Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 14, 1994 TAG: 9411150071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies, coming off Saturday's 41-34 victory over Rutgers, continued to climb back up The Associated Press poll by jumping two positions to No.14 on Sunday. The Hokies have been ranked as high as No.13 by The AP.
Tech (8-2) advanced one spot in the USA Today-CNN coaches' poll to No.11.
Virginia (7-2) also moved up, leaping five positions to No.15 in The AP poll and moving four spots to No.14 in the coaches' poll.
When the teams meet in Blacksburg Saturday at noon (WSLS Channel 10), it will be the highest both teams have been ranked when they have played. Last year, the first time both teams were ranked when they met, Tech was No.23 in the coaches' poll and No.25 in The AP poll. Virginia was No.22 in the coaches' poll and No.23 in The AP voting.
In the race for No.1, top-ranked Nebraska maintained its lead over No.2 Penn State, and Alabama climbed to No.4 in the AP poll.
The Cornhuskers topped the Nittany Lions 39-23 in first-place votes and hold an overall lead of 18 points in the media poll, the same margin as last week. Nebraska and Penn State also are 1-2 in the USA Today-CNN coaches' poll.
Both teams remained unbeaten Saturday, although neither had an easy time. Nebraska (11-0) needed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away from winless Iowa State 28-12. Penn State (9-0) overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Illinois 35-31.
The victories clinched an Orange Bowl berth for Nebraska and a Rose Bowl trip for Penn State, so they won't meet for the national championship.
Florida moved up one spot to No.3 and Alabama jumped two places to No.4, the Tide's highest ranking this season. The teams will meet in the Southeastern Conference championship game at Atlanta Dec.3.
The Gators (8-1) clinched the SEC East title with a 48-17 victory over South Carolina. The Tide (10-0) won the SEC West by beating Mississippi State 29-25.
Miami (8-1) stayed No.5 following a sloppy 17-12 win over Pittsburgh, and Auburn (9-0-1) fell three spots to No.6 after a 23-23 tie with Georgia that ended the Tigers' 20-game winning streak. Auburn plays Alabama at Birmingham Saturday.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Colorado (9-1), Florida State (8-1), Texas A&M (9-0-1) and Colorado State (9-1).
Colorado beat Kansas 51-26, Florida State downed Notre Dame 23-16, Texas A&M defeated Louisville 26-10, and Colorado State beat Arkansas State 48-3.
Kansas State was 11th, followed by Oregon, Southern California, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Virginia, Boston College, Washington, Arizona, BYU, Utah, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Duke and North Carolina State.
Ohio State and North Carolina State moved into the Top 25, while Syracuse and Washington State dropped out.
by CNB