Oklahoma's No. 1 in the AP Poll

A shaky win by Miami against one of the worst teams in the country became a big loss Sunday _ the Hurricanes are out as No. 1. <br><br>Oklahoma replaced Miami as the top team in The Associated Press media

Sunday, November 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A shaky win by Miami against one of the worst teams in the country became a big loss Sunday _ the Hurricanes are out as No. 1.

Oklahoma replaced Miami as the top team in The Associated Press media poll, ending the Hurricanes' record run of 21 consecutive polls at No. 1.

Miami improved to 8-0 with a 42-17 win over Rutgers (1-8), but trailed by three points entering the fourth quarter. Oklahoma moved to 8-0 with a dominating 27-11 win over Colorado (6-3), ranked No. 13 before the game.

Miami takes over the No. 2 spot formerly held by Oklahoma.

The defending national champion Hurricanes easily retained their No. 1 spot in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll. The split No. 1s, plus Saturday losses by four previously unbeaten teams, could create a shake-up in the Bowl Championship Series standings to be released Monday.

The BCS rankings will keep Oklahoma first, but it's too close to call for second between Miami and Ohio State (10-0), which jumped from No. 6 to No. 3 in the AP poll. The top two teams in the final BCS standings on Dec. 8 play for a national title in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.

Oklahoma, the 2000 national champions, moved ahead of the defending national champion Hurricanes by 14 points in balloting by the 74 sports writers and broadcasters on the AP panel.

The Sooners, a co-No. 1 with Miami in the first regular-season poll, received 42 first-place votes and 1,818 points, to Miami's 32 first-place votes and 1,804 points. Oklahoma picked up 28 first place-votes from a week ago _ 27 from Miami and one from Notre Dame, which fell to No. 9 from No. 4 after a 14-7 loss to Boston College.

Winning and falling from No. 1 doesn't happened often, but it occurred last year _ to Miami. After No. 1 Miami defeated Troy State 38-7 and Florida beat No. 18 LSU 44-15, the Gators moved to the top spot but lost the next week.

Ohio State was the biggest beneficiary of first losses by Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Georgia, ranked 3-4-5, respectively, last week.

The Bulldogs (8-1) fell two spots to No. 7 after a 20-13 loss to Florida; the Hokies (8-1) dropped five spots to No. 8 after a 28-21 loss to Pittsburgh; and the Fighting Irish (8-1) also tumbled five places, to No. 9.

Four teams remain unbeaten _ the top three of Oklahoma, Miami and Ohio State and No. 21 Bowling Green.

Texas, a 27-24 winner over Nebraska, moved up three places to No. 4, followed by Washington State, Iowa, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Southern California.

North Carolina State (9-1) lost to Georgia Tech 24-17 and dropped four spots to No. 14.

Minnesota, 34-3 losers to Ohio State, and Tennessee fell out of the Top 25, while this week's newcomers are Pittsburgh at No. 22 and Florida at No. 23.