AP Voters Unanimous on No. 1 Clemson and Jump USC to No. 3
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The day after Clemson rallied to an amazing 35-31 win over then- No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Championship Game, the Associated Press voters came out with their final poll for the 2016 season anointing the Tigers as the top team in the land. Although everyone saw Clemson getting their perch atop the rankings, the final spot for the USC Trojans was a huge surprise.
Alabama was given their rightful spot at No. 2 in the final poll but USC was the media darling jumping from No. 9 to No. 3 after a thrilling 52-49 win over previously ranked No. 5 Penn State. The oddity is the lack of respect another Big Ten earned, Ohio State, in the final poll after suffering a 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl in the opening round of the playoff. The Buckeyes did not earn a spot in the Top 4 and dropped to No. 6. Washington’s 24-7 showing against Alabama in the Peach Bowl in the other half of the playoff was good enough to keep their spot at No. 4.
The Sooners were given their due at No. 5 after a 35-19 win over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl, a jump ahead of two spots. Three teams with three losses on the resume were awarded slots in the Top 10: No. 8 Florida State, No. 9 Wisconsin, and No. 10 Michigan.
The SEC had a tough bowl season with only Alabama being ranked in the Top 10. LSU’s strong 29-9 Citrus Bowl win over Louisville aided in a jump from No. 19 to No. 13 in the final poll. Florida also made a jump of six spots from No. 20 to No. 14 after cracking Iowa 30-3 in the Outback Bowl. Tennessee, at No. 22, and Auburn, at No. 24, were the only other SEC teams to be ranked.
The ACC had five teams make the final list after finishing 9-3 in postseason action; Clemson, Florida State, Virginia Tech (No. 16), Miami (No. 20), and Louisville (No. 21). Miami entered the Russell Athletic Bowl against West Virginia unranked.
Even though the Big Ten was lauded as one of the top conferences in the nation during the 2016 season, after going 3-7 in postseason bowls, the conference was awarded with just four teams in rankings, all in the Top 10. The Big 12 finished the bowl season 4-2 landing Oklahoma, Oklahoma State (No. 11), and West Virginia (No. 18) in the rankings. Baylor was the only conference team to win and not be ranked after upending Boise State 31-12 in the Cactus Bowl. The Pac-12 went 3-3 with five teams making the final cut; Washington, USC, Stanford (No. 12), and Utah (No. 23).
Western Michigan at No. 15, South Florida at No. 19, and San Diego State No. 25 were the only Group of Five teams to make the rankings. Western Michigan and South Florida will take the field in 2017 with new coaches on the sidelines.
Final AP College Football Rankings for 2016
- Clemson – 14-1
- Alabama – 14-1
- USC – 10-3
- Washington – 12-2
- Oklahoma – 11-2
- Ohio State – 11-2
- Penn State – 11-3
- Florida State – 10-3
- Wisconsin – 11-3
- Michigan – 10-3
- Oklahoma State – 10-3
- Stanford – 10-3
- LSU – 8-4
- Florida – 9-4
- Western Michigan – 13-1
- Virginia Tech – 10-4
- Colorado – 10-4
- West Virginia – 10-3
- South Florida – 11-2
- Miami – 9-4
- Louisville – 9-4
- Tennessee – 9-4
- Utah – 9-4
- Auburn – 8-5
- San Diego State – 11-3
Photo credit: newsday; No. 25 Cordrea Tankersley holds championship sign for Clemson.