USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll

Voted on by panel of 59 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.).

FWAA Poll

Voted on by a five-man panel comprised of Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mark Blaudschun of the Boston Globe, Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times, Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald, and Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News. Each selector voted for one team.

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

NFF's MacArthur Bowl

In the past the MacArthur Bowl was awarded following a vote by a panel of members of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame but since the advent of the Bowl Championship Series it has been awarded to the BCS champion; winning team receives the NFF's MacArthur Bowl, given since 1959; The McArthur Bowl was the gift of an anonymous donor in the name of General Douglas MacArthur who served for several years as chairman of the Foundation's National Advisory Board. Almost 400 ounces of silver went into the bowl which represents a huge stadium with rows of seats carved in relief.

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. Rankings include all regular season games.