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| Monday, October 30 Sooners jump Hokies atop coaches' poll ESPN.com new services | |||
| ARLINGTON, Va. -- Oklahoma picked up 54 of 58
possible first-place votes and is the new No. 1 team in the
latest ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, which was released
Sunday.
The Sooners (7-0) rolled over then-No. 1 Nebraska, 31-14,
on Saturday and Sunday received a total of 1,470 points from a
nationwide panel of coaches to move into the nation's top spot
after starting the season ranked 20th.
Oklahoma, which has defeated three consecutive top-10
teams, had one first-place vote prior to the victory over the
No. 6 Cornhuskers (7-1). Four coaches still do not believe
that the Sooners are the best team in the nation and gave their
first-place votes to No. 2 Virginia Tech (8-0).
The Hokies, who trail Oklahoma by 67 points, visit
third-ranked Miami (6-1) next weekend.
While Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and Miami have the inside
track at playing for the national title in the Orange Bowl on
January 3, several schools are still lurking in the
championship picture. They include fourth-ranked Florida State
(8-1) and No. 5 Florida (7-1) and a pair of Pac-10 Conference
teams, No. 7 Washington (7-1) and No. 8 Oregon (7-1).
With Nebraska's loss, No. 9 Texas Christian (7-0) is now
riding the nation's longest winning streak at 12 consecutive
victories. The Horned Frogs are followed in the poll by Clemson
(8-1), Southern Mississippi (6-1), Michigan (6-2), Purdue
(7-2), Oregon State (7-1) and Kansas State (7-2).
Purdue climbed three spots after defeating Ohio State to
move one step closer to its first Rose Bowl appearance since
1966, when Bob Griese was the Boilermakers' quarterback. Ohio
State (6-2) slipped three notches to No. 19.
Clemson fell six places to 10th and Kansas State dropped
seven notches to 15th after suffering upset losses to Georgia
Tech and now-No. 25 Texas A&M (6-2), respectively.
Joining the Aggies as newcomers to this week's poll is No.
23 Northwestern (6-2), which beat Minnesota on a last-play
"Hail Mary" pass. North Carolina State and Arizona fell from
the rankings after losses.
No. 16 Notre Dame (6-2) rose three places after an overtime
victory over Air Force, but Georgia (6-2) lost to Florida and
dropped from 12th to 17th. The Bulldogs are on top of fellow
Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State (5-2).
Rounding out the poll are Ohio State, Texas (6-2), Colorado
State (7-1), Auburn (7-2) and No. 24 South Carolina (7-2),
which plummeted seven rungs after suffering a loss to Tennessee
that dealt its SEC title hopes a severe blow.
| ALSO SEE
ESPN/USA Today coaches' pollSooners take over No. 1 in AP poll Associated Press poll Sooners make easy work of top-ranked Cornhuskers | ||
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