MIAMI -- Southern California became just the second team to go No. 1 wire-to-wire in The Associated Press Top 25 and the 10th team to repeat as national champion.

Following a resounding 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, USC received all but three first-place votes early Wednesday to easily outdistance Auburn.

The Trojans (13-0) are the first back-to-back AP champs since Nebraska in 1994-95.

USC received 62 first-place votes. Auburn (13-0) got the other first-place votes. Oklahoma (12-1) finished third, ahead of unbeaten Utah (12-0) and Texas (11-1).

In the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, No. 1 USC was followed by Auburn, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.

Niners ax coach Erickson and general manager

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers fired coach Dennis Erickson and dismissed general manager Terry Donahue on Wednesday, cleaning house just three days after the once-proud franchise finished with the NFL's worst record.

Owner John York announced the changes to his team, which went 2-14 to match the worst record in San Francisco history.

Erickson went 9-23 in two seasons as Steve Mariucci's successor, never reaching the postseason. He won two national championships at the University of Miami during a successful college coaching career, but he is 40-56 in six seasons as an NFL head coach in San Francisco and Seattle (1995-1998).

Erickson also coached at Washington State (1987-1988) and Oregon State (1999-2002).