Fast Break

College football

Gators climb poll

Florida coach Urban Meyer (above) and his Gators are the new No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25, the team’s highest ranking since Steve Spurrier left Gainesville, and by far the best team in the Sunshine State.

For the first time in 24 years, neither Miami nor Florida State is ranked.

Florida moved up three spots Sunday into second behind No. 1 Ohio State on the strength of a 23-10 victory over LSU on Saturday – and with a lot of help from Arkansas.

The Razorbacks pulled off the biggest stunner of the season, beating then-No. 2 Auburn 27-10.

The Razorbacks’ big win moved them into the rankings for the first time since October 2003. With Arkansas at No. 17, the Southeastern Conference has six teams in the Top 25. Auburn fell to No. 11.

DIII football

Whitworth reaches 12th

Whitworth continues to climb in the D3football.com Top 25, reaching 12th in this week’s poll.

It continues to be the highest Division III ranking for the Pirates.

Lewis & Clark visits Whitworth on Saturday for Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend.

CHESS

Gotta go, gotta go

Accusations of too many bathroom breaks during the world championship final threatened to derail the epic chess battle between Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in Elista, Russia.

Now it’s back to plain old fighting and feuding.

Shortly before the beginning of Game 7, Topalov’s manager presented “evidence” that Kramnik’s moves coincided with the computer program Fritz 9, ranging from 63 percent in Game 1 to 78 percent in Game 6.

Earlier, Topalov’s supporters had accused Kramnik of taking too many bathroom breaks, calling the frequent trips “suspicious.”

Just a stray thought now that a computer has been pulled into the fray. If Kramnik ultimately loses, will the headline be: Going on the Fritz?