4-5-2011 Bama Retains NFCA Top Ranking

Alabama Still No. 1 In Latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
April 4, 2011

STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the third week in a row, Alabama is the No. 1 team in the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll, according to a release issued by the Association on Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide (37-2) put together their second consecutive SEC sweep last week by taking three games on the road at South Carolina, while also winning a mid-week contest at the College of Charleston. 

Alabama garnered 29 of the 30 first-place votes this week, while No. 3 Arizona State (35-3) picked-up the remaining top vote.  Georgia (32-4) remained second this week, while Michigan (33-3) dropped one spot to fourth and Texas (31-3) moved up three places from eighth to round out the top five.  This week’s ranking of the Longhorns marks their first appearance in the top five since being ranked second in the last regular season poll of 2006.

After sweeping then 20^th-ranked Hawai‘i last week, Fresno State became the only new entrant into the rankings weeks.  The Bulldogs (22-8) returned to the poll at 23^rd this week after a four-week absence, pushing Hawai‘i (25-12) out of the Top 25 for the first time this season in the process.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records as of Apr. 3, 2011 are shown, first-place votes are in parentheses.

Dropped Out: No. 20 Hawai‘i

Others Receiving Votes: Notre Dame 17, Hawai‘i 16, LSU 9, Louisville 9, Pacific (CA) 5, East Carolina 4, Tulsa 2, Long Beach St. 1