# 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Three human polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) 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 title. That title is bestowed by one or more of four different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason: the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. About halfway through the season, two additional polls are released, the Harris Interactive Poll and the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings. The Harris Poll and Coaches Poll are factors in the BCS standings. At the end of the season, the BCS standings determine who plays in the BCS bowl games as well as the BCS National Championship Game.

## Legend

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

## AP Poll

| | Preseason Aug 16 | Week 1 Sept 2 | Week 2 Sept 7 | Week 3 Sept 14 | Week 4 Sept 21 | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 Dec 7 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 9 | |
| 1. | Georgia (22) | USC (1–0) (21) | USC (1–0) (33) | USC (2–0) (61) | USC (2–0) (62) | Oklahoma (4–0) (43) | Oklahoma (5–0) (51) | Texas (6–0) (39) | Texas (7–0) (65) | Texas (8–0) (65) | Alabama (9–0) (46) | Alabama (10–0) (44) | Alabama (11–0) (42) | Alabama (11–0) (63) | Alabama (12–0) (62) | Florida (12–1) (50) | Florida (13–1) (48) | 1. |
| 2. | Ohio State (21) | Georgia (1–0) (20) | Georgia (2–0) (23) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Alabama (5–0) (21) | Alabama (6–0) (13) | Alabama (6–0) (26) | Alabama (7–0) | Alabama (8–0) | Texas Tech (9–0) (12) | Texas Tech (10–0) (21) | Texas Tech (10–0) (21) | Florida (10–1) (2) | Florida (11–1) (3) | Oklahoma (12–1) (9) | Utah (13–0) (16) | 2. |
| 3. | USC (12) | Ohio State (1–0) (15) | Oklahoma (2–0) (2) | Georgia (3–0) (2) | Georgia (4–0) (2) | LSU (4–0) | Missouri (5–0) (1) | Penn State (7–0) | Penn State (8–0) | Penn State (9–0) | Penn State (9–0) (6) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) (2) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Texas (11–1) | Texas (11–1) (6) | USC (12–1) (1) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (4) | Oklahoma (1–0) (2) | Florida (2–0) (4) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Florida (3–0) (1) | Missouri (4–0) (1) | LSU (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Florida (7–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | Texas (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | Texas (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida (6) | Florida (1–0) (5) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Missouri (3–0) | LSU (3–0) | Texas (4–0) | Texas (5–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Texas (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | USC (9–1) | USC (10–1) | USC (11–1) | Oklahoma (12–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Missouri | Missouri (1–0) (1) | Missouri (2–0) (1) | LSU (2–0) | Missouri (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Penn State (6–0) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Texas Tech (8–0) | Oklahoma (8–1) | USC (8–1) | USC (9–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Alabama (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | LSU | LSU (1–0) (1) | LSU (1–0) (1) | Texas (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Texas Tech (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Oklahoma State (7–0) | USC (6–1) | USC (7–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Utah (12–0) | Utah (12–0) | TCU (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | BYU (4–0) | USC (3–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Texas Tech (7–0) | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Utah (10–0) | Utah (11–0) | Utah (12–0) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Auburn (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | USC (2–1) | BYU (5–0) | BYU (6–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Boise State (8–0) | Boise State (9–0) | Boise State (10–0) | Boise State (11–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Ohio State (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Auburn | Texas (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | South Florida (5–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Utah (8–0) | Utah (9–0) | Ohio State (8–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10-2) | Oregon (10–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Texas | Wisconsin (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Texas Tech (3–0) | BYU (4–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Florida (4–1) | Missouri (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Boise State (7–0) | TCU (9–1) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | TCU (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | Boise State (12–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas Tech | Texas Tech (1–0) | Texas Tech (2–0) | South Florida (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Florida (3–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Utah (8–0) | TCU (8–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Missouri (8–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Ball State (12–0) | Cincinnati (11–2) | Texas Tech (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Wisconsin | Alabama (1–0) | Kansas (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | South Florida (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | LSU (4–1) | Boise State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | Missouri (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Cincinnati (10–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Georgia (10–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Kansas | Kansas (1–0) | East Carolina (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Utah (6–0) | Utah (7–0) | South Florida (6–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Ball State (9–0) | Ball State (10–0) | TCU (10–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Ole Miss (9–4) | 14. |
