LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Florida State extended its undefeated streak to 26 games and kept its hold on the No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The Seminoles (35-1-1) earned 20 first-place votes and 781 points to finish 15 points ahead of undefeated Oregon, who picked up eight first-place votes and 766 points. FSU brought its winning streak to 21 games with a three-game home ACC sweep of Pittsburgh. The Seminole defeated the Panthers, 14-3, 12-4 and 5-0 to win their 38th consecutive league series
The Ducks (33-0) continued their record-setting start with four more wins last week, leapfrogging Florida for the No. 2 spot. Having already shattered its program-record of 18 straight victories, Oregon won four more contests last week, three via shutout. The Ducks edged then-No. 25 BYU, 1-0 before sweeping Pac-12 foe and then-No. 21 Arizona State (4-0, 8-4, 1-0 8 inn.).
The third-ranked Gators (33-2) rebounded from having their winning streak of 21 games snapped by then-No. 4 Auburn last Monday with four victories. UF, who received one first-place vote and 732 points, knocked off Bethune-Cookman (15-7) in a mid-week tilt and earned a three-game SEC road sweep at then-No. 23 Arkansas (6-1, 8-0, 6-1).
No. 4 Arizona, who grabbed the final three first-place votes and 725 points, extended its winning streak to 22 games with five wins. The Wildcats (37-1) posted three shutouts and allowed just three runs over the five games, topping Grand Canyon (6-2, 13-0) and sweeping RV California (7-0, 6-0, 6-1).
Auburn (663 points) stayed in the five spot with four SEC wins last week, including a three-game road sweep of then-No. 18 Georgia (7-5, 13-4, 4-3). Texas A&M (644) and Minnesota (595) flipped-flopped positions. The sixth-ranked Aggies (31-3) picked up three triumphs, while the Gophers (30-3) dropped a game to Illinois, but still claimed their Big Ten road series against the Illini.
LSU, UCLA and Washington round out the top 10. The Tigers (31-7) and Bruins (26-9) moved up two and four spots, respectively, while the Huskies (27-8) fell two positions.
Missouri returns to the poll at No. 24 and Ohio State makes its first appearance, tied with Arkansas for 25th.
The 2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through April 2.
2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll
Week 8 – April 4, 2017
Dropped Out: No. 22 Wisconsin (23-6).
New to Poll: No. 24 Missouri, t-No. 25 Ohio State
Receiving Votes: Wisconsin (33), California (24), North Carolina (20), Marshall (11), South Carolina (8), Florida International (8), Illinois (4), Oklahoma State (4), Cal Poly (3), Tulsa (3), Florida Atlantic (1), Nebraska (1).
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. Records reflect games played through April 2.