Final FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll Gives Alabama 4th Spot

December 3, 2017 by FWAA-NFF and CFP Staff

NOTE: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is among the voters.

Clemson and Oklahoma held their respective No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the poll this week after conference championship victories. Georgia moved up three positions to No. 3 after defeating Auburn in the SEC Championship.

Auburn fell four rungs to No. 7 while Alabama moved to No. 4.

By these rankings, Ohio State would be left out as the Buckeyes check-in at No. 5, even after their victory in the Big Ten Championship over previously unbeaten Wisconsin, which landed at No. 6. A total of 12 poll points separate Ohio State and the Tide.

Other teams advancing in the poll included USC (up three at No. 8) and unbeaten UCF (up two at No. 10).

Given the chaoss at the end of the season, Clemson was about as unanimous a No. 1 team as you could get, receiving 42 of 48 first places votes. Georgia and Oklahoma split the other first place votes with three each.

The SEC led all conferences with four teams. The Big Ten and Pac-12 had three each. The ACC and Big 12 had two each. The American and Independents one each.

Congrove's final ballot had Clemson at the top, followed by Oklahoma, Georgia and Ohio State. Alabama was 5th. The rest of his top 16 had Wisconsin 6th, followed by UCF, USC, Penn State, Auburn, Washington, Miami (FL), Virginia Tech, TCU, LSU and Memphis.

Voters in the poll consist of FWAA writers and College Football Hall of Famers who were selected to create a balanced-geographical perspective.

FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll
(For games through December 2, 2017)

Others receiving votes:

Michigan State (32), Oklahoma State (27), Memphis (18), Mississippi State (11), Virginia Tech (10), Washington State (5), South Florida (5), Northwestern (1), Boise State (1).