Ohio St. #1 in Final AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls

ESPN ^

[hole_n_one]

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ohio State's fourth national title was its most memorable of all.

One Voter's Top 10

1. Ohio State: A testament to defense and the will to win. 2. Miami: Still one of the great teams of all time. 3. USC: The team no one would have wanted to face in a playoff. 4. Georgia: Mark Richt is only 180 victories behind Vince Dooley. 5. Oklahoma: Nate Hybl gave his critics a performance to remember him by. 6. Iowa: So the layoff really did hurt the Hawks. 7. Kansas State: That loss to Colorado will be remembered for years. 8. Texas: Chris Simms goes out in style. Great news: Roy Williams isn't going anywhere. 9. Michigan: The Wolverines put up big numbers in Orlando. 10. Washington State: Would the Cougars have played better without a lame-duck coach? -- Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com senior writer

The Buckeyes needed two overtimes to win their first championship in 34 years, beating Miami 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl on Friday night.

Ohio State (14-0) received all 71 first-place votes in the final Associated Press media poll after finishing as the nation's only major unbeaten team.

In the final, post-bowl AP poll, the No. 1 votes from the writers and broadcasters gave the Buckeyes 1,775 points.

For the second time in 11 seasons, Miami was denied a repeat one game short of a title. The Hurricanes, who have won five titles in the past 20 seasons, also lost the Sugar Bowl 34-13 to Alabama in 1993.

Miami also had its 34-game winning streak snapped. It was the longest streak since Toledo won 35 in a row from 1969-71 and 13 wins shy of Oklahoma's record set from 1953-57.

Miami was second, followed by Georgia, Southern California, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State, Iowa, Michigan and Washington State. The coaches poll had the same top five teams.

"Our guys know what they're capable of when they all work together,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "And I was confident they would do the thing they know how to do.''

Tressel, in his second year at Ohio State, joined Woody Hayes and Paul Brown as the only coaches to lead the Buckeyes to the national title. Brown did it in 1942 and Hayes won it in 1954 and '68.

The Buckeyes became the first team in major college football history to win 14 games in a season.

Ohio State's four titles are tied with Minnesota and Nebraska for fifth place all-time. Notre Dame leads all schools with eight.

The Buckeyes became just the second Big Ten team to win the national title since 1968, joining the 1997 Michigan team. The Wolverines shared that title with Nebraska, which won the coaches' poll.

There have been eight different champions in the past eight seasons, the longest stretch since 1956-63. Nebraska (1994-95) is the only team to win back-to-back titles since the Crimson Tide did it in 1978-79.

After going 7-5 in Tressel's first year, the Buckeyes ranked 10th in the country. They moved into the top five on Sept. 29 after beating Indiana 45-17.

Ohio State moved into the No. 2 spot on Nov. 10 after No. 1 Oklahoma lost to Texas A&M.

Tenth-ranked Washington State was followed by Alabama, North Carolina State, Maryland, Auburn, Boise State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Colorado.

Florida State, Virginia, Texas Christian, Marshall and West Virginia rounded out the poll.

The Big Ten, Big East, Big 12 and ACC all had four teams in the poll. The SEC had three.

Traditional powers Nebraska, Florida and Tennessee all finished out of the rankings.

NCAA Division I-A: AP Top 25 The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, with number of first-place votes and record in parentheses, total points and previous ranking:
RANK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS	PVS
1.	Ohio State (71)	14-0	1,775	2
	Last game:  Def. Miami 31-24 (Jan. 3)
2.	Miami	12-1	1,693	1
	Last game:  Lost to Ohio State 31-24 (Jan. 3)
3.	Georgia	13-1	1,598	4
	Last game:  Def. Florida State 26-13 (Jan. 1)
4.	USC	11-2	1,590	5
	Last game:  Def. Iowa 38-17 (Jan. 2)
5.	Oklahoma	12-2	1,476	8
	Last game:  Def. Washington State 34-14 (Jan. 1)
6.	Texas	11-2	1,363	9
	Last game:  Def. LSU 35-20 (Jan. 1)
7.	Kansas State	11-2	1,356	6
	Last game:  Def. Arizona State 34-27 (Dec. 27)
8.	Iowa	11-2	1,334	3
	Last game:  Lost to USC 38-17 (Jan. 2)
9.	Michigan	10-3	1,182	12
	Last game:  Def. Florida 38-30 (Jan. 1)
10.	Washington State	10-3	1,085	7
	Last game:  Lost to Oklahoma 34-14 (Jan. 1)
11.	Alabama	10-3	988	13
	Last game:  Def. Hawaii 21-16 (Nov. 30)
12.	N.C. State	11-3	943	17
	Last game:  Def. Notre Dame 28-6 (Jan. 1)
13.	Maryland	11-3	844	20
	Last game:  Def. Tennessee 30-3 (Dec. 31)
14.	Auburn	9-4	821	19
	Last game:  Def. Penn State 13-9 (Jan. 1)
15.	Boise State	12-1	692	18
	Last game:  Def. Iowa State 34-16 (Dec. 31)
16.	Penn State	9-4	675	10
	Last game:  Lost to Auburn 13-9 (Jan. 1)
17.	Notre Dame	10-3	657	11
	Last game:  Lost to N.C. State 28-6 (Jan. 1)
18.	Virginia Tech	10-4	544	21
	Last game:  Def. Air Force 20-13 (Dec. 31)
19.	Pittsburgh	9-4	520	24
	Last game:  Def. Oregon State 38-13 (Dec. 26)
20.	Colorado	9-5	307	14
	Last game:  Lost to Wisconsin 31-28 (Dec. 28)
21.	Florida State	9-5	291	16
	Last game:  Lost to Georgia 26-13 (Jan. 1)
22.	Virginia	9-5	250	NR
	Last game:  Def. West Virginia 48-22 (Dec. 28)
23.	TCU	10-2	231	NR
	Last game:  Def. Colorado State 17-3 (Dec. 31)
24.	Marshall	11-2	201	NR
	Last game:  Def. Louisville 38-15 (Dec. 18)
25.	West Virginia	9-4	195	15
	Last game:  Lost to Virginia 48-22 (Dec. 28)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES Florida 120, Texas Tech 80, Oklahoma State 73, OKLAHOMAST 73, Boston College 52, Colorado State 44, LSU 38, South Florida 27, Wisconsin 15, Minnesota 4, Arkansas 3, Air Force 2, Hawaii 2, Purdue 2, North Texas 1, Fresno State 1. DROPPED FROM RANKINGS Florida 22, Colorado State 23, Arkansas 25.
NCAA Division I-A: ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll The USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 college football coaches' poll, with number of first-place votes and record in parentheses, total points and previous ranking:
RANK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS	PVS
1.	Ohio State (61)	14-0	1,525	2
	Last game:  Def. No. 1 Miami 31-24 (Jan. 3)
2.	Miami	12-1	1,451	1
	Last game:  Lost to No. 2 Ohio State 31-24 (Jan. 3)
3.	Georgia	13-1	1,378	4
	Last game:  Def. No. 16 Florida State 26-13 (Jan. 1)
4.	USC	11-2	1,362	5
	Last game:  Def. No. 3 Iowa 38-17 (Jan. 2)
5.	Oklahoma	12-2	1,244	8
	Last game:  Def. No. 7 Washington State 34-14 (Jan. 1)
6.	Kansas State	11-2	1,230	6
	Last game:  Def. Arizona State 34-27 (Dec. 27)
7.	Texas	11-2	1,140	9
	Last game:  Def. No. 25 LSU 35-20 (Jan. 1)
8.	Iowa	11-2	1,105	3
	Last game:  Lost to No. 5 USC 38-17 (Jan. 2)
9.	Michigan	10-3	1,011	11
	Last game:  Def. No. 20 Florida 38-30 (Jan. 1)
10.	Washington State	10-3	932	7
	Last game:  Lost to No. 8 Oklahoma 34-14 (Jan. 1)
11.	N.C. State	11-3	876	17
	Last game:  Def. No. 12 Notre Dame 28-6 (Jan. 1)
12.	Boise State	12-1	808	15
	Last game:  Def. Iowa State 34-16 (Dec. 31)
13.	Maryland	11-3	803	18
	Last game:  Def. Tennessee 30-3 (Dec. 31)
14.	Virginia Tech	10-4	644	19
	Last game:  Def. Air Force 20-13 (Dec. 31)
15.	Penn State	9-4	619	10
	Last game:  Lost to No. 22 Auburn 13-9 (Jan. 1)
16.	Auburn	9-4	579	22
	Last game:  Def. No. 10 Penn State 13-9 (Jan. 1)
17.	Notre Dame	10-3	525	12
	Last game:  Lost to No. 17 N.C. State 28-6 (Jan. 1)
18.	Pittsburgh	9-4	486	23
	Last game:  Def. Oregon State 38-13 (Dec. 26)
19.	Marshall	11-2	333	24
	Last game:  Def. Louisville 38-15 (Dec. 18)
20.	West Virginia	9-4	297	13
	Last game:  Lost to Virginia 48-22 (Dec. 28)
21.	Colorado	9-5	291	14
	Last game:  Lost to Wisconsin 31-28 (Dec. 28)
22.	TCU	10-2	274	NR
	Last game:  Def. No. 21 Colorado State 17-3 (Dec. 31)
23.	Florida State	9-5	219	16
	Last game:  Lost to No. 4 Georgia 26-13 (Jan. 1)
24.	Florida	8-5	145	20
	Last game:  Lost to No. 11 Michigan 38-30 (Jan. 1)
25.	Virginia	9-5	141	NR
	Last game:  Def. No. 13 West Virginia 48-22 (Dec. 28)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES Boston College 129, Colorado State 100, Texas Tech 60, South Florida 28, LSU 25, Fresno State 19, Oklahoma State 17, Hawaii 8, Minnesota 6, Air Force 4, Wisconsin 4, Tennessee 2, North Texas 2, Bowling Green 2, UCLA 1. DROPPED FROM RANKINGS Colorado State 21, LSU 25.

