Tigers Back in Top 25 Poll

by CU Athletic Communications - Sun Nov 20 16:00:49 GMT-04:00 2005

CLEMSON -- By virtue of its second consecutive victory over a top 20 team, Clemson has moved back into the Associated Press top 25 this week. The Tigers defeated then #17 Florida State on Nov. 12 by a 35-14 score, then defeated #19 South Carolina on Saturday evening by a 13-9 score.

Clemson is ranked 25th in the latest poll, Clemson's first appearance in the top 25 since the September 11, 2005 poll when the Tigers were 20th after opening wins against Texas A&M and Maryland. This is actually the third week Clemson has been ranked in the AP top 25 this year. Clemson was 25th in AP after the season opening victory over 17th ranked Texas A&M.

Clemson and Michigan are the only four-loss teams in the AP top 25 this week. Clemson has finished the regular season with a 7-4 record, as have the Wolverines. All four of Clemson's losses this year have been by six points or less, including a triple overtime loss to current 10th ranked Miami (FL) and an overtime loss to current #21 Boston College. Clemson's four losses are by a combined 14 points. Tommy Bowden's team has won five of its last six games.

Clemson is one of nine teams in the nation who have not lost at least one game by seven points or more this year. The others are Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, Michigan, Miami (FL), LSU and Georgia.

When Clemson defeated the 19th ranked Gamecocks on Saturday it gave Clemson consecutive wins over top 20 teams for just the third time in school history. The Tigers also did it in 1982 and 1983 when they defeated top 20 teams from North Carolina and Maryland each year.

Clemson now has three wins over top 20 AP teams this year, the first time Clemson has done that since 1989 and just the third time in school history Clemson has beaten three top 20 teams. The 1981 National Championship team had three wins over top 10 Associated Press teams.

The win over South Carolina gave Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst seven wins over top 25 teams in his career, tying him with Rodney Williams for the Clemson record for a starting quarterback.

AP Poll

RK TEAM REC PTS LAST

1 Southern Cal (50) 11-0 1586 1

2 Texas (14) 10-0 1550 2

3 LSU 9-1 1449 4

4 Penn St. 10-1 1390 5

5 Virginia Tech 9-1 1283 7

6 Notre Dame 8-2 1281 6

7 Ohio St. 9-2 1249 9

8 Oregon 10-1 1107 10

9 Auburn 9-2 1101 11

10 Miami 8-2 981 3

11 UCLA 9-1 932 12

12 West Virginia 8-1 862 13

13 Georgia 8-2 857 14

14 Alabama 9-2 723 8

15 TCU 10-1 722 15

16 Fresno St. 8-2 663 16

17 Louisville 7-2 522 18

18 Texas Tech 9-2 448 21

19 Florida 7-3 384 20

20 Georgia Tech 7-3 347 NR

21 Boston College 8-3 319 23

22 Michigan 7-4 235 17

23 Florida St. 7-3 214 22

24 Wisconsin 8-3 160 25

25 Clemson 7-4 141 NR

Others receiving votes:

Iowa St. 100, Iowa 57, South Carolina 45, Colorado 24, South Florida 22,

UCF 12, Oklahoma 10, Minnesota 9, UTEP 6, California 5, Boise St. 2, Northwestern 2.

USA Today Coaches' Poll

Rk Team Rec Pts Last

1. Southern Cal (49) 11-0 1,536 1

2. Texas (13) 10-0 1,501 2

3. LSU 9-1 1,415 4

4. Penn State 10-1 1,344 5

5. Virginia Tech 9-1 1,277 6

6. Notre Dame 8-2 1,185 7

7. Ohio State 9-2 1,137 9

8. Oregon 10-1 1,102 10

9. Auburn 9-2 1,025 12

10. Miami (Fla.) 8-2 990 3

11. UCLA 9-1 970 11

12. West Virginia 8-1 881 13

13. Georgia 8-2 797 14

14. Alabama 9-2 727 8

15. TCU 10-1 704 15

16. Fresno State 8-2 543 16

17. Texas Tech 9-2 525 19

18. Louisville 7-2 520 18

19. Florida 7-3 383 20

20. Boston College 8-3 345 23

21. Florida State 7-3 341 22

22. Wisconsin 8-3 218 24

23. Michigan 7-4 158 17

24. Georgia Tech 7-3 149 NR

25. Iowa State 7-3 135 NR

Dropped out

No. 21 South Carolina (7-4, lost to Clemson 13-9), No. 25 Texas-El Paso (8-2, lost to UAB 35-23).

Others receiving votes

Clemson (7-4) 76; Colorado (7-3) 39; Iowa (7-4) 36; South Carolina (7-4) 20; Central Florida (8-3) 18; Texas-El Paso (8-2) 10; Boise State (8-3) 9; Northwestern (7-4) 9; Oklahoma (6-4) 9; South Florida (6-3) 8; California (7-4) 6; Minnesota (7-4) 2.