DALLAS (FWAA) – The
Southern California Trojans remain the top-ranked
team in this week's Grantland Rice
Super 16 Poll. USC (7-0), the defending Football Writers
Association of America national champs,
garnered 10 of the 16 first-place votes after taking
care of Washington, 38-0, to win their 16th
straight game.
Oklahoma (7-0) stayed at No. 2 after its 41-10 win
over Kansas. The Sooners were voted No. 1 by five of the
pollsters and Auburn (7-0), for the third straight
week, notched the final top vote and is third in the
poll. Miami held its spot at No. 4, while Wisconsin
moved ahead of Florida State as the Seminoles
struggled to beat Wake Forest, 20-17, and the Badgers
topped Northwestern, 24-12.
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.
Boise State, after beating Fresno State, 33-16, for
its national-best 18th straight win, is the only new team in the
poll. The Broncos are ranked 16th and give the Western
Athletic Conference a team in the rankings for the
first time this season. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC
each feature three teams among the Top 16.
The complete poll for Oct. 25 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).