Sept. 3: TCU Sept. 10: LSU Sept. 17: Michigan State Sept. 24: South Florida Oct. 1: Alabama Oct. 8: Penn State Oct. 15: USC Oct. 22: Northwestern Oct. 29: South Carolina Nov. 5: Miami Nov. 12: South Carolina Nov. 19: Georgia Tech Nov. 26: Nevada
Football Writers Association of America Oct. 17, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ted Gangi
214-823-7992
Trojans extend win streak to 28 in dramatic fashion
USC IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – With their 34-31 win at Notre Dame, the USC Trojans are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, as selected by the pollsters of the FWAA's Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll for games of the weekend of Oct. 15.

Quarterback Matt Leinart scored from a yard out with three seconds left to cap a drive that was kept alive by a 61-yard completion to Dwayne Jarrett on 4th-and-9. Tailback Reggie Bush ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and Leinart threw for 301 yards for the 6-0 Trojans.

The win was USC's 28th straight and a school-record 13th straight away from home and its 15th straight vs. non-conference opponents.

"I have been in a couple of games like this. It was a very special win out there today," said USC head coach Pete Carroll after the game. "There are so few times you get the opportunity to win a game like that at any level. That it is just awesome to come away with a win."

The other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominee for the weekend of Oct. 15:

Virginia (4-2): Marques Hagans threw for a career-high 306 yards and two touchdowns and Connor Hughes kicked four field goals as the Cavaliers upset previously unbeaten Florida State, 26-21.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the first season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

The 16 pollsters of the Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2005 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 28.

The Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll will be released each Monday afternoon from Oct. 10 through Dec. 5 and then following the BCS championship game in the Rose Bowl. The top-ranked team in the final poll will be awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy as the FWAA's national champion. The FWAA has awarded the trophy each season since 1954. USC is the two-time defending FWAA national champion and was ranked No. 1 in the initial 2005 poll.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and Tempe, Ariz., have hosted five games that have decided the college football national championship, including two Bowl Championship Series title games. The 2006 game will be played on Jan. 2 and will be the final game played at Sun Devil Stadium. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, along with the BCS Championship Game, will move to the new Multi-Purpose Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., beginning in 2007.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to www.footballwriters.com or www.tostitosfiestabowl.com.

2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Teams of the Week
Weekend of Sept. 3: TCU Horned Frogs
Weekend of Sept. 10: LSU Tigers
Weekend of Sept. 17: Michigan State Spartans
Weekend of Sept. 24: South Florida Bulls
Weekend of Oct. 1: Alabama Crimson Tide
Weekend of Oct. 8: Penn State Nittany Lions
Weekend of Oct. 15: USC Trojans
Weekend of Oct. 22: Northwestern Wildcats
Weekend of Oct. 29: South Carolina Gamecocks
Weekend of Nov. 5: Miami Hurricanes
Weekend of Nov. 12: South Carolina Gamecocks
Weekend of Nov. 19: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Weekend of Nov. 26: Nevada Wolf Pack
2005 FWAA/GRANTLAND RICE SUPER 16 POLLSTERS
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