Alabama's decisive victory over Florida in the SEC Championship Game has pushed the Crimson Tide to the top of all the polls at the conclusion of the 2009 college football season.
No less than 58 of 65 sportswriters and broadcasters casting votes in the Associated Press poll ranked the Crimson Tide No. 1 in the nation. It is the first time since 1973 Alabama has entered the post season in the AP top slot. Similarly, Alabama reached the top of the USA Today Coaches Poll with 54 of the 59 voters giving the team the No. 1 nod.
Florida fell to No. 5 in both polls.
The AP poll is no longer used as a component of the BCS standings that will determine the pairing for the championship game. The Coaches poll and the Harris Poll (whose results will be released later today) are used as criteria for the BCS Standings which is the primary yardstick for selecting the teams that will play in the BCS bowl games.
The selections for the BCS bowl games will be made tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.