DALLAS (FWAA) – The
Southern California Trojans remain the top-ranked
team in the Grantland Rice
Super 16 Poll. USC (9-0), the defending Football Writers
Association of America national champs,
garnered 13 No. 1 votes votes after
holding off Oregon State, 28-20, to win their 18th
straight game.
Oklahoma (9-0) stayed at No. 2 after its
42-35 win
over upset-minded Texas A&M. The Sooners were voted No. 1 by one of the
pollsters. Auburn (9-0), despite having the week off, notched
two first-place votes to draw within two poll points
of the Sooners.
Wisconsin (9-0), after its 38-14 thrashing of
Minnesota, kept its spot at No. 4, ahead of California (7-1)
and Utah (9-0). Georgia and Texas are locked in a tie
at No. 7. Boise State (8-0), the nation's only other
unbeaten team, moved up three spots to No. 11, while
Virginia Tech, at No. 16, replaced Miami, which fell
from the rankings.
The Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, introduced prior
to the 2002 season, ranks the nation's top 16 Division
I-A football teams. A regionally-balanced group of 16
selectors votes in the poll. The pollsters also select
the FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week, which
is also announced each Monday
during the regular season.
In addition, the 16 voters representing four regions, cast a ballot each week and give a brief synopsis
of their ballot. Unlike other college football polls, the FWAA makes each of its pollster's ballot
public, along with the weekly synopsis.
Among nine conferences represented in the Super 16, the ACC and SEC
each feature three teams among the Top 16.
The complete poll for Nov. 8 is as follows:
The FWAA has presented the Grantland Rice Trophy, named in honor of the legendary sportswriter,
to college football's national champion each year since 1954. This is the third season that a
season-long poll will be concurrent with the award.
For further information contact Steve Richardson, Executive Director of the FWAA (972-713-6198,
tiger@sportswriters.net) or Ted Gangi, FWAA webmaster (214-823-7992, webmaster@sportswriters.net).