# 1990 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1990 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings. 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.

## Legend

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

## AP Poll

| | Preseason Aug 26 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 11 | Week 3 Sep 18 | Week 4 Sep 25 | Week 5 Oct 2 | Week 6 Oct 9 | Week 7 Oct 16 | Week 8 Oct 23 | Week 9 Oct 30 | Week 10 Nov 6 | Week 11 Nov 13 | Week 12 Nov 20 | Week 13 Nov 27 | Week 14 Dec 4 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Miami (FL) (24) | Miami (FL) (0–0) (27) | Notre Dame (0–0) (37) | Notre Dame (1–0) (44) | Notre Dame (2–0) (43) | Notre Dame (3–0) (48) | Michigan (3–1) (34) | Virginia (6–0) (38) | Virginia (7–0) (45) | Virginia (7–0) (44) | Notre Dame (7–1) (37) | Notre Dame (8–1) (55) | Colorado (10–1–1) (45) | Colorado (10–1–1) (41) | Colorado (10–1–1) (42) | Colorado (11–1–1) (39) | 1. |
| 2. | Notre Dame (22) | Notre Dame (0–0) (20) | Auburn (1–0) (8) | Florida State (2–0) (10) | Florida State (3–0) (11) | Florida State (4–0) (10) | Virginia (5–0) (14) | Miami (FL) (4–1) (15) | Auburn (5–0–1) (4) | Notre Dame (6–1) (6) | Washington (8–1) (13) | Colorado (9–1–1) (5) | Miami (FL) (7–2) (3) | Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (10) | Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (16) | Georgia Tech (11–0–1) (20) | 2. |
| 3. | Auburn (3) | Auburn (0–0) (4) т | Florida State (1–0) (11) | Auburn (2–0) (4) | Auburn (2–0) (3) | Michigan (2–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) (6) | Tennessee (4–0–2) (2) | Notre Dame (5–1) (5) | Nebraska (8–0) (5) | Houston (8–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (8) | Miami (FL) (8–2) (2) | Texas (10–1) (2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (6) | Florida State (0–0) (7) т | Michigan (0–0) | BYU (3–0) (2) | BYU (4–0) (3) | Virginia (5–0) (1) | Oklahoma (5–0) (1) | Nebraska (6–0) (3) | Nebraska (7–0) (5) | Auburn (6–0–1) (2) | Colorado (8–1–1) (5) | Georgia Tech (8–0–1) | BYU (9–1) (2) | BYU (10–1) (3) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Colorado (4) | Michigan (0–0) | BYU (2–0) (3) | USC (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0–1) | Auburn (2–0–1) | Tennessee (3–0–2) (1) | Auburn (4–0–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Illinois (6–1) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | BYU (8–1) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) (3) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Washington (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Michigan | Colorado (0–0–1) | USC (1–0) | Tennessee (3–0–1) | Michigan (1–1) | Tennessee (3–0–2) | Auburn (3–0–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Houston (6–0) (1) | Houston (7–0) (2) | Iowa (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Texas (8–1) (1) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Florida State (9–2) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Nebraska | USC (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0–1) | Michigan (0–1) | Virginia (4–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Nebraska (5–0) (2) | Florida State (4–1) | Washington (6–1) | Washington (7–1) (1) | Georgia Tech (7–0–1) | Texas (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Michigan (9–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Tennessee | Tennessee (1–0–1) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–0) | Nebraska (3–0) | Nebraska (4–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | BYU (7–1) | Virginia (8–1) | Florida State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | Tennessee (9–2–2) | 8. |
| 9. | USC | Clemson (1–0) | Colorado (1–0–1) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Florida (5–0) (1) | Houston (5–0) | BYU (5–1) | Colorado (7–1–1) | Tennessee (5–1–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Houston (10–1) | Clemson (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Clemson | Nebraska (1–0) | Miami (FL) (0–1) | Virginia (3–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Florida (4–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Michigan (3–2) | Colorado (6–1–1) | BYU (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Washington (8–2) | Nebraska (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Tennessee (8–2–2) | Houston (10–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Illinois | Illinois (0–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | BYU (4–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | Virginia (7–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Houston (9–1) | Florida (9–2) | Penn State (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Alabama | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Washington (3–0) | Colorado (3–1–1) | Houston (4–0) (1) | BYU (5–1) | Florida State (4–2) | Florida State (5–2) | Florida State (6–2) | Houston (8–1) | Houston (9–1) | Tennessee (7–2–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Texas (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M | Alabama (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Houston (2–0) | Houston (3–0) | BYU (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | Texas (4–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Iowa (7–2) | Iowa (8–2) | Michigan (8–3) | BYU (10–2) | Florida (9–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Arkansas | Virginia (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Houston (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Colorado (4–1–1) | Colorado (5–1–1) | Florida (6–1) | Texas (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Tennessee (5–2–2) | Tennessee (6–2–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Louisville (10–1–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Virginia | Arkansas (0–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | Illinois (1–1) | Ohio State (2–0) | USC (3–1) | Clemson (5–1) | USC (5–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Auburn (6–1–1) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Michigan (7–3) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–3–1) | 15. |
| 16. | BYU | BYU (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Ohio State (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Clemson (4–1) | USC (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0–1) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Michigan (6–3) | Clemson (9–2) | Illinois (8–3) | Illinois (8–3) | Michigan State (8–3–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Ohio State | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Florida (3–0) | Washington (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Ole Miss (7–1) | Illinois (6–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Iowa (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Pittsburgh | Ohio State (0–0) | Houston (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Michigan State (1–1–1) | Georgia Tech (4–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Wyoming (8–0) | Clemson (7–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Penn State (7–2) | USC (8–2–1) | Iowa (8–3) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Iowa (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | UCLA | UCLA (0–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Florida (2–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Texas (3–1) | Clemson (6–2) | Wyoming (9–0) | Michigan (5–3) | USC (7–2–1) | Ohio State (7–2–1) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Auburn (8–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Washington | Washington (0–0) | Arizona (1–0) | Colorado (1–1–1) | Colorado (2–1–1) | Ohio State (2–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Indiana (4–0–1) | Michigan (3–3) | Michigan (4–3) | Oregon (7–2) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Auburn (7–2–1) | Oklahoma (8–3) | USC (8–4–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Penn State | Penn State (0–0) | Illinois (0–1) | Washington (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Arkansas (2–1) | Arizona (4–1) | Wyoming (7–0) | USC (5–2) | USC (6–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Ohio State (6–2–1) | Ole Miss (8–2) | USC (8–3–1) | USC (8–3–1) | Ole Miss (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Oklahoma | Michigan State (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Michigan State (0–1–1) | Oregon (3–1) | Indiana (4–0) | Clemson (5–2) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oregon (6–2) | Louisville (8–1–1) | Illinois (6–3) | Illinois (7–3) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Michigan State (7–3–1) | BYU (10–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Michigan State | Oklahoma (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Arkansas (1–1) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Wyoming (6–0) | Iowa (4–1) | Arizona (5–2) | Arizona (6–2) | USC (6–2–1) | Michigan State (5–3–1) | Auburn (7–2–1) | Michigan State (7–3–1) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Virginia (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Houston | Houston (0–0) | Florida (1–0) | Michigan State (0–0–1) | Fresno State (4–0) | Fresno State (5–0) | Ole Miss (4–1) | Michigan State (2–2–1) | TCU (5–1) | Penn State (5–2) | Michigan State (4–3–1) | Auburn (6–2–1) | Michigan State (6–3–1) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Ohio State (7–3–1) | Nebraska (9–3) | 24. |
| 25. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | South Carolina (3–0) | Arizona (3–1) | Iowa (3–1) | Texas A&M (4–2) | Oregon (5–2) | Louisville (7–1–1) | Wyoming (9–1) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Ohio State (7–3–1) | Alabama (7–4) | Illinois (8–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 26 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 11 | Week 3 Sep 18 | Week 4 Sep 25 | Week 5 Oct 2 | Week 6 Oct 9 | Week 7 Oct 16 | Week 8 Oct 23 | Week 9 Oct 30 | Week 10 Nov 6 | Week 11 Nov 13 | Week 12 Nov 20 | Week 13 Nov 27 | Week 14 Dec 4 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | None | Dropped: UCLAPenn StateAlabamaWest Virginia | None | Dropped: TexasSyracuse | Dropped: Arizona StateSouth Carolina | Dropped: Michigan StateOhio StateArkansasFresno State | Dropped: OregonArizona | Dropped: IndianaMichigan StateTexas A&M | Dropped: OklahomaTCU | Dropped: Arizona | Dropped: OregonWyoming | None | Dropped: Virginia | Dropped: Auburn | Dropped: Southern MissOhio StateAlabama | |

