Shutterstock
The Associated Press has dropped its final rankings in the AP Top 25 poll following the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It marks the final poll of the season and gives us an idea of what we can expect moving forward.
As you would expect, Clemson sits atop the final poll of the season after their 44-16 shellacking of the Crimson Tide. Alabama, meanwhile, drops to No. 2 after sitting at No. 1 throughout the entire year.
Rounding out the top five are the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Where does your favorite team stand entering next year’s campaign in the eyes of the Associated Press voters?
The final AP Top 25 poll of the season can be seen below.
AP Top 25 College Football Rankings — Final Poll Of Season
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsXFSSanXbI/
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | PREVIOUS RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson | 15-0 | 2 |
| 2 | Alabama | 14-1 | 1 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 13-1 | 5 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 12-2 | 4 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 12-1 | 3 |
| 6 | LSU | 10-3 | 11 |
| 7 | Georgia | 11-3 | 6 |
| 7 | Florida | 10-3 | 10 |
| 9 | Texas | 10-4 | 14 |
| 10 | Washington State | 11-2 | 12 |
| 11 | UCF | 12-1 | 7 |
| 12 | Kentucky | 10-3 | 16 |
| 13 | Washington | 10-4 | 9 |
| 14 | Michigan | 10-3 | 8 |
| 15 | Syracuse | 10-3 | 17 |
| 16 | Texas A&M | 9-4 | 21 |
| 17 | Penn State | 9-4 | 13 |
| 18 | Fresno State | 12-2 | 19 |
| 19 | Army | 11-2 | 22 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 8-4 | 15 |
| 21 | Northwestern | 9-5 | N/R |
| 22 | Utah State | 11-2 | N/R |
| 23 | Boise State | 10-3 | N/R |
| 24 | Cincinnati | 11-2 | N/R |
| 25 | Iowa | 9-4 | N/R |
Others receiving votes: Appalachian St. 96, Stanford 52, Mississippi St. 45, Utah 43, UAB 32, Iowa St. 26, Auburn 15, Oregon 11, Missouri 10, Troy 6, Georgia Southern 6, Oklahoma St. 3, Wisconsin 2, NC State 2.
The Associated Press rankings carry more weight than polls like the Coaches Poll and FWAA Poll, as they are part of the deciding factor on which teams reach the College Football Playoff. The Coaches Poll, which is not part of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s formula to determine the four teams that will compete for the College Football Playoff National Championship, is voted on by 65 FBS head coaches.
Longtime college football writers who vote in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll include Ben Jones, Bill Landis, Brett McMurphy, Brian Howell, Rece Davis, Rob Long, Robert Gagliardi, Steve Layman, Steve Virgen, Tom Murphy, and Tony Parks.
