Alabama moves ahead of Texas

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Bradford gains from loss

It's possible to win the Heisman Trophy without being the No. 1 pick by all, or even most, of the voters.

That could be where this season's race is heading after Oklahoma's easy win over Texas Tech last weekend in Norman. The 65-21 final score was so overwhelming that it may have eroded the support base for Red Raiders' quarterback Graham Harrell. A solid choice by our panel of McClatchy Newspapers voters entering the game, Harrell virtually slipped out of slight.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who sparked the rout, benefitted directly. Among our nine panelists, Bradford this week drew four first-place votes and four second places. Each Heisman voter is asked to choose three players in a priority order. A first-place vote is good for three points, a second-place votes adds two points and third-places are good for one point each.

Gators chosen No. 1

As Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators prepare to make a run at their third national title in the last four seasons, the defending champions have already made some history.

Florida is No. 1 in The Associated Press' preseason Top 25 released Saturday, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Southern California and Alabama. But the Gators are in a class by themselves, the most overwhelming preseason No. 1 in the history of the media poll.

Florida received 58 of the 60 first-place votes, or 96.7 percent. Texas got the other first-place votes.

Heels ranked 20th in USA Today poll

North Carolina has opened the preseason at No. 20 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, which was released this morning.

The Tar Heels are one of four ACC teams ranked in the top 25, three of which are from the Coastal Division. Virginia Tech (No. 7) and Georgia Tech (No. 15) also are ranked in the Coastal.

Florida State (No. 19) is the only team ranked from the Atlantic Division. Defending national champion Florida is No. 1, followed by Texas, Oklahoma, Southern California and Alabama.

Bama replaces Gators atop the AP poll

Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 17, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

AP Top 25

Seven still unbeaten

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 31, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

Team