## Coaches Poll

The Coaches Poll expanded to 25 teams in 1990, joining the AP poll which had done so in 1989. Florida, Houston, and Oklahoma were on probation by the NCAA during the 1990 season; they were therefore ineligible to receive votes in the Coaches Poll.
| | Preseason Aug 26 | Week 1 Sep 3 | Week 2 Sep 10 | Week 3 Sep 17 | Week 4 Sep 24 | Week 5 Oct 1 | Week 6 Oct 8 | Week 7 Oct 15 | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Miami (FL) (25) | Miami (FL) (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) (30) | Notre Dame (1–0) (39) | Notre Dame (2–0) (34) | Notre Dame (3–0) (45) | Michigan (3–1) (22) | Virginia (6–0) (29) | Virginia (7–0) (39) | Virginia (7–0) (35) | Notre Dame (7–1) (38) | Notre Dame (8–1) (51) | Colorado (10–1–1) (45) | Colorado (10–1–1) (39) | Colorado (10–1–1) (38) | Georgia Tech (11–0–1) (30) | 1. |
| 2. | Notre Dame (15) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Florida State (1–0) (10) | Florida State (2–0) (9) | Florida State (3–0) (13) | Florida State (4–0) (10) | Nebraska (5–0) (16) | Miami (FL) (4–1) (7) | Nebraska (7–0) (14) | Nebraska (8–0) (16) | Washington (8–1) (18) | Colorado (9–1–1) (3) | Miami (7–2) (3) | Miami (FL) (8–2) (3) | Georgia Tech (10–0–1) (7) | Colorado (11–1–1) (27) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida State (8) | Florida State (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) (4) | Auburn (2–0) (5) | Auburn (2–0) (4) | Nebraska (4–0) | Virginia (5–0) (10) | Nebraska (6–0) (13) | Auburn (5–0–1) (3) | Notre Dame (6–1) (1) | Colorado (8–1–1) (2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (4) | Georgia Tech (9–0–1) (3) | Texas (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–2) (2) | 3. |
| 4. | Auburn (8) | Auburn (0–0) | USC (1–0) (1) | BYU (3–0) (1) | BYU (4–0) (2) | Michigan (2–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) (4) | Tennessee (4–0–2) (3) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Auburn (6–0–1) (3) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | BYU (8–1) | BYU (9–1) (2) | BYU (10–1) (3) т | Miami (FL) (9–2) (2) | Florida State (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Colorado (2) | USC (1–0) | Michigan (0–0) | USC (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (3–0–1) | Virginia (5–0) | Tennessee (3–0–2) (1) | Auburn (4–0–1) (2) | Illinois (5–1) | Washington (7–1) (1) | Iowa (7–1) | Georgia Tech (8–0–1) | Texas (8–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) (2) т | Florida State (9–2) | Washington (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | USC | Michigan (0–0) | Tennessee (2–0–1) | Tennessee (3–0–1) | Nebraska (3–0) (1) | Auburn (2–0–1) | Auburn (3–0–1) (3) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Washington (6–1) | Illinois (6–1) | BYU (7–1) | Texas (7–1) (1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan | Colorado (0–0–1) | BYU (2–0) (2) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Michigan (1–1) | Tennessee (3–0–2) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Florida State (4–1) | BYU (5–1) | Colorado (7–1–1) | Georgia Tech (7–0–1) | Virginia (8–1) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Tennessee (9–2–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Nebraska | Tennessee (0–0–1) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Virginia (4–0) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Michigan (3–2) | Colorado (6–1–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Tennessee (5–1–2) | Washington (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Michigan (9–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Tennessee | Nebraska (0–0) | Colorado (1–0–1) | Virginia (3–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Colorado (3–1–1) | BYU (4–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | BYU (6–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Florida State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | BYU (10–2) | Clemson (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Clemson | Clemson (1–0) | Miami (FL) (0–1) | Michigan (0–1) | Texas A&M (3–0) | BYU (4–1) | USC (4–1) | BYU (5–1) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | Nebraska (8–1) | Florida State (7–2) | Penn State (8–2) | Tennessee (7–2–2) | Tennessee (8–2–2) | Penn State (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Texas A&M | Texas A&M (0–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Washington (3–0) | USC (3–1) | Colorado (4–1–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Florida State (4–2) | Florida State (5–2) | Florida State (6–2) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Iowa (8–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Texas (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Illinois | Illinois (0–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Washington (5–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0–1) | Texas (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Iowa (7–2) | Tennessee (6–2–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Louisville (10–1–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Ohio State | Virginia (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Clemson (4–1) | Washington (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Auburn (6–1–1) | Tennessee (5–2–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–3–1) | 13. |
