| Here is Greg Rice's top 25 college football poll. (As Of December 8, 2002) |
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| 1. Miami Hurricanes |
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| Big East |
| 12-0 |
| 2. Ohio St. Buckeyes |
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| Big 10 |
| 13-0 |
| 3. Iowa Hawkeyes |
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| Big 10 |
| 11-1 |
| 4. Georgia Bulldogs |
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| SEC |
| 12-1 |
| 5. Southern Cal Trojans |
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| Pacific 10 |
| 10-2 |
| 6. Kansas St. Wildcats |
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| Big 12 |
| 10-2 |
| 7. Washington St. Cougars |
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| Pacific 10 |
| 10-2 |
| 8. Oklahoma Sooners |
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| Big 12 |
| 10-2 |
| 9. Texas Longhorns |
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| Big 12 |
| 10-2 |
| 10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
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| Independent |
| 10-2 |
| 11. Michigan Wolverines |
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| Big 10 |
| 9-3 |
| 12. Penn St. Nittany Lions |
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| Big 10 |
| 9-3 |
| 13. Alabama Crimson Tide |
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| SEC |
| 10-3 |
| 14. Florida St. Seminoles |
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| ACC |
| 9-4 |
| 15. Maryland Terrapins |
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| ACC |
| 10-3 |
| 16. West Virginia Mountaineers |
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| Big East |
| 9-3 |
| 17. North Carolina St. Wolfpack |
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| ACC |
| 10-3 |
| 18. Colorado Buffaloes |
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| Big 12 |
| 10-4 |
| 19. Arkansas Razorbacks |
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| SEC |
| 9-4 |
| 20. Boise St. Broncos |
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| WAC |
| 11-1 |
| 21. Florida Gators |
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| SEC |
| 8-4 |
| 22. Auburn Tigers |
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| SEC |
| 8-4 |
| 23. Pittsburgh Panthers |
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| Big East |
| 8-4 |
| 24. Virginia Tech Hokies |
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| Big East |
| 9-4 |
| 25. Colorado St. Rams |
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| MWC |
| 10-3 |