# 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprised the 2015 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, 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 is released midway through the season; the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are released after the eighth week.
This was the second season of the four-team College Football Playoff system which replaced the previous Bowl Championship Series system. At the conclusion of the regular season, on Sunday, December 6, 2015, the final CFP rankings will determine who will play in the two bowl games designated as semifinals for the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 11, 2016, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.

## 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 23 | Week 1 Sep 8 | 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 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| 1. | Ohio State (61) | Ohio State (1–0) (61) | Ohio State (2–0) (59) | Ohio State (3–0) (42) | Ohio State (4–0) (45) | Ohio State (5–0) (38) | Ohio State (6–0) (27) | Ohio State (7–0) (28) | Ohio State (8–0) (39) | Ohio State (8–0) (39) | Clemson (9–0) (31) | Clemson (10–0) (34) | Clemson (11–0) (55) | Clemson (12–0) (53) | Clemson (13–0) (51) | Alabama (14–1) (61) | 1. |
| 2. | TCU | Alabama (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) (7) | Michigan State (4–0) (5) | TCU (5–0) (5) | Baylor (5–0) (13) | Baylor (6–0) (12) | Baylor (7–0) (7) | Baylor (7–0) (6) | Ohio State (9–0) (26) | Ohio State (10–0) (23) | Alabama (10–1) (6) | Alabama (11–1) (8) | Alabama (12–1) (9) | Clemson (14–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama | TCU (1–0) | TCU (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) (11) т | Ole Miss (4–0) (10) | Baylor (5–0) (10) | TCU (6–0) (3) | Utah (6–0) (16) | Clemson (7–0) (6) | Clemson (8–0) (6) | Alabama (8–1) (2) | Alabama (9–1) (4) | Iowa (11–0) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Michigan State (12–1) (1) | Stanford (12–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Baylor | Baylor (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) (2) | TCU (3–0) т | TCU (4–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Utah (5–0) (16) | TCU (7–0) (3) | LSU (7–0) (5) | LSU (7–0) (5) | Baylor (8–0) (2) | Oklahoma State (10–0) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Iowa (12–0) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Michigan State | Michigan State (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Baylor (3–0) | Utah (4–0) (7) | Clemson (5–0) (1) | LSU (6–0) (1) | TCU (7–0) (3) | TCU (8–0) (4) | Oklahoma State (9–0) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Michigan State (11–1) | Stanford (11–2) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Auburn | Auburn (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Clemson (4–0) | LSU (5–0) | Clemson (6–0) (1) | Michigan State (8–0) | Michigan State (8–0) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Iowa (10–0) | Michigan State (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Iowa (12–1) | Michigan State (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Oregon | Oregon (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | LSU (4–0) | Michigan State (6–0) | Michigan State (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) (1) | Alabama (7–1) (1) | Stanford (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Baylor (9–1) | Stanford (10–2) | Ohio State (11–1) | TCU (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | USC | USC (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | LSU (2–0) (1) | Georgia (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Florida (6–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Stanford (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Iowa (9–0) | Florida (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Houston (13–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Georgia | Notre Dame (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | LSU (3–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) (1) | Texas A&M (5–0) (1) | Florida State (6–0) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Stanford (7–1) | LSU (7–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Iowa (12–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Florida State | Georgia (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Utah (4–0) (1) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Stanford (5–1) | Iowa (7–0) | Iowa (8–0) | Utah (8–1) | Baylor (8–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida State (10–2) | North Carolina (11–2) | Ole Miss (10–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Florida State (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Florida (5–0) | Florida State (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | TCU (9–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | TCU (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Clemson | Clemson (1–0) | Oregon (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Clemson (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Iowa (7–0) | Oklahoma State (7–0) | Oklahoma State (8–0) | Oklahoma (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | Michigan (9–2) | Baylor (9–2) | Northwestern (10–2) | Michigan (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | UCLA | UCLA (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Oregon (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Northwestern (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Utah (6–1) | Utah (7–1) | TCU (8–1) | Houston (10–0) | Stanford (9–2) | Northwestern (10–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | Baylor (10–3) | 13. |