| 15. | Arizona State | Arizona State (1–0) т | Arizona State (2–0) | East Carolina (3–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Utah (5–0) | Boise State (4–0) | Boise State (5–0) | TCU (7–1) | LSU (5–2) | LSU (6–2) | TCU (9–2) | TCU (9–2) | Ball State (11–0) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | Virginia Tech (10–4) | 15. |
| 16. | BYU | BYU (1–0) т | Oregon (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Wake Forest (3–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Kansas (4–1) | Kansas (5–1) | Missouri (5–2) | Florida State (6–1) | Ball State (8–0) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | Cincinnati (9–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Georgia (9–3) | Oklahoma State (9–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Virginia Tech | South Florida (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Utah (4–0) | Boise State (3–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | BYU (7–1) | BYU (8–1) | North Carolina (7–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Georgia (9–3) | BYU (10–2) | Cincinnati (11–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Tennessee | Oregon (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Wake Forest (2–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | Ball State (8–0) | Michigan State (8–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | LSU (7–3) | Georgia Tech (8–3) | Boston College (9–3) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | Oregon State (9–4) | 18. |
| 19. | South Florida | Penn State (1–0) | South Florida (2–0) | Kansas (2–1) | Boise State (3–0) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | South Florida (5–1) | South Florida (5–1) | Kansas (5–2) | Tulsa (7–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | LSU (6–3) | Cincinnati (8–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Missouri (9–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Missouri (10–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Illinois | Wake Forest (1–0) | Wake Forest (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Michigan State (6–1) | Ball State (7–0) | Minnesota (7–1) | West Virginia (6–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Boston College (8–3) т | BYU (10–2) | Ole Miss (8–4) | Iowa (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Oregon | Fresno State (1–0) | Fresno State (1–0) | West Virginia (1–1) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Wake Forest (3–1) | Wake Forest (4–1) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | North Carolina (6–2) | California (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Oregon State (7–3) | BYU (10–2) т | Michigan State (9–3) | Virginia Tech (9–4) | Florida State (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Penn State | Utah (1–0) | Utah (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Fresno State (3–1) | North Carolina (4–1) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Tulsa (7–0) | Michigan State (7–2) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | Cincinnati (7–2) | Maryland (7–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Ole Miss (8–4) | Northwestern (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Wake Forest | UCLA (1–0) | California (2–0) | Clemson (2–1) | East Carolina (3–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Michigan State (5–1) | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Boston College (5–1) | Oregon (6–2) | Maryland (6–2) | Oregon State (6–3) | Miami (FL) (7–3) | Florida State (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Ball State (12–1) | West Virginia (9–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Alabama | Illinois (0–1) т | Illinois (1–1) | Florida State (2–0) | TCU (4–0) | Connecticut (5–0) | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Ball State (7–0) | Florida State (5–1) | South Florida (6–2) | Florida State (6–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Oregon State (8–4) | Michigan State (9–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Pittsburgh | South Carolina (1–0) т | West Virginia (1–1) | Fresno State (1–1) | Fresno State (2–1) | Wake Forest (3–1) | Ball State (6–0) | California (4–1) | Minnesota (6–1) | Maryland (6–2) | Pittsburgh (6–2) | Tulsa (8–1) | North Carolina (7–3) | Ole Miss (7–4) | Oregon State (8–4) | Missouri (9–4) | BYU (10–3) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 16 | Week 1 Sept 2 | Week 2 Sept 7 | Week 3 Sept 14 | Week 4 Sept 21 | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 Dec 7 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 9 | |
| | | Dropped: ClemsonVirginia TechTennesseePittsburgh | Dropped: UCLASouth Carolina | Dropped: Arizona StateCalifornia | Dropped: OregonWest VirginiaFlorida State | Dropped: ClemsonIllinoisEast CarolinaTCU | Dropped: WisconsinOregonFresno StateConnecticut | Dropped: Auburn | Dropped: Virginia TechNorth CarolinaMichigan StateWake ForestVanderbiltCalifornia | Dropped: PittsburghKansasGeorgia TechBoston College | Dropped: TulsaMinnesotaOregonSouth Florida | Dropped: West VirginiaCaliforniaGeorgia TechMaryland | Dropped: Florida StateSouth CarolinaTulsa | Dropped: LSUPittsburghMarylandMiami (FL)North Carolina | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: Boston College | Dropped: PittsburghNorthwesternBall State | |

## Coaches Poll

The final Coaches Poll of the 2008 season (technically taking place in 2009) was notable in that the winner of the BCS Championship Game was not the unanimous number 1. While the coaches are obligated to vote the winner of that game, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham voted his team number 1 after they defeated favored Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl and completed the only undefeated season (13–0).
