The Florida Gators finished the 2009 college football season ranked No. 3 behind national champion Alabama and Texas. Alabama completed a 14-0 season with a 37-21 victory over Texas (13-1) in the Citi BCS National Championship Game Thursday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Gators (13-1) moved up to third following their season-ending 51-24 victory over previously unbeaten Cincinnati in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
In the Associated Press media poll, the Crimson Tide received all 60 first-place votes and finished with 1,500 points. Texas was second with 1,399 points, 29 more than the Gators. Boise State, which finished the season 14-0 after a 17-10 victory over previously unbeaten and No. 3 Texas Christian in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, was fourth, four points behind the Gators. Ohio State (11-2) was fifth with 1,224 points following its 26-17 victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
In the final USA Today/ESPN poll of 58 members of the American Football Coaches Association, the Crimson Tide again were the unanimous choice and finished with 1,450 points. Texas finished second with 1,360 points, 37 points ahead of the Gators (1,323). Boise State was fourth with 1,312 points and Ohio State was fifth with 1,190.
Here are some interesting notes provided by the Florida sports information department:
● Florida finished third in the final 2009 Associated Press Poll.
● Florida is the only school in the nation to finish in the top three of the AP polls in three of the last four seasons.
● Florida is the first SEC team in 30 years to post three top three AP finishes in a four-year span and is one of only two schools in the SEC to ever pull off the feat.
● Urban Meyer boasts four top four AP finishes in the past six years.
● Florida’s has finished in the top three of the final AP Polls seven times in school history and three of them of have come under Urban Meyer.
● Florida has finished in the top five of the AP Poll in nine of the last 16 seasons.
ASSOCIATED PRESS (Media)
For the final rankings, click below:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings?poll=1&week=1&seasontype=3
USA TODAY/ESPN (American Football Coaches Association)
For the final rankings, click below:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm