It’s Official: AP Poll Says Notre Dame Is No. 1, Miami Is No. 2

Notre Dame’s record eighth national championship became official today when the Irish were a near-unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press postseason college football poll.

Notre Dame, a 34-21 winner over West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday, received 58 1/2 first-place votes and 1,198 1/2 of a possible 1,200 first-place points from a nationwide panel of 60 sportswriters and sportscasters.

Miami, the 1987 national champion, received the other 1 1/2 first-place ballots and 1,141 1/2 points, and finished second. The Hurricanes, who dropped a 31-30 decision to Notre Dame in October, beat Nebraska 23-3 in the Orange Bowl.

West Virginia’s loss to Notre Dame dropped the Mountaineers from third place to fifth. Florida State advanced from fourth to third with 1,073 points after a 13-7 victory over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.

Michigan, a 22-14 winner over USC in the Rose Bowl, made the biggest jump, leaping from No. 11 to No. 4.

Rounding out the Top Ten were UCLA, USC, Auburn, Clemson and Nebraska.

The final regular-season Top Ten consisted of Notre Dame, Miami, West Virginia, Florida State, USC, Nebraska, Auburn, Arkansas, UCLA and Oklahoma.

The final Second Ten includes Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Syracuse, Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington State, Alabama, Houston, LSU and Indiana, the only newcomer in the Top Twenty.

In the final regular season poll, it was Michigan, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Houston, Wyoming, LSU, Syracuse, Washington State, Georgia and Alabama.

COLLEGIATE TOP 10 1. Notre Dame

2. U. of Miami

3. Florida State

4. Michigan

5. W. Virginia

6. UCLA

7. USC

8. Auburn

9. Clemson

10. Nebraska