The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas ranked No. 1 in both polls
10.12.2008 | Football
Oct. 12, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas -- With Texas' 45-35 victory over then No. 1-Oklahoma on Saturday, the Longhorns (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) have moved to No. 1 in both the Associated Press Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll.
It marks the first time Texas has been ranked No. 1 since the final polls following the 2005 National Championship, however the last time during the regular season was on Oct. 8, 1984, in both polls.
"Being ranked No. 1 shows respect for what we've accomplished through the early part of the season, but nobody really knows who is No. 1 at this point," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "Our team has just played well for six weeks and we know more about where we are today than we did last Sunday, but we have a long way to go and a lot of room to improve. Every week, we're seeing teams learn the hard way that the only poll that matters, or lasts, is the final one. No one remembers who was No. 1 after six weeks last year. If we're No. 1 in late January, it becomes a statement."
Texas claimed 39 first-place votes (1,599 total) in the AP Poll compared to No. 2 Alabama's 26 (1,582 total), while in the coaches' poll, the Longhorns earned 44 first-place votes (1,505 total) to No. 2 Alabama's 14 (1,452 total) and No. 3 Penn State's three (1,416 total).
"We're looking forward to playing a great Missouri team in Austin on Saturday night and our only focus is on them," Brown said. "The poll is a fun thing for fans to enjoy but we've got to get back to work and continue to get better every week, and Missouri presents another great challenge this week."
Texas began the 1984 season 3-0 before a 15-15 tie with No. 3 Oklahoma dropped them from the top spot. UT's longest stint at No. 1 both polls has been nine weeks in 1963. That stay at the top began on Oct. 14 following a 28-7 win over then-No. 1 Oklahoma on Oct. 12. The Longhorns remained on top for the rest of the season.
Texas holds a 28-6-3 record as a number one team and is 8-4-1 against other ranked opponents in those contests.
Texas will now face No. 11/12 Missouri (7 p.m. Central/ABC) in Austin on Oct. 18.
