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But don't be surprised if those positions flop next week and maybe flop back in 2 weeks.
By BRIAN LANDMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2000
TALLAHASSEE -- If the college football season ended today, the Florida State Seminoles would be booking a trip to Miami for the Orange Bowl and the national championship game.
Despite a loss to Miami a month ago, the Seminoles (9-1) on Monday continued their rise in the Bowl Championship Series standings. FSU is second, behind unbeaten Oklahoma and ahead (barely) of No.3 Miami.
But the Hurricanes (7-1), who knocked off previously undefeated and No. 2 Virginia Tech on Saturday, significantly narrowed the gap between them and FSU. Nebraska is fourth, followed by Florida.
"It makes us very happy," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "It makes you feel like if you win the rest of your games, you've got a great chance of getting in the championship game. ... I couldn't ask for better to be where we are under the circumstances."
Though Bowden said he doesn't fully understand the BCS formula, he knows enough to be apprehensive.
A week ago, FSU jumped from fifth to third, moving ahead of Miami by 2.44 points. In the latest BCS standings, the Hurricanes cut that deficit to 0.39 because of dramatically improving their computer rankings. They are third in three computer polls and fourth in five others. Last week they were ranked fourth by two computers, fifth by two and sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth by the others.
What is particularly galling to Miami fans is the Hurricanes trail FSU despite a 27-24 victory over the Seminoles on Oct. 7. But Washington fans are just as miffed that their Huskies, who beat Miami 34-29 on Sept.9, are No.6 in the BCS ratings. And what about Oregon, which defeated Washington 23-16 on Sept. 30, standing at No. 7 in the BCS? "You have to accept that 80-90 percent of it is totally out of your control," UM coach Butch Davis said. "There's somebody sitting at a computer halfway across the country who thinks he knows about a team's strength of schedule who is arbitrarily giving his vote.
"It's so convoluted."
With FSU playing lowly Wake Forest (1-7) on Saturday, Miami could vault back into the coveted second spot if it defeats Pittsburgh (5-3). Even if that happens, FSU could leapfrog the 'Canes again with a win against Florida on Nov. 18. But the 'Noles would have to sit back and see if Miami could recoup any lost ground with final games against Syracuse and Boston College.
Nebraska isn't out of the title chase, either, with a game against Kansas State on Saturday and a possible rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game. Florida has South Carolina, FSU and a probable Southeastern Conference title game left to enhance its standing.
"If you did not have the BCS right now, here you've got only one undefeated team right now and everybody else has one loss, how are you going to decide?" said Bowden, a longtime opponent of a playoff. "The computer might be the best way."
Jerry Palm, the Chicago-based mathematician who accurately and consistently figures the BCS ratings on his own, said there is a 52 percent chance FSU will maintain its edge on Miami if both teams win their remaining games. "It wouldn't surprise me if Miami never caught Florida State," Palm said.
ALABAMA: Tommy Bowden, speaking to the Birmingham Quarterback Club, called Alabama "one of the top jobs in the country," but the Clemson coach would not say if he has been offered the position or if he is interested. Bowden frequently has been mentioned as a possible contender for the Tide's coaching job. Mike DuBose resigned last week, effective at the end of the season. Bowden said he was talking with Clemson about an extension of his four-year contract. He said Sunday in a conference call that he could reach an agreement within "the next day or so." MICHIGAN STATE: Coach Bobby Williams said he will stay with freshman Jeff Smoker at quarterback for Saturday's game against Purdue, even though Smoker had two crucial turnovers in Saturday's loss to Ohio State.
N.C. STATE: Quarterback Freshman Philip Rivers has a separated right shoulder and may not play Saturday against Duke. Olin Hannum would start if Rivers is unable.
OKLAHOMA STATE: Coach Bob Simmons, whose team has lost six straight, said he will resign after the season, ending his six-year stay.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Lou Holtz said he is not interested in raising his salary. Holtz, whose five-year deal worth more than $600,000 a year runs through 2003, said he wasn't dreaming after the extensions of more than $1-million given to Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and being negotiated by Tommy Bowden. "I haven't talked about a contract. They didn't talk to me about a contract last year," Holtz said.
TEXAS: Quarterback Major Applewhite is out at least one week with a strained right knee. Sophomore Chris Simms will start Saturday at Kansas.
TEXAS A&M: Leading receiver Robert Ferguson could miss Saturday's game against No.1 Oklahoma with a ligament sprain in his left knee and cut to his left hand. "We just don't know at this time what his status will be," coach R.C. Slocum said.
- Information from other news organizations contributed to this report.