Miami tops AP preseason rankings

By Richard Rosenblatt
Associated Press

No. 1 in the postseason. No. 1 in the preseason.

Little has changed for the Miami Hurricanes since winning the national championship with a 12-0 record at the Rose Bowl earlier this year.

They're atop the rankings in The Associated Press preseason poll released yesterday, hoping to become the first team to repeat as champions since Nebraska in 1994-95.

Despite the return of only 10 starters, Miami edged Oklahoma for the top spot by 14 points in voting by the 74 sports writers and broadcasters on The Associated Press panel.

Miami had 27 first-place votes and 1,746 points to Oklahoma's 21 first-place votes and 1,732 points.

"Being voted No. 1 is always a great honor," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "Having the media recognize our program and our returning players as the preseason No. 1 team not only acknowledges our potential but also gives us another reason to try and repeat as national champions."

Boise State and Fresno State received votes in the poll. Hawai'i did not.

See poll results in For the Record.