[mcenedo]

what about the bad call?

Hate Miami (Gator Fan) but they did get screwed.

Surprised me and lost with class.

If they had won I don't think you would have seen much class.

[Founding Father]

The real championship game would have USC and OU playing. Miami OS was not a classic--how many turnovers?

By the way, my team didn't play in a bowl game, so I have no axe to grind.

The solution to this will have to be forced upon the colleges by the TV networks (i.e. $$). They should drastically reduce rights fees until there is a playoff--8 teams. Yes, there would be some controversy over the top 8, but there would always be a consensus of the top 6 or 7 and the 7/8 seed would never win three straight.

[hole_n_one]

Diddle E Squat nails it here

[traditional1]

Which bad call are you referring to? There were dozens of non-calls during this game.

[Dog Gone]

I suspect that USC would be favored to beat any team on that list today.

But that's not what this measures, or we'd have Las Vegas determine who is the national champ.

Ohio State won the game, and they were undefeated for the year. You couldn't ask more of them, other than scheduling stuff. The case is pretty much closed in my book.

[realpatriot71]

[hole_n_one]

Please remove reply #6......

it's obsolete.

[bybybill]

USC would be favored against any team in the country except, maybe the Raiders

[bybybill]

The Number 1 team, in the Championship game doesn`t run for much more then 200 yds and couldn`t complete 8 passes and that`s with TWO overtimes? Some Champion

[Nachum]

People always gripe about the bowls. Whatever the result, it was a great season. There was some terrific football played. USC and Carson Palmer were just great to watch.

Can't wait till next year...

[jospehm20]

I have to watch Big 12 refs hose my team every week, so the poor officiating from the Big 12 crew in the Miami-OSU game didn't surprise me. the Big 12 officials are the worst refs in the entire country.

[Taft in '52]

Way to go, Trojans! For the ninth time since 1938, USC beat its two archrivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, and concluded the season by winning a bowl game. This year marks the first time the Trojans have won a postseason game other than the Rose Bowl after beating the Domers and Bruins.

[Nachum]

I see a lot of Bruin alums in town. They sure are miserable lately.

hehehehe

[mcenedo]

4th down pass interference in the end zone. Sure, there are always calls NOT made, but this call WAS made, and it was a BAD call, and, without it , the game was OVER. There was a ref looking right at it who said incomplete - 5 seconds after the play is over and the fans are storming the field, out comes the hankie.

Every replay made the call look worse.

[Boiler Plate]

There was defensive holding before pass so it was no call then bad call. The real tradgedy was the Miami running back who had his pro career ruined with that horrific knee injury. It reminded me of Joe Theisman.

[lepton]

Whoever reffed the Iowa-USC game was worse. They couldn't even reliably spot the ball within 2 yards of where the players were downed. +-1 to 3 yards pretty much the whole game...though there were some examples of it (Some of it important) in the OSU-UM game, it wasn't nearly so frequent.

[lepton]

That's because the replays start right after the holding ends. It should have been first and goal from the 2, not the one...that's the only difference the error made. One can also point out that UM stopped Dorsey from getting sacked through frequent holding, that several OSU drives were stopped by UM pass interference that weren't called (Starting with the first drive, where the guy turned Clarret, and ending with OSU running out the clock, but unable to convert because of pass interference, and a catch ruled out of bounds that wasn't). One can also point to really bad spots giving UM at least two first downs they were well short of converting (See play where Winslow is down on his back - much less where his knee touched - prior to the 34 yard line, yet the ball is spotted at the 35, barely making a first-down) and OSU at least one.

In the end, that holding call didn't end the game...OSU stopping UM from putting it in the end-zone did. The game didn't end on an official's call - but would have if what you insist on had happened.

[lepton]

The real tradgedy was the Miami running back who had his pro career ruined with that horrific knee injury.

His leg probably would have been better if the bones had snapped like Krumrie (Though Krumries came from making a cut with no contact to it). I really hope McGahee recovers fully.