Complex sentence: The team finished the season ranked No.3 in the AP poll, the team's highest ever ranking up to that time, and was honored as the national champions by several minor polls, including that of the New York Times.
Split into simpler sentences: The team finished the season ranked No.3 in the AP poll, the team's highest ever ranking up to that time. Nonetheless, the Gators were crowned national champions by several minor polls, including that of the New York Times.