The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas wins Grantland Rice Trophy
01.06.2006 | Football
PASADENA, Calif.-- The Texas Longhorns (13-0) are the Football Writers Association of America's 2005 national champion after their dramatic 41-38 win over USC in the Rose Bowl. Thursday, Texas coach Mack Brown was presented with the Grantland Rice Trophy by FWAA president Dennis Dodd.
Texas finished atop the Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll, receiving all 16 first-place votes. The Longhorns were No. 2 in the poll heading into the Rose Bowl.
The Longhorns, now winners of 20 straight games, snapped USC's 34-game winning streak to claim their first FWAA national title since 1969 and their third overall (1963). USC had won each of the last two Grantland Rice Trophies. No team has ever won three straight FWAA national titles.
The FWAA has presented the Grantland Rice Trophy, named in honor of the legendary sportswriter, to college football's national champion each year since 1954. When introduced, it was the first national championship trophy to be awarded after college football's postseason. This is the fourth season that a season-long poll has been concurrent with the award.
