Oct. 26, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
After knocking off three ranked teams over the course of the first seven weeks of the season, the Maryland football team now finds itself among the nation's elite.
The Terps (6-2, 3-1), who defeated North Carolina State, 27-24, Saturday, are ranked No. 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls, which were released Sunday.
Maryland is ranked for the first time since 2006, when the Terps were in the Top 25 for two weeks during November. They were No. 23 in the AP poll after upsetting No. 19 Clemson, 13-12, on Nov. 4 and jumped to No. 21 after defeating Miami, 14-13, on Nov. 11.
Saturday's win keeps the Terps atop the ACC's Atlantic Division standings where they are tied with Florida State (6-1, 3-1), which is No. 16 in both polls.
North Carolina is the other ACC team in the Top 25. The Tar Heels are No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches poll.
Maryland is off this weekend and faces Virginia Tech on Thursday, Nov. 6 in a nationally-televised game (7:30 p.m. ESPN).
Terp Notes:
With Saturday's win, Maryland is bowl eligible for the sixth time in Ralph Friedgen's eight seasons ... The Terps have won six of their first eight games in a season for the fourth time (also 2001, 2002, 2006) in Friedgen's tenure. The previous three times they won at least nine games ... Maryland has won six straight home games ... There are 10 teams in the country which have defeated at least two ranked teams, but just two with three wins over Top 25 squads - Maryland and No. 1 Texas.
