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LSU upset leads to Florida tumble in Amway Coaches Poll
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest Amway Coaches Poll.
Ugly and embarrassing losses dropped Florida and Miami (Fla.) out of the top 10 in the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-127, leaving a unique list of programs in tow behind the continued top four of Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Clemson.
Florida cost itself a clear shot at the College Football Playoff with a 37-34 loss to LSU highlighted by a late shoe-throwing penalty that allowed the Tigers to continue on the eventual game-winning drive.
The loss drops the Gators to 8-2 and to No. 13 in the 1-127, down six spots from a week ago. Barring complete anarchy on the final weekend of the regular season, Florida is out of the mix for the national semifinals.
It was even worse for Miami, which met North Carolina with a possible New Year’s Six bowl on the line and turned in one of the worst performances in program history in the 62-26 loss. The Hurricanes allowed a whopping 778 yards of total offense, 554 on the ground. The loss drops Miami 10 spots to No. 20.
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The top four is followed by No. 5 Cincinnati, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 7 Coastal Carolina, No. 8 Indiana and No. 9 Northwestern.
The Bearcats are the best team in the Group of Five. A&M benefits from Florida’s loss, since it leaves the Aggies as the second-best team in the SEC should another spot open up in the playoff race. Coastal Carolina needed a late touchdown to escape Troy but moves up one spot as the lone 11-0 team in the Bowl Subdivision. And the Hoosiers and Wildcats are in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl should Ohio State reach the semifinals.
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