| 14. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Ole Miss (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Michigan State (8–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Florida State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | Houston (12–1) | Florida State (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Arizona State | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Michigan (5–2) т | Michigan (5–2) | Memphis (8–0) | Michigan (7–2) | Stanford (8–2) | TCU (9–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | North Carolina (11–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Georgia Tech | Texas A&M (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Northwestern (4–0) | Stanford (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) т | Memphis (7–0) | Michigan (6–2) | Houston (9–0) | Florida State (8–2) | Navy (9–1) | Ole Miss (9–3) | Ole Miss (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Ole Miss | Ole Miss (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Northwestern (3–0) | USC (3–1) | USC (3–1) | Iowa (6–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Houston (11–1) | Michigan (9–3) | Utah (10–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Arkansas | Arkansas (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Memphis (6–0) | Houston (7–0) | Houston (8–0) | UCLA (7–2) | Utah (8–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Florida (10–2) | Baylor (9–3) | Navy (11–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Toledo (6–0) | Ole Miss (6–2) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Navy (8–1) | Ole Miss (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Florida (10–3) | Oregon (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Wisconsin | Boise State (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | UCLA (4–1) | Northwestern (5–1) | California (5–1) | Toledo (7–0) | Toledo (7–0) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Northwestern (8–2) | Washington State (8–3) | Temple (10–2) | Utah (9–3) | Oklahoma State (10–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Stanford | Missouri (1–0) | Utah (2–0) | Stanford (2–1) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Boise State (5–1) | Houston (6–0) | Temple (7–0) | North Carolina (7–1) | Temple (8–1) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Houston (10–1) | Utah (9–3) | Navy (9–2) | Wisconsin (10–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Arizona | Arizona (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | BYU (2–1) т | Michigan (3–1) | Iowa (5–0) | Toledo (5–0) | Temple (6–0) | Duke (6–1) | UCLA (6–2) | Navy (7–1) | USC (7–3) | UCLA (8–3) | Navy (9–2) | LSU (8–3) | Tennessee (9–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Boise State | Tennessee (1–0) | Northwestern (2–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) т | West Virginia (3–0) | California (5–0) | California (5–1) | Duke (5–1) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | Temple (7–1) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Oregon (7–3) | Mississippi State (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Wisconsin (9–3) | Northwestern (10–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Missouri | Utah (1–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | California (4–0) | Toledo (4–0) | Houston (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–2) | UCLA (5–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | Washington State (7–3) | Toledo (9–1) | USC (8–4) | Temple (10–3) | Western Kentucky (12–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Tennessee | Mississippi State (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Missouri (3–0) | Florida (4–0) | Boise State (4–1) | Duke (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Memphis (8–1) | Ole Miss (7–3) | Temple (9–2) | Wisconsin (9–3) | Western Kentucky (11–2) | Florida (10–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 23 | Week 1 Sep 8 | 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 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| | | Dropped: Arizona StateWisconsinStanford | Dropped: ArkansasBoise StateTennesseeMississippi State | Dropped: Auburn | Dropped: OregonArizonaGeorgia TechBYUMissouri | Dropped: WisconsinMississippi StateWest Virginia | Dropped: USCGeorgia | Dropped: UCLANorthwesternBoise State | Dropped: Texas A&MCalifornia | Dropped: DukePittsburgh | Dropped: Ole MissToledoTexas A&M | Dropped: UCLAMississippi StateTempleMemphis | Dropped: LSUUSCUtahWisconsin | Dropped: Washington StateUCLAMississippi StateToledo | Dropped: USC | Dropped: Temple | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Jul 30 | Week 1 Sep 8 | 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 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| 1. | Ohio State (62) | Ohio State (1–0) (63) | Ohio State (2–0) (62) | Ohio State (3–0) (61) | Ohio State (4–0) (61) | Ohio State (5–0) (50) | Ohio State (6–0) (47) | Ohio State (7–0) (45) | Ohio State (8–0) (49) | Ohio State (8–0) (48) | Ohio State (9–0) (34) | Clemson (10–0) (28) | Clemson (11–0) (58) | Clemson (12–0) (53) | Clemson (13–0) (55) | Alabama (14–1) (56) | 1. |
| 2. | TCU (1) | Alabama (1–0) (1) | Alabama (2–0) (1) | TCU (3–0) | Michigan State (4–0) (2) | TCU (5–0) (4) | Baylor (5–0) (8) | Baylor (6–0) (12) | Baylor (7–0) (10) | Baylor (7–0) (9) | Clemson (9–0) (21) | Ohio State (10–0) (32) | Alabama (10–1) (5) | Alabama (11–1) (8) | Alabama (12–1) (5) | Clemson (14–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (1) | TCU (1–0) | TCU (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) (3) | TCU (4–0) | Michigan State (5–0) (1) | TCU (6–0) (5) | TCU (7–0) (4) | TCU (7–0) (2) | TCU (8–0) (4) | Baylor (8–0) (5) | Alabama (9–1) (4) | Iowa (11–0) (1) | Iowa (12–0) (1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Stanford (12–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Baylor | Baylor (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Baylor (3–0) | Baylor (4–0) (5) | Michigan State (6–0) (1) | Michigan State (7–0) | LSU (7–0) (1) | LSU (7–0) (1) | Alabama (8–1) (3) | Oklahoma State (10–0) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) (2) | Michigan State (12–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Oregon | Oregon (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Ole Miss (4–0) (1) | LSU (4–0) (1) | LSU (5–0) (1) | LSU (6–0) (1) | Michigan State (8–0) | Clemson (8–0) (2) | Oklahoma State (9–0) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Michigan State (11–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Michigan State | Michigan State (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Clemson (5–0) | Clemson (6–0) | Clemson (7–0) (1) | Michigan State (8–0) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Iowa (10–0) | Michigan State (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Stanford (11–2) | Michigan State (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Auburn | Auburn (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Utah (4–0) (1) | Utah (5–0) (1) | Utah (6–0) (1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Stanford (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Baylor (9–1) | Stanford (10–2) | Iowa (12–1) | TCU (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Florida State | Florida State (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | LSU (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Florida State (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Stanford (6–1) | Stanford (7–1) | Iowa (9–0) | Florida (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | Florida State (10–2) | Houston (13–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Georgia | Georgia (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Florida State (6–0) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | LSU (7–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida State (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Ole Miss (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | USC | USC (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–0) | Oklahoma State (8–0) | Florida (8–1) | Baylor (8–1) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | Iowa (12–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Florida (6–0) | Stanford (5–1) | Iowa (7–0) | Iowa (8–0) | Oklahoma (8–1) | TCU (9–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | TCU (10–2) | North Carolina (11–2) | Michigan (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Clemson | Clemson (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Utah (4–0) | Florida (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | TCU (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | Michigan (9–2) т | Baylor (9–2) | Northwestern (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | LSU | UCLA (1–0) | Oregon (1–1) | Oregon (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Ole Miss (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Iowa (7–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Utah (8–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) т | Northwestern (10–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | Baylor (10–3) | 13. |
| 14. | UCLA | Ole Miss (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Northwestern (5–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Utah (6–1) | Utah (7–1) | Michigan State (8–1) | Houston (10–0) | Florida State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Florida State (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Ole Miss | LSU (0–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Navy (9–1) | Florida (10–2) | Ole Miss (9–3) | North Carolina (11–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Arizona State | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | USC (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Memphis (7–0) | Memphis (8–0) | Houston (9–0) | Florida State (8–2) | TCU (9–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Houston (12–1) | Utah (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia Tech | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Northwestern (4–0) | USC (3–1) | Iowa (6–0) | Memphis (6–0) т | Michigan (5–2) | Michigan (6–2) | North Carolina (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Wisconsin | Arkansas (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Stanford (4–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Michigan (5–2) т | Duke (6–1) | Houston (8–0) | UCLA (7–2) | Utah (8–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Houston (11–1) | Florida (10–3) | Navy (11–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Oklahoma | Texas A&M (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Northwestern (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | California (5–1) | Houston (7–0) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Navy (8–1) | Ole Miss (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Baylor (9–3) | Oklahoma State (10–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Arkansas | Arizona (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | Stanford (3–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Boise State (5–1) | Toledo (6–0) | Toledo (7–0) | Toledo (7–0) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Washington State (8–3) | Utah (9–3) | Utah (9–3) | Oregon (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Stanford | Missouri (1–0) | Utah (2–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) | West Virginia (3–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Northwestern (5–1) | Duke (5–1) | Ole Miss (6–2) | North Carolina (7–1) | Temple (8–1) | Northwestern (8–2) | Houston (10–1) | Temple (10–2) | LSU (8–3) | Wisconsin (10–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Arizona | Boise State (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | California (5–0) | Memphis (5–0) | Houston (6–0) | Temple (7–0) | UCLA (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Oregon (7–3) | Mississippi