| | Preseason Aug 1 | Week 1 Sept 2 | Week 2 Sept 7 | Week 3 Sept 14 | Week 4 Sept 21 | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 Dec 7 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 9 | |
| 1. | Georgia (22) | USC (1–0) (23) | USC (1–0) (34) | USC (2–0) (57) | USC (2–0) (56) | Oklahoma (4–0) (57) | Oklahoma (5–0) (60) | Texas (6–0) (44) | Texas (7–0) (58) | Texas (8–0) (58) | Alabama (9–0) (40) | Alabama (10–0) (44) | Alabama (11–0) (45) | Alabama (11–0) (56) | Alabama (12–0) (58) | Oklahoma (12–1) (31) | Florida (13–1) (60) | 1. |
| 2. | USC (14) | Georgia (1–0) (20) | Georgia (2–0) (18) | Oklahoma (3–0) (1) | Oklahoma (3–0) (2) | LSU (4–0) (1) | Missouri (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) (14) | Alabama (7–0) (1) | Alabama (8–0) | Penn State (9–0) (14) | Texas Tech (10–0) (17) | Texas Tech (10–0) (15) | Oklahoma (10–1) (4) | Oklahoma (11–1) (2) | Florida (12–1) (26) | USC (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State (14) | Ohio State (1–0) (10) | Oklahoma (2–0) (3) | Georgia (3–0) (2) | Georgia (4–0) (2) | Missouri (4–0) | LSU (4–0) (1) | Penn State (7–0) (3) | Penn State (8–0) (2) | Penn State (9–0) (3) | Texas Tech (9–0) (6) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Florida (10–1) (1) | Texas (11–1) | Texas (11–1) (4) | Texas (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (3) | Oklahoma (1–0) (2) | Florida (2–0) (3) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Florida (3–0) (1) | Alabama (5–0) (2) | Alabama (6–0) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) (1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | Texas (10–1) | Florida (11–1) (1) | Alabama (12–1) т | Utah (13–0) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida (5) | Florida (1–0) (3) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Missouri (3–0) | Missouri (4–0) | Texas (4–0) (1) | Texas (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Texas Tech (8–0) | Florida (7–1) | Texas (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | USC (9–1) | USC (10–1) | USC (11–1) т | Oklahoma (12–2) | 5. |
| 6. | LSU (3) | LSU (1–0) (3) | Missouri (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Penn State (6–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Texas Tech (7–0) | USC (6–1) | USC (7–1) | USC (8–1) | USC (9–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Alabama (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Missouri | Missouri (1–0) | LSU (1–0) (2) | Texas (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | BYU (4–0) | Texas Tech (5–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Texas (8–1) | Utah (10–0) | Utah (11–0) | Utah (12–0) | Utah (12–0) | Utah (12–0) | TCU (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | BYU (5–0) | BYU (6–0) | Oklahoma State (7–0) | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Texas (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | USC (2–1) | USC (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Utah (8–0) | Utah (9–0) | Boise State (9–0) | Boise State (10–0) | Boise State (11–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Oregon (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas | Auburn (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Texas Tech (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Georgia (4–1) т | Georgia (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Boise State (8–0) | Ohio State (8–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Georgia (10–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Auburn | Wisconsin (1–0) | Kansas (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | BYU (4–0) | South Florida (5–0) т | Ohio State (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | LSU (5–1) | Boise State (7–0) | TCU (9–1) | Missouri (8–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Missouri (9–2) | TCU (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin | Kansas (1–0) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Florida (4–1) | Missouri (5–1) | Utah (8–0) | TCU (8–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Cincinnati (10–2) | Cincinnati (11–2) | Texas Tech (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Kansas | Texas Tech (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Florida (3–1) | Utah (6–0) | Utah (7–0) | Boise State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | Missouri (7–2) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Ball State (12–0) | Oregon (9–3) | Boise State (12–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas Tech | Arizona State (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | South Florida (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | LSU (4–1) | South Florida (6–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Georgia (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | TCU (10–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Virginia Tech (10–4) | 14. |
| 15. | Virginia Tech | BYU (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Wake Forest (3–0) | Utah (5–0) | Kansas (4–1) | Kansas (5–1) | TCU (7–1) | LSU (5–2) | LSU (6–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Ball State (11–0) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Ole Miss (9–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Arizona State | Oregon (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | South Florida (3–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Kansas (3–1) | Boise State (4–0) | Boise State (5–0) | Missouri (5–2) | Florida State (6–1) | BYU (8–1) | Ball State (9–0) | Ball State (10–0) | Cincinnati (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | BYU (10–2) | Missouri (10–4) | 16. |
