The college football season ended with a bang, Clemson bringing home the grand prize by upending defending national champs Alabama with a game-winning TD pass with 1 second left. The Tigers claim their 1st National Championship in 35 years, since hoisting hardware in their historic 1981 season. 16 players from the State of Florida grace Clemson's championship roster, highlighting the impact of Florida Players in college programs.

Early Tuesday, the Associated Press (AP) released their final College Football AP Poll, cementing an exciting 2016 season in which QB Deshaun Watson took his Tigers and the Clemson faithful to the promised land.

National Champion Clemson ends the season ranked #1, Alabama #2, and surprise, USC jumps up from the #9 spot to #3, after a big win in their home Rose Bowl over then ranked #5 Penn State.

Washington, who lost in the 1st round of the College Football Playoff vs. Alabama, ends ranked #4, while the fifth spot in the country belongs to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Ohio State ends the season ranked #6. The Buckeyes were dominated by eventual national champion Clemson, resulting in a steep drop 4 spots from #2.

Penn State, who many felt should have been in the College Football Playoffs being that they beat CFP participant Ohio State, was edged by USC in a nail-biter at The Coliseum. The Big 10 Conference champ Nittany Lions end their season campaign ranked a respectable #7.

Florida State is the only college from the Sunshine State to be ranked in the final Top 10. The #8 ranked Seminoles had a good record of 10 wins, 3 losses, but nonetheless a disappointing season for the Noles: No ACC Championship, No National Championship. Florida State came in with high expectations, boasting a dominant defense, and the nation's best running back in Dalvin Cook (Miami Central HS). If any solace, the Noles claim the statewide title, beating every team they played from Florida during the season: They escaped with a 1pt win over Miami, beat a good USF Team 55-35, and beat their rivals Florida Gators with a commanding 31-13 win.

Wisconsin is ranked #9, powered by star defensive backs from Florida: Derrick Tinsdal Jr. (Lauderdale Lakes HS) and DeCota Dixon (New Smyrna Beach HS).

#10 Michigan rounds out the Top 10 College Football AP Poll, after a tough loss to Florida State career leading rusher Dalvin Cook (Miami Central HS) and his Seminoles in his hometown in his last game donning garnet and gold.

4 College Teams from Florida finished in the Top 20 of the Final College Football AP Poll Top 25.


COLLEGE AP POLL (FINAL)
Released January 10, 2017 by the Associated Press (AP)