AP crowns USC (mythical) national champs (Final Poll is out)

espn ^ | 1/5/03 | AP

[Diddle E. Squat]

RANK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS

1. USC (48) 12-1 1,608 1 Last game: Def. Michigan 28-14 (Jan. 1)

2. LSU (17) 13-1 1,576 2 Last game: Def. Oklahoma 21-14 (Jan. 4) Next game: vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 4)

3. Oklahoma 12-2 1,476 3 Last game: Lost to LSU 21-14 (Jan. 4) Next game: vs. LSU (Jan. 4)

4. Ohio State 11-2 1,411 7 Last game: Def. Kansas State 35-28 (Jan. 2)

5. Miami 11-2 1,329 10 Last game: Def. Florida State 16-14 (Jan. 1)

6. Michigan 10-3 1,281 4 Last game: Lost to USC 28-14 (Jan. 1)

7. Georgia 11-3 1,255 11 Last game: Def. Purdue 34-27 (Jan. 1)

8. Iowa 10-3 1,107 13 Last game: Def. Florida 37-17 (Jan. 1)

9. Washington State 10-3 1,060 15 Last game: Def. Texas 28-20 (Dec. 30)

10. Miami (OHIO) 13-1 932 14 Last game: Def. Louisville 49-28 (Dec. 18)

11. Florida State 10-3 905 9 Last game: Lost to Miami 16-14 (Jan. 1)

12. Texas 10-3 887 5 Last game: Lost to Washington State 28-20 (Dec. 30)

13. Mississippi 10-3 845 16 Last game: Def. Oklahoma State 31-28 (Jan. 2)

14. Kansas State 11-4 833 8 Last game: Lost to Ohio State 35-28 (Jan. 2)

15. Tennessee 10-3 695 6 Last game: Lost to Clemson 27-14 (Jan. 2)

16. Boise State 13-1 645 18 Last game: Def. TCU 34-31 (Dec. 23)

17. Maryland 10-3 564 23 Last game: Def. West Virginia 41-7 (Jan. 1)

18. Purdue 9-4 526 12 Last game: Lost to Georgia 34-27 (Jan. 1)

19. Nebraska 10-3 520 22 Last game: Def. Michigan State 17-3 (Dec. 29)

20. Minnesota 10-3 368 24 Last game: Def. Oregon 31-30 (Dec. 31)

21. Utah 10-2 308 25 Last game: Def. Southern Miss 17-0 (Dec. 31)

22. Clemson 9-4 230 NR Last game: Def. Tennessee 27-14 (Jan. 2)

23. Bowling Green 11-3 189 NR Last game: Def. Northwestern 28-24 (Dec. 26)

24. Florida 8-5 165 17 Last game: Lost to Iowa 37-17 (Jan. 1)

25. TCU 11-2 126 19 Last game: Lost to Boise State 34-31 (Dec. 23)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES Oklahoma State 109, Arkansas 73, Virginia 36, Northern Illinois 30, Auburn 8, Oregon State 8, Pittsburgh 7, N.C. State 7, West Virginia 4, Connecticut 2.

DROPPED FROM RANKINGS West Virginia 20, Oklahoma State 21.

[Diddle E. Squat]

USC increased its number of first place votes from the last poll.

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[Diddle E. Squat]

Congrats to USC and LSU(automatic winner of the Snoop Doggy Dog trophy), split co-champs. Too bad they can't prove it on the field later this month.

I guess it takes a mess to get something finally fixed.

[Amerigomag]

I'm not particularly a college football fanatic but it seemed odd to me that any team with a late season loss was considered for a number #1 ranking.

The logic of the BCS software escapes me if tinkering to promote an agenda is excluded.

[TheConservator]

Sigh. Another eight months until the college football season starts. :}

[GOPyouth]

GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheConservator]

They looked quite impressive for about the first two-thirds of the game, and then hung on tough.

FWIW, I think USC is the better team, though.

[Mudbug]

FWIW, I think either an OU or LSU vs Michigan matchup would have been a blow-out.

[mikegi]

I certainly don't think that Oklahoma should be ranked #3. They look terribly weak to me and really haven't played anyone all year. Their top opponents were: Kansas State, Texas, and Oklahoma State. All of them lost their bowl games.

Texas is probably the most overrated team out there. Mack Brown is the worst coach. As usual, I'm sure we'll read all sorts of stories in the coming months about UT's "excellent recruiting" season. The UT alumni must pay off the AP and Coaches to get an initial high ranking.

[mikegi]

They looked quite impressive for about the first two-thirds of the game, and then hung on tough.

LSU looked damn good the whole game. OK got their first TD on a blocked punt. I bought into the OK hype this year but the KSU and LSU games exposed them as a weak team, on par with Texas and Georgia.

[GeronL]

12-1.....um... who beat USC???

Maybe they oughtta be champs?? =o)

[zarf]

Oklahoma is just awful. A one dimensional offense that wilts under the pressure of a fast, pursuing style defense.

Miami, OSU or FSU would of destroyed them as well.

[GeronL]

haven't played anyone all year.

Apparently they played 14 games... just thought you should know =oP

[Arkinsaw]

Who is the National Champion? The team with the big black trophy with the crystal football.

[mikegi]

Apparently they played 14 games... just thought you should know =oP

Take a look at their schedule: Oklahoma 2003 Schedule. It is better than USC's but not by much. Only team of any significance that they beat was Texas (not saying much!).

[dfwgator]

Gators 17 National Champs 9.

[My Favorite Headache]

Wait til next year.........

[Joe_October]

Idiot, corrupt, AP writers show their bias.

[GeronL]

I was just trying to be humorous