# 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprise the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship at the FBS level. Instead, that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is usually released starting midway through the season. The CFP rankings determine who makes the four-team playoff that determines the College Football Playoff National Champion. Due to scheduling impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, release of CFP rankings during the 2020 season was adjusted to have the first rankings issued on November 24 and the final rankings issued on December 20.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| | Selected for College Football Playoff |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| (Italics) | Number of first place votes |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## AP Poll

| | Preseason Aug 24 | Week 1 N/A | Week 2 Sep 13 | Week 3 Sep 20 | Week 4 Sep 27 | Week 5 Oct 4 | Week 6 Oct 11 | Week 7 Oct 18 | Week 8 Oct 25 | Week 9 Nov 1 | Week 10 Nov 8 | Week 11 Nov 15 | Week 12 Nov 22 | Week 13 Nov 29 | Week 14 Dec 6 | Week 15 Dec 13 | Week 16 Dec 20 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 11 | |
| 1. | Clemson (38) | | Clemson (1–0) (60) | Clemson (2–0) (59) | Clemson (2–0) (55) | Clemson (3–0) (52) | Clemson (4–0) (59) | Clemson (5–0) (54) | Clemson (6–0) (52) | Clemson (7–0) (33) | Alabama (6–0) (59) | Alabama (6–0) (60) | Alabama (7–0) (62) | Alabama (8–0) (62) | Alabama (9–0) (62) | Alabama (10–0) (62) | Alabama (11–0) (62) | Alabama (13–0) (61) | 1. |
| 2. | Ohio State* (21) | | Alabama (0–0) | Alabama (0–0) (1) | Alabama (1–0) (3) | Alabama (2–0) (8) | Alabama (3–0) (2) | Alabama (4–0) (8) | Alabama (5–0) (10) | Alabama (6–0) (29) | Notre Dame (7–0) (2) | Notre Dame (8–0) (1) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Clemson (10–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (2) | | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Florida (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (3–0) (1) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (6–0) | Clemson (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Georgia | | Georgia (0–0) | Georgia (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma | | Florida (0–0) | Florida (0–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Ohio State (0–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | LSU (1) | | LSU (0–0) (1) | LSU (0–0) (1) | Ohio State (0–0) (4) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Ohio State (0–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Florida (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Oklahoma (9–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State* | | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Georgia (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Florida | | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (0–0) т | Miami (FL) (3–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Florida (3–1) | BYU (8–0) | BYU (8–0) | BYU (9–0) | BYU (9–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Cincinnati (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Oregon* | | Texas (1–0) | Texas (1–0) т | Texas (2–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Wisconsin (1–0) | BYU (7–0) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Indiana (4–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | Iowa State (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Notre Dame | | Texas A&M (0–0) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Florida (2–1) | Florida (2–1) | Florida (2–1) | Wisconsin (1–0) | Indiana (3–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Indiana (5–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Florida (8–3) | Northwestern (7–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Auburn | | Oklahoma State (0–0) | North Carolina (1–0) | UCF (2–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | BYU (6–0) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Oregon (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Northwestern (5–0) | Georgia (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (10–0) | Florida (8–2) | Georgia (7–2) | BYU (11–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin* | | North Carolina (1–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | North Carolina (1–0) | Oregon (0–0) | Oregon (0–0) | BYU (5–0) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Oregon (0–0) | Georgia (4–2) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Indiana (4–1) | Iowa State (7–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Iowa State (8–3) | Indiana (6–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M | | Cincinnati (0–0) | UCF (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Auburn (1–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Oregon (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Indiana (2–0) | Wisconsin (1–0) | Georgia (4–2) | Georgia (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | USC (5–0) | BYU (10–1) | Florida (8–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas | | UCF (0–0) | Cincinnati (1–0) | Oregon (0–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | BYU (4–0) | North Carolina (3–1) т | Oregon (0–0) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (9–0) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | North Carolina (8–3) | Coastal Carolina (11–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Oklahoma State | | Tennessee (0–0) | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Cincinnati (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Wisconsin (0–0) т | North Carolina (4–1) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | Coastal Carolina (7–0) | Coastal Carolina (7–0) т | Iowa State (6–2) | Marshall (7–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | Northwestern (6–2) | Louisiana (10–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Michigan* | | Memphis (1–0) | Tennessee (0–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | SMU (5–0) | Kansas State (4–1) | Marshall (5–0) | Marshall (6–0) | Marshall (7–0) т | Coastal Carolina (8–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | USC (3–0) | North Carolina (8–3) | Louisiana (9–1) | Iowa (6–2) | 16. |
| 17. | USC* | | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | LSU (1–1) | SMU (4–0) | Iowa State (3–1) | Indiana (1–0) | Iowa State (4–2) | Iowa State (5–2) | Iowa State (5–2) | Marshall (7–0) | USC (3–0) | Louisiana (9–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Liberty (10–1) | 17. |
| 18. | North Carolina | | Louisville (1–0) | BYU (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | SMU (4–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Michigan (0–0) | Penn State (0–1) | SMU (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Tulsa (6–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | North Carolina (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Minnesota* | | Louisiana (1–0) | Louisiana (2–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | Marshall (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–2) | SMU (7–1) | Northwestern (4–0) | USC (3–0) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | San Jose State (7–0) | Texas (7–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Cincinnati | | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Virginia Tech (0–0) | LSU (0–1) | Michigan (0–0) | Iowa State (3–1) | Kansas State (3–1) | Coastal Carolina (5–0) | USC (0–0) | USC (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Texas (5–2) | Louisiana (8–1) | North Carolina (7–3) | Tulsa (6–1) | Texas (6–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | 20. |
| 21. | UCF | | BYU (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Louisiana (3–0) | Minnesota (0–0) | USC (0–0) | Boise State (2–0) | Texas (5–2) | Liberty (8–0) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Oregon (3–1) | Colorado (4–0) | Texas (6–3) | USC (5–1) | USC (5–1) | 21. |
| 22. | Utah* | | Army (2–0) | Army (2–0) | BYU (2–0) | Texas (2–1) | Kansas State (3–1) | Marshall (4–0) | SMU (5–1) | Texas (4–2) | Liberty (7–0) | Texas (5–2) | Auburn (5–2) | Tulsa (5–1) | Liberty (9–1) | Liberty (9–1) | Tulsa (6–2) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Iowa State | | Kentucky (0–0) т | Kentucky (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Louisiana (3–0) | Virginia Tech (2–1) | NC State (4–1) | Iowa State (3–2) | Michigan (1–1) | Northwestern (3–0) | Auburn (4–2) | Louisiana (7–1) | Washington (3–0) | Texas (6–3) | Buffalo (5–0) | Liberty (9–1) | Ball State (7–1) | 23. |
| 24. | Iowa* | | Appalachian State (1–0) т | Louisville (1–1) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Iowa State (2–1) | Minnesota (0–0) | USC (0–0) | Oklahoma (3–2) | Auburn (4–2) | Auburn (4–2) | Louisiana (7–1) | Tulsa (5–1) | Iowa (4–2) | Buffalo (4–0) | NC State (8–3) | NC State (8–3) | San Jose State (7–1) | 24. |
| 25. | Tennessee | | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Marshall (2–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Minnesota (0–0) | USC (0–0) | Coastal Carolina (4–0) | Boise State (1–0) | Liberty (6–0) | Louisiana (6–1) | Tulsa (4–1) | North Carolina (6–2) | Liberty (9–1) | Wisconsin (2–2) | San Jose State (6–0) | Oregon (4–2) | Buffalo (6–1) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 24 | Week 1 N/A | Week 2 Sep 13 | Week 3 Sep 20 | Week 4 Sep 27 | Week 5 Oct 4 | Week 6 Oct 11 | Week 7 Oct 18 | Week 8 Oct 25 | Week 9 Nov 1 | Week 10 Nov 8 | Week 11 Nov 15 | Week 12 Nov 22 | Week 13 Nov 29 | Week 14 Dec 6 | Week 15 Dec 13 | Week 16 Dec 20 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 11 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Ohio StatePenn StateOregonWisconsinMichiganUSCMinnesotaUtahIowa StateIowa | Dropped: Appalachian State | Dropped: LouisianaVirginia TechArmyKentuckyLouisvilleMarshall | Dropped: OklahomaUCFMississippi StatePittsburghMemphis | Dropped: LSUTexas | Dropped: AuburnTennesseeLouisiana | Dropped: Virginia TechMinnesotaNC State | Dropped: North CarolinaKansas StatePenn State | Dropped: Boise StateMichigan | Dropped: SMU | Dropped: Liberty | Dropped: TexasAuburnNorth Carolina | Dropped: MarshallOklahoma StateOregonWashington | Dropped: ColoradoWisconsin | Dropped: Buffalo | Dropped: TulsaNC StateOregon | |
*Teams whose season had been suspended were still ranked in the preseason poll; such teams were not considered after Week 1.

