Georgia Tech in 2nd Place in AP’s Poll

Unbeaten and unsung Georgia Tech took a significant step toward a possible national championship today by jumping over Miami and into second place in the Associated Press college football poll.

Although Miami stomped Syracuse 33-7 and Georgia Tech was idle Saturday, the Yellow Jackets rose one spot and the Hurricanes fell one notch to third in the national survey of sports writers and broadcasters.

Tech, which trailed Miami by 11 points in last week’s poll, got six more points than the Hurricanes this week. The Yellow Jackets (9-0-1) received 10 first-place votes and 1,338 points, while the Hurricanes (8-2) got two first-place votes and 1,332 points.

Colorado (10-1-1), which has completed its regular season, remained No. 1 with 41 first-place votes and 1,468 points.

The unexpected shuffling puts Tech in better position to win the national title if Colorado loses to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and the Yellow Jackets beat Georgia and then get past Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl.

Until now, it was assumed that Miami would win the national championship if it beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl and Colorado lost in the Orange. The Hurricanes, who have a game remaining at San Diego State, might still leapfrog over Tech if they both win the rest of their games because fifth-ranked Texas (9-1) is considered a stronger bowl opponent than No. 19 Nebraska (9-2).

But by moving ahead of Miami in the poll, Tech can now claim that it is the logical choice to replace Colorado as the No. 1 team if the Buffaloes lose.

THE TOP 25 The top 25 teams in the AP college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses. 1. Colorado (41) 10-1-1

2. Georgia Tech (10) 9-0-1

3. Miami, Fla. (2) 8-2-0

4. Brigham Young (3) 10-1-0

5. Texas (3) 9-1-0

6. Florida (1) 9-1-0

7. Notre Dame 9-2-0

8. Florida State 8-2-0

9. Washington 9-2-0

10. Penn State 9-2-0

11. Houston 9-1-0

12. Tennessee 7-2-2

13. Michigan 8-3-0

14. Clemson 9-2-0

15. Mississippi 9-2-0

16. Illinois 8-3-0

17. Louisville 9-1-1

18. Iowa 8-3-0

19. Nebraska 9-2-0

20. Auburn 7-2-1

21. USC 8-3-1

22. Oklahoma 8-3-0

23. Michigan State 7-3-1

24. Southern Miss. 8-3-0

25. Ohio State 7-3-1