1. Southern California (35 1/3) 12-0 1,490 1
2. Oklahoma (16 1/3) 12-0 1,459 2
3. Auburn (9 1/3) 12-0 1,435 3
4. California 10-1 1,286 4
5. Texas 10-1 1,281 5
6. Utah 11-0 1,215 6
7. Georgia 9-2 1,117 7
8. Louisville 10-1 1,066 8
9. Virginia Tech 10-2 1,037 11
10. Boise State 11-0 943 10
11. LSU 9-2 932 12
12. Michigan 9-2 874 13
13. Iowa 9-2 812 14
14. Miami (Fla.) 8-3 738 9
15. Florida State 8-3 643 16
16. Wisconsin 9-2 599 17
17. Tennessee 9-3 559 15
18. Virginia 8-3 455 18
19. Florida 7-4 324 19
20. Pittsburgh 8-3 318 21
21. Texas Tech 7-4 234 20
22. Ohio State 7-4 181 22
23. West Virginia 8-3 177 24
24. Arizona State 8-3 173 23
25. Texas A&M 7-4 147 25
Top spots stay same in USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 poll
McLEAN, Va. (SportsTicker) — If the coaches have their way, Southern California and Oklahoma will meet in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.
One coach split his vote three ways — giving one-third of a first-place vote for the three unbeaten teams from the power conferences — USC (12-0), Oklahoma (12-0) and Auburn (12-0).
But Auburn is on the outside looking in at No. 3 with 9 1/3 first-place votes and 1,435 points in the latest USA TODAY/ESPN coaches poll released Sunday. (Related item: USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 poll)
The Bowl Championship Series officially will announce its invitations Sunday afternoon and it is likely that USC will be matched against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl for the national championship on Jan. 4.
USC, which edged UCLA, 29-24 on Saturday, lost more than 12 first-place votes, but finished with 35 1/3 and 1,490 points.
Oklahoma made the biggest improvement after a 42-3 rout of Colorado in the Big 12 Conference championship game, receiving 10 1/3 more first-place votes from the previous week for a total of 16 1/3 and 1,459 points.
USC and Oklahoma are also 1-2 in the Associated Press poll with Auburn, which beat Tennessee, 38-28 in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday, at No. 3.
California (10-1) remained in fourth place with 1,286 points - five more than fifth-ranked Texas (10-1) — and is hoping for an at-large BCS bowl berth. Cal also is fourth in the AP poll.
Last week, Cal held a 48-point lead over Texas.
Utah (11-0) of the Mountain West Conference and Boise State (11-0) of the Big West Conference were the other unbeaten teams in Division I-A. Utah remains No. 6 and likely will become the first team from a non-power conference to play in a BCS bowl game. Boise State still is No. 10.
If Cal and Utah receive the two BCS at-large bids, likely to the Rose and Fiesta Bowls, respectively, Texas would be the odd team out.
Georgia (9-2) is seventh, followed by Louisville (10-1) and Virginia Tech (10-2), which beat Miami to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title.
Louisiana State (9-2) is 11th, followed by Michigan (9-2), Iowa (9-2), Miami (8-3), Florida State (8-3), Wisconsin (9-2), Tennessee (9-3), Virginia (8-3), Florida (7-4) and Pittsburgh (8-3).
Texas Tech (7-4), Ohio State (7-4), West Virginia (8-3), Arizona State (8-3) and Texas A&M (7-4) complete the poll.
Associated Press Top-25 College Football Poll
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. U-S-C Trojans (44) 12-0 1,599 1
2. Oklahoma Sooners (14) 12-0 1,556 2
3. Auburn Tigers (7) 12-0 1,525 3
4. California Golden Bears 10-1 1,399 4
5. Utah Utes 11-0 1,345 5
6. Texas Longhorns 10-1 1,337 6
7. Louisville Cardinals 10-1 1,183 7
8. Georgia Bulldogs 9-2 1,117 8
9. Virginia Tech Hokies 10-2 1,111 10
10. Boise State Broncos 11-0 960 11
11. Iowa Hawkeyes 9-2 948 12
12. L-S-U Tigers 9-2 929 13
13. Michigan Wolverines 9-2 917 14
14. Miami-Florida Hurricanes 8-3 776 9
15. Tennessee Volunteers 9-3 651 15
16. Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 648 17
17. Florida State Seminoles 8-3 647 16
18. Virginia Cavaliers 8-3 482 18
19. Pittsburgh Panthers 8-3 415 19
20. Florida Gators 7-4 325 20
21. Arizona State Sun Devils 8-3 222 21
22. Texas A&M Aggies 7-4 213 22
23. Texas Tech Red Raiders 7-4 168 24
24. Ohio State Buckeyes 7-4 155 25
25. Boston College Eagles 8-3 150 23
Others receiving votes: West Virginia 97, Toledo 86, Purdue 49, Navy 28, Memphis 26, Fresno State 24, Oklahoma State 16, U-T-E-P 6, Syracuse 5, Northern Illinois 4, Bowling Green 3, New Mexico 3.
As of December 5, 2004, at 02:21 PM ET
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