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 6 | Week 1 N/A | Week 2 Sep 13 | Week 3 Sep 20 | Week 4 Sep 27 | Week 5 Oct 4 | Week 6 Oct 11 | Week 7 Oct 18 | Week 8 Oct 25 | Week 9 Nov 1 | Week 10 Nov 8 | Week 11 Nov 15 | Week 12 Nov 22 | Week 13 Nov 29 | Week 14 Dec 6 | Week 15 Dec 13 | Week 16 Dec 20 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| 1. | Clemson (38) | | Clemson (1–0) (37) | Clemson (2–0) (44) | Clemson (2–0) (42) | Clemson (3–0) (46) | Clemson (4–0) (55) | Clemson (5–0) (52) | Clemson (6–0) (52) | Clemson (7–0) (43) | Alabama (6–0) (55) | Alabama (6–0) (56) | Alabama (7–0) (59) | Alabama (8–0) (59) | Alabama (9–0) (59) | Alabama (10–0) (60) | Alabama (11–0) (61) | Alabama (13–0) (60) | 1. |
| 2. | Ohio State (17) | | Alabama (0–0) (1) | Alabama (0–0) (1) | Alabama (1–0) (4) | Alabama (2–0) (14) | Alabama (3–0) (5) | Alabama (4–0) (8) | Alabama (5–0) (8) | Alabama (6–0) (17) | Notre Dame (7–0) (4) | Notre Dame (8–0) (3) | Notre Dame (8–0) (2) | Notre Dame (9–0) (2) | Notre Dame (10–0) (2) | Notre Dame (10–0) (2) | Clemson (10–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (4) | | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) т | Florida (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) т | Georgia (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Ohio State (1–0) (2) | Ohio State (2–0) (2) | Ohio State (3–0) (3) | Ohio State (3–0) (2) | Ohio State (4–0) (1) | Clemson (8–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Ohio State (6–0) | Clemson (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Georgia | | Georgia (0–0) | Georgia (0–0) т | Georgia (1–0) | Florida (2–0) т | Notre Dame (3–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Ohio State (4–0) (1) | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | 4. |
| 5. | LSU | | LSU (0–0) (3) | LSU (0–0) (1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Georgia (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Florida (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Oklahoma | | Florida (0–0) | Florida (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | North Carolina (3–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Florida (8–1) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Oklahoma (9–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State | | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Indiana (6–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Georgia (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Florida | | Texas (1–0) | Auburn (0–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Florida (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Florida (3–1) | BYU (8–0) | BYU (8–0) | BYU (9–0) | BYU (9–0) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Indiana (6–1) | Cincinnati (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Oregon | | Auburn (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Florida (2–1) | BYU (7–0) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Miami (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Iowa State (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Notre Dame | | Texas A&M (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Penn State (0–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | BYU (6–0) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Georgia (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Florida (8–3) | Northwestern (7–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Auburn | | North Carolina (1–0) | Texas A&M (0–0) | North Carolina (1–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) т | Wisconsin (1–0) | Wisconsin (1–0) | Georgia (4–2) | Georgia (4–2) | Oregon (3–0) | Indiana (5–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Florida (8–2) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | BYU (11–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin | | Oklahoma State (0–0) | North Carolina (1–0) | UCF (2–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | BYU (5–0) т | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Oregon (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Indiana (4–1) | Iowa State (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | Iowa State (8–3) | Florida (8–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M | | UCF (0–0) | Penn State (0–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Auburn (1–1) | BYU (4–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | North Carolina (4–1) | Indiana (2–0) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | Oregon (2–0) | Northwestern (5–0) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (10–0) | USC (5–0) | Northwestern (6–2) | Indiana (6–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas | | Cincinnati (0–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Oregon (0–0) | Wisconsin (1–0) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Coastal Carolina (9–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | North Carolina (8–3) | Coastal Carolina (11–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Michigan | | Memphis (1–0) | UCF (1–0) | Cincinnati (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Oregon (0–0) | Oregon (0–0) | Marshall (5–0) | Marshall (6–0) | Marshall (7–0) | Iowa State (6–2) | Marshall (7–0) | USC (3–0) | North Carolina (8–3) | BYU (10–1) | Iowa (6–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Oklahoma State | | Louisville (1–0) | Cincinnati (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | LSU (1–1) | Oregon (0–0) | SMU (5–0) | Kansas State (4–1) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | Iowa State (5–2) | Iowa State (5–2) | Marshall (7–0) | USC (3–0) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Louisiana (10–1) | 16. |
| 17. | USC | | Tennessee (0–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | LSU (0–1) | Oregon (0–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Michigan (0–0) | Penn State (0–1) | Iowa State (4–2) | Coastal Carolina (7–0) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Coastal Carolina (8–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Louisiana (9–1) | North Carolina (8–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Minnesota | | Miami (1–0) | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Wisconsin (0–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | SMU (4–0) | Iowa State (3–1) | Marshall (5–0) | SMU (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Coastal Carolina (7–0) | USC (3–0) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Louisiana (9–1) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Liberty (10–1) | 18. |
| 19. | North Carolina | | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Kansas State (3–1) | Indiana (1–0) | Oklahoma (4–2) | SMU (7–1) | USC (2–0) | Auburn (5–2) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Tulsa (6–1) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | USC (5–1) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Utah | | Kentucky (0–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Iowa State (3–1) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | USC (0–0) | USC (0–0) | USC (1–0) | Northwestern (4–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Oregon (3–1) | North Carolina (7–3) | Tulsa (6–1) | San Jose State (7–0) | Texas (7–3) | 20. |
| 21. | UCF | | Louisiana (1–0) | Tennessee (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | SMU (4–0) | Louisiana (3–0) | Minnesota (0–0) | Coastal Carolina (5–0) | Auburn (4–2) | Auburn (4–2) | Auburn (4–2) | Texas (5–2) | Louisiana (8–1) | Liberty (9–1) | Liberty (9–1) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | USC (5–1) | 21. |
| 22. | Cincinnati | | BYU (1–0) | Minnesota (0–0) | BYU (2–0) | Texas (2–1) | Kansas State (3–1) | NC State (4–1) | Iowa State (3–2) | Army (6–1) | Liberty (7–0) | Liberty (8–0) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Tulsa (5–1) | Colorado (4–0) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | NC State (8–3) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Iowa | | Appalachian State (1–0) | BYU (1–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Louisiana (3–0) | Virginia Tech (2–1) | USC (0–0) | SMU (5–1) | Boise State (2–0) | Northwestern (3–0) | Texas (5–2) | North Carolina (6–2) | Washington (3–0) | Texas (6–3) | NC State (8–3) | Liberty (9–1) | Ball State (7–1) | 23. |
| 24. | Virginia Tech | | Baylor (0–0) | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Memphis (1–0) | Iowa State (2–1) | USC (0–0) | Coastal Carolina (4–0) | Oklahoma (3–2) | North Carolina (4–2) | Texas (5–2) | North Carolina (6–2) | Louisiana (7–1) | Iowa (4–2) | NC State (8–3) | Texas (6–3) | Texas (6–3) | San Jose State (7–1) | 24. |