State (8–3) | Navy (9–2) | Navy (9–2) | Northwestern (10–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Missouri | Tennessee (1–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Missouri (3–0) | Florida (4–0) | Iowa (5–0) | California (5–1) | Ole Miss (5–2) | Georgia (5–2) | Temple (7–1) | Navy (7–1) | Washington State (7–3) | UCLA (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Wisconsin (9–3) | Tennessee (9–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Boise State | Wisconsin (0–1) | Northwestern (2–0) | Stanford (2–1) | California (4–0) т | Boise State (4–1) | Duke (5–1) | Temple (6–0) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | USC (7–3) | Temple (9–2) | USC (8–4) | Temple (10–3) | Georgia (10–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Tennessee | Utah (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Oregon (2–2) т | Memphis (5–0) | Toledo (5–0) | Georgia (5–2) | UCLA (5–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Memphis (8–1) | Ole Miss (7–3) тMississippi State (7–3) т | Utah (8–3) | Wisconsin (9–3) | Georgia (9–3) | Florida (10–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Jul 30 | Week 1 Sep 8 | 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 (Final) Jan 12 | |
| | | Dropped: Arizona StateStanford | Dropped: ArkansasBoise StateTennessee | Dropped: BYU | Dropped: ArizonaGeorgia TechMissouriAuburn | Dropped: WisconsinWest VirginiaMississippi StateOregon | Dropped: GeorgiaUSC | Dropped: UCLABoise StateNorthwestern | Dropped: Texas A&MCalifornia | Dropped: DukeGeorgiaPittsburgh | Dropped: Ole MissToledoTexas A&M | Dropped: UCLATempleMemphis | Dropped: LSUWisconsinUSC | Dropped: Washington StateMississippi StateUCLA | Dropped: USC | Dropped: Temple | |

## CFP rankings

| | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 6 | |
| 1. | Clemson (8–0) | Clemson (9–0) | Clemson (10–0) | Clemson (11–0) | Clemson (12–0) | Clemson (13–0) | 1. |
| 2. | LSU (7–0) | Alabama (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State (8–0) | Ohio State (9–0) | Ohio State (10–0) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Michigan State (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Alabama (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Iowa (11–0) | Iowa (12–0) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Notre Dame (7–1) | Iowa (9–0) | Iowa (10–0) | Michigan State (10–1) | Michigan State (11–1) | Iowa (12–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Baylor (7–0) | Baylor (8–0) | Oklahoma State (10–0) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Stanford (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan State (8–0) | Stanford (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Baylor (9–1) | Stanford (10–2) | Ohio State (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | TCU (8–0) | Oklahoma State (9–0) | Florida (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Iowa (8–0) | LSU (7–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Stanford (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Florida State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Florida (7–1) | Utah (8–1) | Baylor (8–1) | Michigan (9–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | North Carolina (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Stanford (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Stanford (8–2) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | TCU (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Utah (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Florida (10–1) | Baylor (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Memphis (8–0) | Michigan State (8–1) | Utah (8–2) | Florida State (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–3) | Northwestern (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Oklahoma State (8–0) | Michigan (7–2) | Florida State (8–2) | North Carolina (10–1) | Northwestern (10–2) | Michigan (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Oklahoma (7–1) | TCU (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Navy (9–1) | Michigan (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Florida State (7–1) | Florida State (7–2) | Navy (8–1) | Northwestern (9–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Michigan (6–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | North Carolina (9–1) | Oregon (8–3) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | Baylor (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Ole Miss (7–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | TCU (9–1) | Ole Miss (8–3) | Florida (10–2) | Houston (12–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Texas A&M (6–2) | UCLA (7–2) | Houston (10–0) | TCU (9–2) | Houston (11–1) | Florida (10–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Mississippi State (6–2) | Navy (7–1) | Northwestern (8–2) | Washington State (8–3) | USC (8–4) | LSU (8–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Northwestern (6–2) | Memphis (8–1) | Memphis (8–2) | Mississippi State (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Navy (9–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Temple (7–1) | Temple (8–1) | Ole Miss (7–3) | UCLA (8–3) | Temple (10–2) | Utah (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | UCLA (6–2) | North Carolina (8–1) | Oregon (7–3) | Utah (8–3) | Navy (9–2) | Tennessee (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Toledo (7–0) | Houston (9–0) | USC (7–3) | Toledo (9–1) | Utah (9–3) | Temple (10–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Houston (8–0) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Temple (9–2) | Tennessee (8–4) | USC (8–5) | 25. |
| | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 6 | |
| | | Dropped: Ole MissTexas A&MToledo | Dropped: Mississippi StateUCLATemple | Dropped: LSUHoustonMemphisUSCWisconsin | Dropped: Washington StateMississippi StateUCLAToledo | None | |