USA Today/CNN Coaches Poll

Voted on by panel of 62 Division I-A head coaches; winning team receives the Sears Trophy (originally the McDonald's Trophy, 1991-93); first place votes in parentheses with total points (based on 25 for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc.).

NFF/Hall of Fame Poll

Voted on by panel of 62 members of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame; winning team receives the NFF's MacArthur Bowl, given since 1959; first place votes in parentheses with total points (based on 25 for 1st, 24 for 2nd, etc.).

FWAA Poll

Voted on by a five-man panel comprised of Bob Hammel of the Bloomington (Ind.) Herald-Times, Ed Joyce of ESPN, Blair Kerkhoff of The Kansas City Star, Ivan Maisel of Newsday and Corky Simpson of the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen. Each selector voted for one team.

Winning team receives the Grantland Rice Award, given since 1954.

NY Times Computer Ratings

Based on an analysis of each team's scores with emphasis on three factors: who won, by what margin, and against what quality of opposition. Computer balances lop-sided scores, notes home field advantage and gives late-season games more weight than those played earlier in the schedule.

The top team is assigned a rating of 1.000, ratings of all other teams reflect their strength relative to strength of No.1 team.