FWAA > News > Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll

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.

FWAA GRANTLAND RICE SUPER 16 POLL (NOV. 8, 2004)
Rk.	School [1st]	Conf.	W-L	Pts	Pvs	This Week (Nov. 13)
1.	USC [13]	Pac-10	9-0	253	1	vs. Arizona
2.	Oklahoma [1]	Big 12	9-0	234	2	vs. Nebraska
3.	Auburn [2]	SEC	9-0	232	3	vs. No. 7 Georgia
4.	Wisconsin	Big Ten	9-0	201	4	at Michigan State
5.	California	Pac-10	7-1	173	5	at Washington
6.	Utah	MWC	9-0	166	6	at Wyoming
t7.	Georgia	SEC	8-1	163	7	at No. 3 Auburn
t7.	Texas	Big 12	8-1	163	8	at Kansas
9.	Michigan	Big Ten	8-1	131	11	vs. Northwestern
10.	Virginia	ACC	7-1	90	13	vs. Miami
11.	Boise State	WAC	8-0	79	14	at San Jose State
12.	Louisville	C-USA	6-1	69	12	vs. TCU (Nov. 10)
13.	Florida State	ACC	7-2	65	15	at N.C. State
14.	West Virginia	Big East	8-1	43	16	vs. Boston College
15.	Tennessee	SEC	7-2	32	9	Idle
16.	Virginia Tech	ACC	7-2	27	-	Idle
FedEx Orange Bowl National Team of the Week: Notre Dame.
First-place votes: USC 13 (Blaudschun, Davis, Dodd, Fiutak, Henson, Higgins, Mandel, Meisler, Miller, Moran, Richards, Robbins, Shain); Auburn 2 (Coyle, Griffith); Oklahoma 1 (Burchette).
Also receiving votes: Iowa 18, Miami 18, LSU 13, Arizona State 6.
Dropped out: Miami (10).
By conference: ACC 3, SEC 3, Big Ten 2, Big 12 2, Pac-10 2, Big East 1, Conference USA 1, Mountain West 1, WAC 1.

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.