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1999: AP preseason, postseason college football rankings
Best climber: Virginia Tech, No. 13 to No. 2
Everyone knew the Hokies had a fabulous defense and crazy-good special teams ... but what about that redshirt freshman quarterback? Well, Michael Vick quickly became the hottest thing in college football, taking unbeaten Tech to the national title Sugar Bowl, where they out-gained Florida State 503-359 ... and lost, 46-29. Two more big surges: Michigan State (No. 7) and Marshall (No. 10) soared from the ranks of the unranked into the Top 10 by season's end.
Taking a dive: Arizona, No. 4 to unranked
The success of the previous season had some thinking national title for the 'Cats, but they only thing they lived up to was their history of flopping when burdened with high expectations. This time, Arizona never recovered from a season-opening 41-7 knockout at Penn State, finishing with a 6-6 record.
| Preseason |
Postseason |
| Rank |
Team |
Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
Florida State |
1. |
Florida State |
| 2. |
Tennessee |
2. |
Virginia Tech |
| 3. |
Penn State |
3. |
Nebraska |
| 4. |
Arizona |
4. |
Wisconsin |
| 5. |
Florida |
5. |
Michigan |
| 6. |
Nebraska |
6. |
Kansas State |
| 7. |
Texas A&M |
7. |
Michigan State |
| 8. |
Michigan |
8. |
Alabama |
| 9. |
Ohio State |
9. |
Tennessee |
| 10. |
Wisconsin |
10. |
Marshall |
| 11. |
Georgia Tech |
11. |
Penn State |
| 12. |
Miami |
12. |
Florida |
| 13. |
Virginia Tech |
13. |
Mississippi St. |
| 14. |
Georgia |
14. |
Southern Miss |
| 15. |
Colorado |
15. |
Miami |
| 16. |
UCLA |
16. |
Georgia |
| 17. |
Texas |
17. |
Arkansas |
| 18. |
Notre Dame |
18. |
Minnesota |
| 19. |
USC |
19. |
Oregon |
| 20. |
Kansas State |
20. |
Georgia Tech |
| 21. |
Alabama |
21. |
Texas |
| 22. |
Arkansas |
22. |
Mississippi |
| 23. |
Purdue |
23. |
Texas A&M |
| 24. |
Virginia |
24. |
Illinois |
| 25. |
Arizona State |
25. |
Purdue |
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