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1994: AP preseason, postseason college football rankings
Best climber: Utah, unranked to No. 10
The Utes put together the best season in Ron McBride's tenure, combining a typically high-scoring WAC offense (36.4 points per game) with a stout defense led by tackle Luther Elliss. They capped a 10-2 season with an odd game in what would be the last Freedom Bowl -- Utah gained only 75 yards, but still beat Sports Illustrated's preseason No. 1, Arizona, 16-13.
Taking a dive: Notre Dame, No. 2 to unranked
This was the beginning of the ballyhooed Ron Powlus era -- hey, wasn't he going to win two Heismans? -- but Powlus fell short of greatness and Lou Holtz's magic at ND was wearing off. The Irish won only twice after Oct. 1, finishing 6-5-1 after being shredded by Kordell Stewart in a 41-24 Fiesta Bowl loss to Colorado.
| Preseason |
Postseason |
| Rank |
Team |
Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
Florida |
1. |
Nebraska |
| 2. |
Notre Dame |
2. |
Penn State |
| 3. |
Florida State |
3. |
Colorado |
| 4. |
Nebraska |
4. |
Florida State |
| 5. |
Michigan |
5. |
Alabama |
| 6. |
Miami |
6. |
Miami |
| 7. |
Arizona |
7. |
Florida |
| 8. |
Colorado |
8. |
Texas A&M |
| 9. |
Penn State |
9. |
Auburn |
| 10. |
Wisconsin |
10. |
Utah |
| 11. |
Auburn |
11. |
Oregon |
| 12. |
Alabama |
12. |
Michigan |
| 13. |
Tennessee |
13. |
USC |
| 14. |
UCLA |
14. |
Ohio State |
| 15. |
Texas A&M |
15. |
Virginia |
| 16. |
Oklahoma |
16. |
Colorado State |
| 17. |
USC |
17. |
N.C. State |
| 18. |
Texas |
18. |
Brigham Young |
| 19. |
North Carolina |
19. |
Kansas State |
| 20. |
Ohio State |
20. |
Arizona |
| 21. |
Illinois |
21. |
Washington State |
| 22. |
Virginia Tech |
22. |
Tennessee |
| 23. |
Washington |
23. |
Boston College |
| 24. |
West Virginia |
24. |
Mississippi State |
| 25. |
Clemson |
25. |
Texas |
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