Florida clinches top spot in final AP Poll

Jan 9, 2009 - 8:19 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Urban Meyer believes Florida is the undisputed national champion. The majority of the Associated Press agrees with the Gators' coach.

Florida received the top spot in the AP's final college football poll, which was released early Friday morning hours after the Gators secured a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in the BCS championship game.

The Gators also received the No. 1 ranking in this season's latest ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, which was also released early Friday morning.

"We're going to enjoy the national championship," said Meyer following his team's victory over the Sooners. "Let someone else worry about (the rankings). The Gators are No. 1."

Florida (13-1) moved to the top of the poll by receiving 48-of-65 first-place votes.

After completing the only undefeated season in FBS with a 31-17 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last Friday, Utah (13-0) received 16 first-place votes, finishing second in the rankings with 1,519 points, 87 behind the Gators.

Southern California (12-1) also received a first-place vote after throttling Penn State in the Rose Bowl and took third in the rankings with 1,481 points.

The Trojans finished just three points ahead of fourth-ranked Texas (12-1), which rallied for a 24-21 victory over Ohio State in Monday's Fiesta Bowl.

After losing its fifth straight BCS bowl game, Oklahoma (12-2) fell to fifth in the final poll, followed by the Crimson Tide.

TCU (11-2), which defeated then-unbeaten Boise State in last month's Poinsettia Bowl, climbed four spots to seventh. Penn State (11-2), Ohio State (10-3) and Oregon (10-3) rounded out the top 10.

Boise State (12-1) dropped two spots to 11th, followed by Texas Tech (11-2), Georgia (10-3), Mississippi (9-4), Orange Bowl champion Virginia Tech (10-4), Oklahoma State (9-4), Cincinnati (11-3), Oregon State (9-4) and Missouri (10-4).

After being previously unranked, Iowa (9-4) finished 20th while Florida State (9-4) and Georgia Tech (9-4) were 21st and 22nd, respectively.

West Virginia (9-4) entered the poll at 23rd and Michigan State (9-4) and Brigham Young (10-3) rounded out the final rankings.