Aug. 13, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Released Saturday August 11, the Associated Press has voted Northwestern the 16th-best team in college football, according to its preseason poll.
Although picked to repeat as Big Ten champions in the league's media poll, NU is ranked behind Michigan, which captured a share of the 2000 Big Ten crown with the Wildcats and Purdue. The Wolverines are ranked 12th by pollsters, while Wisconsin (22) and Ohio State (23) round out the Big Ten contingent.
Miami received 33 first-place votes --13 more than the University of Florida -- but the Gators have been tabbed the preseason favorite with 1,716 voting points compared to 1,700 for the Hurricanes. Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas round out the top five.
AP Top 25
1. Florida (20)
2. Miami (33)
3. Oklahoma (10)
4. Nebraska (4)
5. Texas (5)
6. Florida State
7. Oregon
8. Tennessee
9. Virginia Tech
10. Georgia Tech
11. Oregon State
12. Michigan
13. Kansas State
14. LSU
15. Washington
16. Northwestern
17. UCLA
18. Notre Dame
19. Clemson
20. Mississippi State
21. South Carolina
22. Wisconsin
23. Ohio State
24. Colorado State
25. Alabama
() First-place votes