DALLAS (FWAA) – The
Southern California Trojans remain the top-ranked
team in the Grantland Rice
Super 16 Poll. USC (10-0), the defending Football Writers
Association of America national champs,
garnered 12 No. 1 votes after taking the week off.
No. 2 Auburn (11-0) increased its lead over No. 3 Oklahoma (11-0)
after beating rival Alabama, 21-13. The Sooners easily
handled Baylor, 35-0. Auburn was voted No. 1 by three of the
pollsters, while OU received one first-place vote.
California (9-1) and Utah (11-0) maintained their
rankings as the fourth-ranked Bears beat Stanford,
41-6, and No. 5 Utah completed a perfect
regular-season with a 52-21 win over Mountain West
rival Utah.
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 eight conferences represented in the Super 16, the SEC
features four teams among the Top 16, while the Pac-10
has three.
The complete poll for Nov. 22 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).