| 17. | BYU | Alabama (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | East Carolina (3–0) | Utah (4–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Michigan State (6–1) | BYU (6–1) | BYU (7–1) | Michigan State (8–2) | North Carolina (7–2) | TCU (9–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Missouri (9–3) | Georgia (9–3) | Cincinnati (11–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Tennessee | South Florida (1–0) | South Florida (2–0) | Wake Forest (2–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Boise State (3–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Kansas (5–2) | Tulsa (7–0) | Ball State (8–0) | TCU (9–2) | LSU (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | BYU (10–2) | Michigan State (9–3) | Oklahoma State (9–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Illinois | Penn State (1–0) | Wake Forest (2–0) | Kansas (2–1) | Clemson (3–1) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | Michigan State (5–1) | Wake Forest (4–1) | Tulsa (7–0) | Ball State (8–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | BYU (10–2) | Georgia (9–3) | Virginia Tech (9–4) | Oregon State (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Oregon | Wake Forest (1–0) | East Carolina (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Boise State (3–0) | Oregon (4–1) | South Florida (5–1) | South Florida (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Minnesota (7–1) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | LSU (6–3) | Cincinnati (8–2) | Northwestern (9–3) | Boston College (9–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Iowa (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | South Florida | Fresno State (1–0) | Fresno State (1–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Fresno State (3–1) | Wake Forest (3–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Michigan State (7–2) | Maryland (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Oregon State (7–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | BYU (10–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Penn State | Clemson (0–1) | Utah (2–0) | West Virginia (1–1) | Oregon (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Northwestern (5–0) | California (4–1) | Ball State (7–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | California (6–2) | Cincinnati (7–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Boston College (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Ball State (12–1) | Georgia Tech (9–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Wake Forest | Utah (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Illinois (2–1) | TCU (4–0) | Connecticut (5–0) | Auburn (4–2) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Florida State (5–1) | South Florida (6–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | Maryland (7–3) | Georgia Tech (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Missouri (9–4) | Florida State (9–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Michigan | South Carolina (1–0) | West Virginia (1–1) | Arizona State (2–1) | Fresno State (2–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Wisconsin (3–2) | TCU (6–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | Oregon (6–2) | Florida State (6–2) | Tulsa (8–1) | Northwestern (8–3) | Florida State (8–3) | Oregon State (8–4) | Ole Miss (8–4) | Michigan State (9–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Fresno State | Illinois (0–1) | California (2–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | Wake Forest (3–1) | California (4–1) | Ball State (7–0) | Minnesota (6–1) | Maryland (6–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | Oregon State (6–3) | Boston College (7–3) | West Virginia (7–3) | Ole Miss (8–4) | Oregon State (8–4) | California (9–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 1 | Week 1 Sept 2 | Week 2 Sept 7 | Week 3 Sept 14 | Week 4 Sept 21 | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 Dec 7 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 9 | |
| | | Dropped: Virginia TechTennesseeMichigan | Dropped: South CarolinaIllinois | Dropped: Fresno StateCalifornia | Dropped: East CarolinaWest VirginiaArizona StateFlorida State | Dropped: ClemsonIllinoisTCU | Dropped: OregonFresno StateConnecticut | Dropped: NorthwesternAuburnWisconsin | Dropped: Michigan StateVirginia TechWake ForestNorth CarolinaCaliforniaVanderbilt | Dropped: KansasPittsburghGeorgia TechNorthwestern | Dropped: TulsaMinnesotaSouth FloridaOregon | Dropped: Georgia TechMarylandCaliforniaWest VirginiaNorthwestern | Dropped: North CarolinaFlorida StateSouth CarolinaTulsa | Dropped: LSUPittsburghMaryland | Dropped: Florida StateWest Virginia | Dropped: Boston College | Dropped: NorthwesternPittsburghBall State | |

## Harris Interactive Poll

| | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (4–0) (102) | Oklahoma (5–0) (106) | Texas (6–0) (72) | Texas (7–0) (104) | Texas (8–0) (103) | Alabama (9–0) (79) | Alabama (10–0) (75) | Alabama (11–0) (80) | Alabama (11–0) (108) | Alabama (12–0) (107) | Florida (12–1) (77) | 1. |