| 25. | Iowa State | | Army (2–0) | Louisiana (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | UCF (2–1) | Minnesota (0–0) | Marshall (4–0) | Army (6–1) | Michigan (1–1) | Army (6–1) | Louisiana (7–1) | Tulsa (5–1) | Liberty (9–1) | Wisconsin (2–2) | San Jose State (6–0) | Tulsa (6–2) | Buffalo (6–1) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 6 | Week 1 N/A | Week 2 Sep 13 | Week 3 Sep 20 | Week 4 Sep 27 | Week 5 Oct 4 | Week 6 Oct 11 | Week 7 Oct 18 | Week 8 Oct 25 | Week 9 Nov 1 | Week 10 Nov 8 | Week 11 Nov 15 | Week 12 Nov 22 | Week 13 Nov 29 | Week 14 Dec 6 | Week 15 Dec 13 | Week 16 Dec 20 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Ohio StatePenn StateOregonWisconsinMichiganUSCMinnesotaUtahIowaIowa State | Dropped: LouisvilleKentuckyAppalachian StateBaylorArmy | Dropped: MinnesotaLouisiana | Dropped: Mississippi StateOklahomaMemphisPittsburgh | Dropped: LSUTexasUCF | Dropped: AuburnTennesseeLouisiana | Dropped: Virginia TechMinnesotaNC State | Dropped: Kansas StatePenn State | Dropped: Boise StateNorth CarolinaMichigan | Dropped: SMUArmy | Dropped: Liberty | Dropped: AuburnTexasNorth Carolina | Dropped: MarshallOklahoma StateOregonWashington | Dropped: ColoradoWisconsin | None | Dropped: NC StateTulsa | |

## CFP rankings

The initial 2020 College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
| | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 Dec 15 | Week 16 (Final) Dec 20 | |
| 1. | Alabama (7–0) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) | Alabama (11–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Clemson (10–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Ohio State (6–0) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Notre Dame (10–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Iowa State (8–2) | Florida (8–2) | Florida (8–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Northwestern (5–0) | Georgia (6–2) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Georgia (7–2) | Cincinnati (9–0) | 8. |
| 9. | Georgia (5–2) | Iowa State (7–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Georgia (7–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Iowa State (8–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Oklahoma (6–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Indiana (6–1) | Indiana (6–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Indiana (4–1) | Indiana (5–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | Coastal Carolina (11–0) | 12. |
| 13. | Iowa State (6–2) | BYU (9–0) | Coastal Carolina (10–0) | USC (5–0) | North Carolina (8–3) | 13. |
| 14. | BYU (9–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | Northwestern (5–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | Northwestern (6–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Oregon (3–0) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | USC (4–0) | North Carolina (8–3) | Iowa (6–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Wisconsin (2–1) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Iowa (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | BYU (10–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Texas (5–2) | North Carolina (6–3) | North Carolina (7–3) | BYU (10–1) | USC (5–1) | 17. |
| 18. | USC (3–0) | Coastal Carolina (9–0) | BYU (9–1) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | 18. |
| 19. | North Carolina (6–2) | Iowa (4–2) | Louisiana (9–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Coastal Carolina (8–0) | USC (3–0) | Texas (6–3) | Texas (6–3) | Texas (6–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Marshall (7–0) | Marshall (7–0) | Colorado (4–0) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Auburn (5–2) | Washington (3–0) | Oklahoma State (6–3) | NC State (8–3) | San Jose State (7–0) | 22. |
| 23. | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Oregon (3–1) | NC State (8–3) | Tulsa (6–1) | NC State (8–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Iowa (3–2) | Tulsa (5–1) | Tulsa (6–1) | San Jose State (6–0) | Tulsa (6–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Tulsa (5–1) | Louisiana (8–1) | Missouri (5–3) | Colorado (4–1) | Oregon (4–2) | 25. |
| | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 Dec 15 | Week 16 (Final) Dec 20 | |
| | | Dropped: TexasAuburn | Dropped: WisconsinMarshallWashingtonOregon | Dropped: Missouri | Dropped: Colorado | |

### Criticism

In the Week 15 CFP rankings, the committee was widely criticized for dropping the Florida Gators only one spot from No. 6 to No. 7 following their home loss to a losing–record, unranked LSU Tigers team that was starting a freshman quarterback for the first time. Some also criticized the committee for undervaluing the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats (dropped from No. 8 to No. 9 behind three two–loss teams) and for overvaluing the two–loss Iowa State Cyclones (rose from No. 7 to No. 6 despite two losses, including being defeated by the one-loss, No. 19-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, 31–14).