The FWAA‑NFF Super 16 poll, first released in 2013, determines the early-season hierarchy of the nation’s top 16 college football programs, relying on votes from the Football Writers Association of America and College Football Hall of Famers, with the results compiled by TicketManager and Kellner Ratings.
Week 1 Super 16 Rankings
Ohio State secured its 16th consecutive week as the nation’s top-ranked team, amassing 844 points and 32 first‑place votes after a 56‑3 victory over Ball State, a performance that underscored the Big Ten’s continued dominance.
Texas vaulted into third place with 697 points and two first‑place votes, highlighted by a 52‑point home win over Texas State that propelled the Longhorns back into the elite tier.
Notre Dame rose to second with 720 points and six first‑place votes, its 41‑13 triumph over Wisconsin at famed Lambeau Field signaling a strong start for the Fighting Irish.
Miami (FL) occupied fifth spot with 660 points and three first‑place votes after a decisive conference win that reinforced its position among the nation’s contenders.
Ole Miss slipped to ninth with 373 points and a single first‑place vote, edging past Louisville 41‑38 in a tightly contested battle.
LSU surged four places to eighth with 587 points and six first‑place votes, following a 51‑10 home victory over Clemson that displayed the Tigers’ renewed vigor.
Oregon fell to seventh with 597 points and two first‑place votes after a narrow 34‑27 home win over Boise State, illustrating how close margins can affect rankings.
Michigan dropped out of the poll entirely despite a 13‑12 home win over Western Michigan, while Penn State re‑entered at the 16th position after securing a home victory.
The conference landscape remained heavily weighted toward the SEC, which placed seven of the top 16 teams, followed by five from the Big Ten, two from the Big 12, one from the ACC and one from the FBS Independents.
The poll’s methodology, established in 2013 by the Football Writers Association of America and the National Football Foundation, aggregates votes from its writer members and Hall of Fame alumni, producing a composite ranking that reflects both point totals and first‑place selections.