The fourth edition of the 2011 USA Today/Coaches Poll has been released and much like the AP poll, the Stanford Cardinal have moved up a spot to fifth in the rankings. Florida State put up a game effort against Oklahoma but was unable to get over the hump. Florida State tumbled from No. 5 to No. 14 courtesy of the loss. Here is your Top Ten:
1. Oklahoma (50 first-place votes)
2. Alabama (4)
3. LSU (5)
4. Boise State
5. Stanford
6. Oklahoma State
7. Wisconsin
8. Texas A
9. Nebraska
10. South Carolina
What is even more interesting about the Coaches Poll is that Stanford not only climbed up a spot, but they also gained a ton of ground on the fourth ranked Boise State Broncos. Stanford previously trailed Boise State by 49 points with Florida State in between them. The FSU-assisted bump up to fifth meant more points for Stanford and combined with the Broncos losing two first place votes to Oklahoma, the Cardinal are only four points back of Boise State.
Stanford will not be able to build on this momentum next week as they have a bye while Boise State hosts the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Stanford could benefit however thanks to a pair of touch matchups for Alabama and LSU. The No. 2 Crimson Tide host the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks while the No. 3 Tigers travel to face the No. 16. West Virginia Mountaineers. LSU and Alabama will be favored but those are tough matchups. Maybe Stanford gets a little bounce.
For more on the Cardinal, check out Rule of Tree.