| 14. | BYU | Ohio State (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Washington (3–1) | Clemson (5–1) | Colorado (5–1–1) | Texas (4–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0–1) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Michigan State (8–3–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Arkansas | Arkansas (0–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | Florida (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–0) | Texas (3–1) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Ole Miss (7–1) | Illinois (6–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Michigan (7–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Virginia (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Washington | Washington (0–0) | Arizona (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Colorado (2–1–1) | Arkansas (2–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Indiana (4–0–1) | Wyoming (8–0) | Wyoming (9–0) | Clemson (8–2) | Michigan (6–3) | USC (8–2–1) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Iowa (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Alabama | Alabama (0–0) | Texas (1–0) т | Illinois (1–1) | Florida (3–0) | Oregon (3–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Wyoming (7–0) | Clemson (6–2) | Clemson (7–2) | Michigan (5–3) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Ole Miss (8–2) т | Texas A&M (8–2–1) | Illinois (8–3) | BYU (10–3) т | 17. |
| 18. | Penn State | BYU (1–0) | Illinois (0–1) т | Colorado (1–1–1) | Clemson (3–1) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Michigan (3–3) | Michigan (4–3) | Oregon (7–2) | Ohio State (6–2–1) | Ohio State (7–2–1) т | USC (8–3–1) | USC (8–3–1) | Nebraska (9–3) т | 18. |
| 19. | UCLA | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Clemson (2–1) | Fresno State (4–0) | Michigan State (1–1–1) | Wyoming (6–0) | TCU (5–1) т | TCU (5–1) | Arizona (6–2) | Penn State (6–2) | USC (7–2–1) | Louisville (9–1–1) | Illinois (8–3) | Texas A&M (8–3–1) | Auburn (8–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Pittsburgh | Penn State (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Michigan State (0–1–1) | Fresno State (5–0) | Arizona (4–1) т | Iowa (4–1) т | USC (5–2) | Oregon (6–2) | Louisville (8–1–1) | Texas A&M (6–2–1) | Illinois (7–3) | Auburn (7–2–1) | Michigan State (7–3–1) т | San Jose State (9–2–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Virginia | UCLA (0–0) | Florida (1–0) | Fresno State (3–0) т | Ole Miss (2–1) | Arizona (3–1) | Ole Miss (4–1) т | Texas A&M (4–2) | Arizona (5–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Wyoming (9–1) | Auburn (6–2–1) | Auburn (7–2–1) | Michigan State (7–3–1) | Ohio State (7–3–1) т | Syracuse (7–4–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Michigan State | Fresno State (1–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Arizona State (2–0) т | Arkansas (1–1) | Indiana (3–0) | Texas (2–1) | Clemson (5–2) | Oregon (5–2) | Louisville (7–1–1) | Texas A&M (6–2–1) | Michigan State (5–3–1) | Texas A&M (7–2–1) | Ohio State (7–3–1) | Alabama (7–4) | USC (8–4–1) | 22. |
| 23. | Arizona | Michigan State (0–0) т | Fresno State (2–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Wyoming (4–0) т | Ole Miss (3–1) | Arkansas (2–2) | Michigan State (2–2–1) | Louisville (6–1–1) | USC (6–2) | Fresno State (7–1–1) | Fresno State (8–1–1) | San Jose State (8–2–1) т | Southern Miss (8–3) т | Virginia (8–3) | Ole Miss (9–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Syracuse т | Texas (0–0) т | Arizona State (1–0) | Michigan State (0–0–1) | Arizona State (2–0) т | Wyoming (5–0) | Iowa (3–1) | Oregon (4–2) | Penn State (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2–1) т | Ohio State (5–2–1) т | Illinois (6–3) | Michigan State (6–3–1) т | Virginia (8–3) т | Southern Miss (8–3) | Illinois (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Texas т | Florida (0–0) т | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Syracuse (1–1–1) | Iowa (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | TCU (4–1) | Louisville (5–1–1) | Texas A&M (4–2–1) | North Carolina (5–2–1) т | Arizona (6–3) т | Southern Miss (8–3) т California (6–3–1) т | Baylor (7–2–1) | San Jose State (8–2–1) тOregon (8–3) т | San Jose State (8–2–1) | Virginia Tech (6–5) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 26 | Week 1 Sep 3 | Week 2 Sep 10 | Week 3 Sep 17 | Week 4 Sep 24 | Week 5 Oct 1 | Week 6 Oct 8 | Week 7 Oct 15 | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: ArizonaSyracuse | Dropped: AlabamaPenn StateUCLA | Dropped: PittsburghGeorgia Tech | Dropped: TexasOregonSyracuse | Dropped: FloridaArizona StateIowa | Dropped: Michigan StateFresno StateOhio State | Dropped: ArizonaArkansas | Dropped: IndianaMichigan State | Dropped: TCU | Dropped: USCNorth Carolina | Dropped: OregonWyomingArizona | Dropped: Fresno StateSouthern MissCalifornia | Dropped: Baylor | Dropped: AuburnOregon | Dropped: Ohio StateAlabamaSouthern Miss | |

## USAT/CNN Poll

| | Week 16 Final Jan 2 | |
| 1. | Colorado (11–1–1) (30) | 1. |
| 2. | Georgia Tech (11–0–1) (19) | 2. |
| 3. | Miami (FL) (10–2) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Washington (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame (9–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Tennessee (9–2–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Michigan (9–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Penn State (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Houston (10–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Florida (9–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Louisville (10–1–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Michigan State (8–3–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Texas A&M (8–3–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Oklahoma (8–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Auburn (8–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | BYU (10–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Ole Miss (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | USC (8–4–1) | 22. |
| 23. | Nebraska (9–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Illinois (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Virginia (8–4) | 25. |
| | Week 16 Final Jan 2 | |