CHICAGO -- The college football polls have gotten so absurd, it's come down to this: One of the top coaches actually praised the media's intelligence yesterday while questioning the wisdom his fraternity.
"I'm starting to think the writers know what they're talking about," Miami coach Dennis Erickson said.
Erickson's perspective hardly can be faulted. Despite the Hurricanes' 39-12 victory over San Diego State on Saturday, Miami, which owned a three-point lead last week, lost sole possession of its top ranking in the USA Today/CNN coaches poll.
The panel of 59 coaches elevated No. 2 Washington (11-0) into a first-place tie with Miami, each with 1,443 points. The Hurricanes still have more first-place votes, 31-28.
The Associated Press media poll went more according to form. The Hurricanes lost only half a first-place vote from last week, as one voter who split his ballot finally made up his mind. Miami remains on top, holding a 37-23 edge over Washington in first-place votes.
One AP voter didn't have Miami in his top three.
With Washington playing No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl and Miami playing No. 11 Nebraska in the Federal Express Orange Bowl, there's a good chance the polls will be split for the second straight year if Washington wins big. In the eyes of some voters, any victory over Nebraska probably will be downgraded because Miami is playing at home.
The final polls will be released Jan. 2 after the bowl games.
Scores, schedule
THURSDAY
East
Penn St. 32, Pittsburgh 20
South
Alabama St. 62, Johnson C. Smith 6
Presbyterian 32, Newberry 17
Southwest
Texas A&M; 31, Texas 14
FRIDAY
Midwest
Nebraska 19, Oklahoma 14
SATURDAY
East
Dayton 28, Allegheny 25, OT
Indiana, Pa. 52, Shippensburg 7
Ithaca 35, Union, N.Y. 23
James Madison 42, Delaware 35, 2OT
Samford 29, New Hampshire 13
Susquehanna 31, Lycoming 24
South
Alabama 13, Auburn 6
E. Kentucky 14, Appalachian St. 3
Florida 14, Florida St. 9
Florida A&M; 46, Bethune-Cookman 28
Georgia 18, Georgia Tech 15
Jacksonville St. 35, Mississippi Col. 7
Marshall 20, W. Illinois 17, OT
Miami 39, San Diego St. 12
Middle Tenn. 20, Sam Houston St. 19, OT
Southern U. 31, Grambling St. 30
Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 0
Midwest
N. Iowa 38, Weber St. 21
Pittsburg St. 38, E. Texas St. 28
St. John's, Minn. 29, Wis.-LaCrosse 10
Youngstown St. 17, Villanova 16
Southwest
Texas Tech 52, Houston 46
Tulsa 31, Southern Meth. 26
West
Nevada 22, McNeese St. 16
Notre Dame 48, Hawaii 42
Portland St. 37, Mankato St. 27
Tournaments
NCAA Division II
Quarterfinals
Pittsburg St. 38, E. Texas St. 28
SATURDAY
State
Army vs. Navy at Philadelphia, 1:30 p.m.
YESTERDAY
South
Clemson 33, Duke 21
AP top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Saturday, total points (based on 25 points for a first-place vote through 1 point for a 25th-place vote) and previous ranking:
No. School......... Record... Pts. ... Pre.
1. Miami (37)...... 11-0-0... 1,475...... 1
2. Wash. (23)...... 11-0-0... 1,461...... 2
3. Florida......... 10-1-0... 1,358...... 5
4. Michigan........ 10-1-0... 1,333...... 4
5. Fla. State...... 10-2-0... 1,180...... 3
6. Penn State...... 10-2-0... 1,177...... 6
7. Iowa..... ...... 10-1-0... 1,100...... 7
8. Alabama......... 10-1-0... 1,087...... 8
9. Texas A&M.......; 10-1-0... 1,018..... 10
10. Tennessee....... 9-2-0... 1,000...... 9
11. Nebraska........ 9-1-1..... 955..... 11
12. East Carolina.. 10-1-0..... 786..... 12
13. Clemson......... 9-1-1..... 763..... 13
14. California...... 9-2-0..... 712..... 14
15. Colorado........ 8-2-1..... 602..... 15
16. Syracuse........ 9-2-0..... 591..... 16
17. Stanford........ 8-3-0..... 575..... 17
18. Notre Dame...... 9-3-0..... 517..... 18
19. Virginia........ 8-2-1..... 460..... 20
20. Oklahoma........ 8-3-0..... 268..... 19
21. N.C. State...... 9-2-0..... 217..... 21
22. UCLA..... ...... 8-3-0..... 195..... 23
23. Tulsa.... ...... 9-2-0..... 172..... 22
24. Georgia......... 8-3-0..... 161..... 25
25. Ohio State...... 8-3-0..... 129..... 24
Others receiving votes: Brigham Young 91, Baylor 77, Mississippi State 20, Fresno State 9, Bowling Green 5, San Diego State 4, Air Force 1, Kansas State 1.