Final Associated Press Poll
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Sports Network) - Alabama, by virtue of its 37-21 win over Texas Thursday night in the BCS national championship game, was a unanimous pick for the No. 1 spot in the final Associated Press college football poll.
The Crimson Tide (14-0), who garnered their first national championship since
1992, received all 60 first place votes for a 1,500-point total from a
national media panel.
"I think most of us don't realize how difficult it is, the togetherness that
it takes, the discipline and execution that it takes, and certainly the hard
work that these guys did," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "And we certainly
appreciate it and are proud of them and want to congratulate every member of
our team and coaching staff for the great coaching that they did."
Boise State (14-0) was the only other unbeaten team in the nation and finished
fourth in the poll with a total of 1,366 points, just four behind Florida
(13-1).
The Broncos, who had their best-ever finish in the AP rankings, beat TCU in
the Fiesta Bowl. Florida, which lost to Alabama in the SEC title game and was
last year's champion, throttled Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.
Texas (13-1) finished in second place with 1,399 points, staying in the second
spot from the previous poll.
Ohio State (11-2), which beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl, moved up three slots to
fifth.
TCU (12-1) fell from third to sixth, while Iowa (11-2) gained three spots to
seventh. The Hawkeyes toppled Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
Cincinnati (12-1) slid four spots to eighth, followed by Penn State (11-2) and
Virginia Tech (10-3). The Nittany Lions, who will face Alabama next season,
advanced two slots thanks to a victory over LSU at the Capital One Bowl. The
Hokies moved up two positions after a bowl win over Tennessee.
The second ten consists of Oregon, BYU, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Pittsburgh,
Wisconsin, LSU, Utah, Miami-Florida and Ole Miss. The final five teams in the
poll were Texas Tech, USC, Central Michigan, Clemson and West Virginia.