DALLAS (FWAA) – The
Southern California Trojans are the top-ranked
team in this week's Grantland Rice
Super 16 Poll. USC (6-0), the defending Football Writers
Association of America national champs,
garnered nine of the 16 first-place votes after
routing Arizona State, 45-7, to win their 15th
straight game.
Oklahoma (6-0), previously tied for the top spot
with the Trojans, fell to No. 2 after its 31-21 win
over Kansas State. The Sooners were voted No. 1 by six of the
pollsters and Auburn (6-0), for the second straight
week, notched the final top vote and is third in the
poll. Miami held its spot at No. 4, while Florida
State, with a convincing 36-3 win over Virginia, rounds
out the Top 5. Former Top 5 teams Virginia and Purdue,
fell to 14th and 12th, respectively after losses to
Florida State and Wisconsin over the weekend.
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, will 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.
Texas A&M, after beating Oklahoma State, 36-20, for
its fifth straight win, is the only new team in the
poll. The Aggies are ranked 16th and give the Big 12 a
third team in the rankings. The ACC, Big Ten and SEC
also each feature three teams among the Top 16.
The complete poll for Oct. 18 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).