Football Finishes in Top 20 for First Time Since '91

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Jan 04 12:08:19 GMT-04:00 2001

CLEMSON, SC -- There was not much movement in the final polls for Clemson despite losing in the Gator Bowl 41-20 to Virginia Tech. The Tigers finished No. 14 in the USA Today poll and No. 16 in the AP Poll. It was the first time Clemson had finished in the national Top 20 (AP And USA Today) since 1991. The Tigers were also ranked in every AP And USA Today poll for the first time since 1991.

Bowden's Tigers reached a No. 3 ranking in USA Today on October 21, Clemson's highest since 1984.

USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll

Rank Team Record Points Last

1. Oklahoma (59) 13-0 1,475 1

2. Miami (Fla.) 11-1 1,404 2

3. Washington 11-1 1,336 4

4. Florida State 11-2 1,253 3

5. Oregon State 11-1 1,245 6

6. Virginia Tech 11-1 1,215 5

7. Nebraska 10-2 1,099 8

8. Kansas State 11-3 1,077 9

9. Oregon 10-2 1,009 11

10. Michigan 9-3 901 15

11. Florida 10-3 899 7

12. Texas 9-3 731 12

13. Purdue 8-4 626 14

14. Clemson 9-3 590 13

15. Colorado State 10-2 587 22

16. Notre Dame 9-3 457 10

17. Georgia 8-4 357 24

18. Texas Christian 10-2 341 16

19. Georgia Tech 9-3 335 17

20. Auburn 9-4 325 20

21. South Carolina 8-3 304 21

22. Mississippi State 8-4 272 NR

23. Iowa State 9-3 225 NR

24. Wisconsin 9-4 220 NR

25. Tennessee 8-4 159 21

Dropped out

No. 18 Ohio State (8-4); No. 19 Northwestern (8-4); No. 23 Louisville (9-3); No. 25 Toledo (10-1).

Also receiving votes

Northwestern 116; Toledo 111; Ohio State 101; Louisiana State 84; Southern Mississippi 62; North Carolina State 57; Louisville 54; Air Force 50; East Carolina 35; West Virginia 17; Texas A&M 9; Boise State 8; Marshall 5; Western Michigan 5; Boston College 4; Pittsburgh 4; Fresno State 1.

Associated Press Top 25 Poll


    TEAM                                   PTS   PVS


    ----                                   ---   ---


 1. Oklahoma (71) (13-0)                 1,775     1


 2. Miami Fla (11-1)                     1,690     2


 3. Washington (11-1)                    1,634     4


 4. Oregon St (11-1)                     1,539     5


 5. Florida St (11-2)                    1,488     3


 6. Virginia Tech (11-1)                 1,432     6


 7. Oregon (10-2)                        1,299     8


 8. Nebraska (10-2)                      1,282     9


 9. Kansas St (11-3)                     1,258    11


10. Florida (10-3)                       1,128     7


11. Michigan (9-3)                       1,061    17


12. Texas (9-3)                            894    12


13. Purdue (8-4)                           765    14


14. Colorado St (10-2)                     640    23


15. Notre Dame (9-3)                       611    10


16. Clemson (9-3)                          563    16


17. Georgia Tech (9-3)                     545    15


18. Auburn (9-4)                           498    20


19. South Carolina (8-4)                   486    NR


20. Georgia (8-4)                          430    24


21. TCU (10-2)                             406    13


22. LSU (8-4)                              340    NR


23. Wisconsin (9-4)                        208    NR


24. Mississippi St (8-4)                   197    NR


25. Iowa St (9-3)                          188    NR

Dropped Out: No. 18 Northwestern, No. 19 Ohio St, No. 21 


Tennessee, No. 22 Louisville, No. 25 Toledo

Others Receiving Votes: Tennessee 187, Toledo 173, Northwestern 103, 


Ohio St 62, Louisville 53, So Mississippi 47, Air Force 40, Boise St 24, 


No Carolina St 13, East Carolina 8, Boston College 4, Texas A&M 2, 


Nev Las Vegas 1, West Virginia 1.