The Southeastern Conference title could have a national championship feel when Alabama faces Florida in the Georgia Dome in two weeks.
No. 1 vs. No. 2, a month before the BCS national championship game is played.
The Gators moved up to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, a spot behind the top-ranked Crimson Tide.
In the USA Today coaches’ poll, which is a factor in the BCS standings, Oklahoma is No. 2, followed by Florida at No. 3 and Texas at No. 4.
If Florida can win its regular-season finale at Florida State, and Alabama can do the same against Auburn, the SEC will sport the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in a conference title game — with the winner likely off to another 1-2 game in Miami for the BCS championship.
Meanwhile, in the Big 12, Oklahoma moved up two spots to No. 3, barely slipping past Big 12 rival and No. 4 Texas after the Sooners’ resounding 65-21 victory against Texas Tech on Saturday night.
The Red Raiders tumbled five spots to No. 7 after their first loss of the season.
Southern California moved up one spot to No. 5 and Penn State got a bump to No. 6.
Alabama, the only remaining unbeaten team from the six BCS conferences, received 63 of a possible 65 first-place votes and 1,622 points from the AP’s media panel. Florida received the other first-place votes and 1,512 points.
The Tide and the Gators are the 17th set of conference rivals to hold the top two spots in the poll.
The last time it happened was the end of last season, when LSU and Georgia, also of the SEC, did it.
Ohio State and Michigan from the Big Ten were the last conference rivals to do it during the regular season. The Buckeyes and Wolverines were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, for six weeks in 2006.
In the latest poll, Oklahoma (10-1) received 1,486 points and Texas (10-1) had 1,482, even though the Longhorns handed the Sooners their only loss of the season, 45-35 in October at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Texas’ only loss was to Texas Tech (10-1), 39-33 on a last-second touchdown in Lubbock.
Unbeaten Utah was No. 8 after finishing off its regular season and virtually locked up a Bowl Championship Series with a 48-24 victory over rival BYU.
No. 9 Boise State also stayed unbeaten, but will likely be shut out of the BCS because of Utah.
Ohio State rounds out the top 10.
No. 11 Oklahoma State gets another shot to turn the national championship race upside down Saturday. The Cowboys host Oklahoma. Oklahoma State is already 0-2 against the Big 12’s Big Three, having lost at Texas and Texas Tech.
No. 12 Missouri gives the Big 12 five of the first 12 teams in the poll. The Tigers have already locked up the North Division and will play the team that emerges as the champ of the South in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 6 in Kansas City, Mo.
Georgia is No. 13, followed by TCU and Ball State, the fourth major college football unbeaten team.
No. 16 Cincinnati is a victory away from locking up its first Big East title and BCS berth. The Bearcats host Syracuse on Saturday.
No. 17 Oregon State can also secure a BCS bid and the Pac-10’s Rose Bowl berth with a victory in its finale. The Beavers host No. 19 Oregon.
No. 18 Georgia Tech is still in the running for a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, but needs Virginia Tech to lose to Virginia for that to happen.
BYU and Boston College are tied at No. 20. BC can advance to the ACC title game by beating Maryland.
Michigan State slipped five spots to No. 22 after losing 49-18 to Penn State.
Florida State, which has bounced in and out of the poll much of the season, is back in at No. 23.
No. 24 Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi are in the ranking for the first time this season.
Dropping out this week were North Carolina, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh and defending national champion LSU.
Credit: Associated Press
