Idle Tide ebbs at No. 3 in AP poll

• By RALPH D. RUSSO
• AP college football writer
• Published: Nov 2, 2009

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NEW YORK — Texas is back to No. 2 in the AP college football poll.

The Longhorns jumped Alabama and landed right behind top-ranked Florida on Sunday, a day after winning 41-14 at Oklahoma State in their best performance of the season.

Florida, No. 1 for all but one week this season, received 38 first-place votes after a 41-17 victory over Georgia.

The Longhorns started the season ranked second, but have been No. 3 behind the Gators and Crimson Tide the last three weeks. Texas received 13 first-place votes from the media panel. Many voters were swayed by the ease with which Longhorns handled Oklahoma State.

Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer jumped Texas from No. 3 to No. 1, past both Florida and Alabama.

“The Longhorns haven’t had the same type of struggles that Florida and Alabama have experienced in some down-to-the-wire games, and a blowout win over their toughest opponent of the season finally added some heft to the Longhorns’ schedule,” he said. “But I still think Texas, Florida and Alabama are separated by very little at the top.”

Alabama, which spent a week at No. 1, slipped to No. 3 during an off week. The Crimson Tide received eight first-place votes.

“Pretty easy decision for me: Texas is simply a more complete team than Alabama right now,” said Craig James of ABC.

No. 7 Oregon moved up three spots after pounding Southern California 47-20 to take control of the Pac-10 race.

No. 9 LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama in Saturday’s biggest game.