Top 25 polls: UCF drops after dramatic win, FSU remains No. 2

Miami Hurricanes tumble out of poll after third consecutive loss

November 17, 2013|By Iliana Limón Romero, Orlando Sentinel

UCF dropped in both major polls following its dramatic come-back win over struggling Temple.

The Knights moved down one spot to No. 20 in the USA Today coaches' poll, while FSU remained No. 2 and continued its battle for a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

The Seminoles earned six first-place votes and 1,487 total points in the coaches' poll released Sunday. The poll is one of many factors used to calculate BCS standings that determine coveted BCS game invitations.

Ohio State was No. 3 with 1,404 points and Baylor was No. 4 with 1,386 points. Alabama is still No. 1, earning 56 first-place votes and 1,544 total points.

UCF scored 10 points in the final two minutes, including an acrobatic catch by J.J. Worton, to earn a 39-36 win over Temple. The Knights improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference, while Temple fell to 1-9 overall and 0-6 in AAC play.

While Worton's catch was one of the top plays of the day in college football Saturday, it appears voters were bothered it took such an effort to beat the Owls.

Louisville, a team UCF beat, is still ranked ahead of the Knights in the coaches' poll. The Cardinals dropped two spots to No. 15.

The coaches' poll snub may actually be good news for the Knights.

Fresno State is ranked ahead of UCF at No. 16 in the coaches' poll, while Northern Illinois is ranked No. 21. If Fresno State or NIU is ahead of UCF in the final BCS standings, they'll likely go to the Fiesta Bowl. If UCF won the American Athletic Conference title, it would get a preferable BCS game bid closer to home -- most likely the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. 

The latest BCS standings will be announced at 8:30 tonight on ESPN.

The Associated Press poll, which was released Sunday, isn't factored in the BCS standings.

FSU earned five first-place votes and was ranked No. 2 behind Alabama.

Baylor jumped ahead of Ohio State, with the Bears checking in at No. 3 and the Buckeyes at No. 4 in the poll.

UCF dropped two spots to No. 17 in the AP poll. Its previous mark, No. 15, was the highest ranking in school history. 

The Miami Hurricanes, who suffered their third consecutive loss, dropped out of both poll. Duke, the team that beat UM, could face off with FSU ACC title game. The Blue Devils were ranked No. 24 in the coaches' poll and No. 25 in the AP poll. 

Here is the full coaches' poll:

1. Alabama

2. FSU

3. Ohio State

4. Baylor

5. Oregon

6. Clemson

7. Auburn

8. Missouri

9. Oklahoma State

10. Texas A&M

11. South Carolina

12. Stanford

13. Michigan State

14. UCLA

15. Louisville

16. Fresno State

17. Wisconsin

18. Oklahoma

19. LSU

20. UCF

21. NIU

22. Arizona State

23. Minnesota

24. Duke

25. USC 

Here is the full AP poll:

1. Alabama

2. FSU

3. Baylor

4. Ohio State

5. Oregon

6. Auburn

7. Clemson

8. Missouri

9. Texas A&M

10. Stanford

11. Oklahoma State

12. South Carolina

13. Michigan State

14. UCLA

15. Fresno State

16. Wisconsin

17. UCF

18. LSU

19. Arizona State

20. NIU

21. Louisville

22. Oklahoma

23. USC

24. Ole Miss

25. Duke

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