to No. 15 in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll released Sunday.

The Seminoles (2-1) were beaten by previously winless North Carolina, 41-9, on Saturday, just their third loss in 74 Atlantic Coast Conference contests over nine-plus seasons.

To make matters worse for Seminoles fans, their two two Sunshine State rivals are atop the national rankings.

Miami (2-0), which was idle this week, widened their lead at the top. The ‘Canes received 34 first-place votes (five more than last week) and 1,453 points from a nationwide panel of coaches to remain No. 1. The Hurricanes hold a 30-point lead on No. 2 Florida (3-0), which has 14 first-place votes.

Defending national champion Oklahoma (3-0) garned nine first-place nods, eight more than Big 12 Conference rival and fourht-ranked Nebraska (4-0). Another league foe, Texas (3-0), is ranked fifth.

Sixth-ranked Oregon (3-0) and No. 13 Fresno State (4-0) also received one-first vote.

Newcomers to this week’s poll are Illinois (3-0) and Michigan State (2-0). The latter defeated Notre Dame on Saturday, knocking the Fighting Irish, along with Ohio State, out of the rankings.

Ohio State suffered a 13-6 loss to UCLA (3-0), which moved up two spots to 10th.

Rounding out the top 10 is seventh-ranked Virginia Tech (3-0), Tennessee (2-0) and Kansas State (2-0).

Georgia Tech (3-0) is ranked 11th and is followed by Washington (2-0). Louisiana State (2-0) is at No. 14, a pair of notches ahead of Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina (3-0). Next are a pair of Big Ten teams, Michigan (2-1) and Northwestern (2-0).

Completing the poll are 19th-ranked Oregon State (1-1), Brigham Young (3-0), Purdue (2-0), Mississippi State (1-1) and No. 25 Clemson (2-1).

USA Today/ESPN Top 25 College Football Coaches’ Poll

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 September 23, 2001)

    TEAM                                   PTS   PVS    ----                                   ---   --- 1. Miami Fla (34) (2-0)                 1,453     1 2. Florida (14) (3-0)                   1,423     2 3. Oklahoma (9) (3-0)                   1,377     3 4. Nebraska (1) (4-0)                   1,311     4 5. Texas (3-0)                          1,239     6 6. Oregon (1) (3-0)                     1,120     7 7. Virginia Tech (3-0)                  1,104     9 8. Tennessee (2-0)                      1,090     8 9. Kansas St (2-0)                        980    1010. UCLA (3-0)                             914    1211. Georgia Tech (3-0)                     907    1112. Washington (2-0)                       837    1313. Fresno St (1) (4-0)                    770    1514. LSU (2-0)                              705    1415. Florida St (2-1)                       679     516. South Carolina (3-0)                   574    2017. Michigan (2-1)                         564    1718. Northwestern (2-0)                     546    1919. Oregon St (1-1)                        338    2220. BYU (3-0)                              267    2521. Purdue (2-0)                           252    2422. Mississippi St (1-1)                   162    1623. Illinois (3-0)                         132    NR24. Michigan St (2-0)                      120    NR25. Clemson (2-1)                           98    18

Dropped Out: No. 21 Ohio St, No. 23 Notre Dame

Others Receiving Votes: Toledo 92, Ohio St 65, Texas A&M64, No Carolina St 58, Stanford 44, Colorado 34, Maryland26, So Mississippi 25, Iowa 20, Alabama 19, Wisconsin 14,Georgia 12, Texas Tech 11, Notre Dame 9, Arizona 8,Marshall 8, East Carolina 7, Louisville 7, Iowa St 6,Pittsburgh 4, Auburn 2, Ala Birmingham 1, USC 1, WashingtonSt 1.