Gators Move Ahead In New AP Poll
Oct. 7, 2001
By RICHARD ROSENBLATTAP Football Writer
Florida is No. 1 again.
The Gators grabbed the top spot back from rival Miami in the AP media poll Sunday on the strength of overpowering victories the last two weeks.
While Miami defeated Troy State 38-7 on Saturday, Florida beat LSU 44-15 after its 52-0 win over Mississippi State the week before.
Florida (5-0) soared ahead of Miami in The Associated Press Top 25 with 30 first-place votes and 1,739 points from the 72 sports writers and broadcasters on the AP panel. The Hurricanes (4-0) had 23 first-place votes and 1,719 points.
Last week, Miami led Florida in first-place votes, 34-22, and points, 1,744-1,725.
Voters were obviously more impressed with the Gators’ win at LSU in a Southeastern Conference game than the Hurricanes’ easy win over a weaker team playing its first season in Division I-A. LSU (2-2) was No. 18 entering the game.
In the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, Miami remained first and Florida second, just two points behind.
Oklahoma (5-0) held firm at No. 3 in the AP poll, with 16 first-place votes and 1,700 points after its 14-3 win against Texas in Dallas. The Longhorns (4-1) tumbled from No. 5 to No. 11 after the loss.
Nebraska (6-0) remained No. 4 with two first-place votes after its 48-14 win over Iowa State. Oregon (5-0) jumped two places to No. 5 off its 63-28 victory at Arizona.
With Tennessee losing to Georgia and falling seven spots to No. 13, Virginia Tech moved up two places to No. 6, followed by No. 7 UCLA, No. 8 Fresno State (one first-place vote), No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 Washington.
Texas was No. 11, followed by No. 12 Michigan, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 Florida State, No. 15 Georgia Tech, No. 16 Clemson, No. 17 Purdue, No. 18 BYU, No. 19 Georgia, No. 20 Colorado, No. 21 Ohio State, No. 22 Maryland, No. 23 Stanford, No. 24 Kansas State and No. 25 Texas A&M.
South Carolina, which improved four spots with a 42-6 win over Kentucky, cracked the top 10 for the first time since a No. 8 ranking on Oct. 10, 1988.
Florida was No. 1 in the AP preseason poll despite receiving fewer first-place votes than Miami. But the Hurricanes moved to the top spot in the second regular-season rankings after opening with a win at Penn State on Sept. 1. The Gators also opened that day with a win over Marshall.
Not only did Florida return to No. 1, but it’s the first time the Gators have more first-place votes than Miami. The rankings are based on total points, with 25 points for a first-place, 24 for second, 23 for third, and down to 1 for 25th.
Next week, Miami could reclaim No. 1 – the Hurricanes are at Florida State. Florida is at Auburn.
Kansas State (2-2), 16-6 losers to Colorado, fell 12 spots from a No. 12 ranking last week.
This week’s newcomers are Georgia (3-1), Colorado (4-1) and Ohio State (3-1). The dropouts are Northwestern, which entered the weekend at No. 14 but lost to the Buckeyes 38-20, LSU, and Toledo. The Rockets (5-0) fell out despite beating Ohio 48-41.
The Bowl Championship Series, which use the AP poll and coaches poll, eight computer ratings, strength-of-schedule and won-loss records in its formula, releases its first standings on Oct. 15. The top two teams in the final BCS standings will play for a national championship in the Rose Bowl