| 2. | LSU (4–0) (3) | LSU (4–0) (2) | Alabama (6–0) (37) | Alabama (7–0) (6) | Alabama (8–0) (6) | Penn State (9–0) (17) | Texas Tech (10–0) (38) | Texas Tech (10–0) (32) | Florida (10–1) (3) | Florida (11–1) (4) | Oklahoma (12–1) (26) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (5–0) (7) | Alabama (6–0) (6) | Penn State (7–0) (4) | Penn State (8–0) (3) | Penn State (9–0) (5) | Texas Tech (9–0) (16) | Florida (8–1) (1) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Oklahoma (10–1) (2) | Texas (11–1) (1) | Texas (11–1) (9) | 3. |
| 4. | Missouri (4–0) (1) | Missouri (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Florida (7–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | Texas (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Texas (4–0) (1) | Texas (5–0) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Texas Tech (8–0) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | USC (9–1) | USC (10–1) | USC (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Penn State (5–0) | Penn State (6–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Texas (8–1) (1) | USC (8–1) | USC (9–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | USC (2–1) | Texas Tech (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Texas Tech (7–0) | USC (6–1) | USC (7–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Utah (12–0) (1) | Utah (12–0) (1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Tech (4–0) | USC (3–1) | BYU (6–0) | Oklahoma State (7–0) | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Utah (10–0) | Utah (11–0) | Utah (12–0) (1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | BYU (4–0) | BYU (5–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Utah (9–0) | Boise State (9–0) | Boise State (10–0) | Boise State (11–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Boise State (12–0) | 9. |
| 10. | Georgia (4–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–1) | Utah (8–0) | Boise State (8–0) | Ohio State (8–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida (3–1) | Florida (4–1) | Missouri (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Boise State (7–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | Missouri (8–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Ball State (12–0) | TCU (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | South Florida (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | LSU (4–1) | Utah (8–0) (1) | Ohio State (7–2) | TCU (9–1) | Georgia (8–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | TCU (10–2) | Cincinnati (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Auburn (4–1) | Utah (6–0) | Ohio State (6–1) | Boise State (6–0) | TCU (8–1) | Missouri (7–2) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Cincinnati (10–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Ohio State (4–1) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | Utah (7–0) (1) | South Florida (6–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Georgia (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | Ball State (11–0) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Utah (5–0) | Boise State (4–0) | Boise State (5–0) | TCU (7–1) | BYU (7–1) | LSU (6–2) | Ball State (9–0) | Ball State (10–0) | TCU (10–2) | Oregon (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Wisconsin (3–1) | Kansas (4–1) | Kansas (5–1) | Missouri (5–2) | LSU (5–2) | BYU (8–1) | Michigan State (9–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Cincinnati (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | BYU (10–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Kansas (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | Ball State (8–0) | Ball State (8–0) | North Carolina (7–2) | TCU (9–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | BYU (10–2) | Georgia (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Boise State (3–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Michigan State (6–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Michigan State (8–2) | TCU (9–2) | LSU (7–3) | BYU (10–2) | Missouri (9–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Vanderbilt (4–0) | South Florida (5–1) | South Florida (5–1) | Kansas (5–2) | Tulsa (7–0) | North Carolina (6–2) | LSU (6–3) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Boston College (9–3) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Fresno State (3–1) | Auburn (4–2) | North Carolina (5–1) | Ball State (7–0) | Minnesota (7–1) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Cincinnati (8–2) | Boston College (8–3) | Georgia (9–3) | Ball State (12–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Oregon (4–1) | Michigan State (5–1) | Wake Forest (4–1) | Tulsa (7–0) | Michigan State (7–2) | California (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Oregon State (7–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Wake Forest (3–1) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Georgia Tech (6–1) | North Carolina (6–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Tulsa (8–1) | Oregon (8–3) | Georgia Tech (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Virginia Tech (9–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Northwestern (5–0) | Ball State (7–0) | Florida State (5–1) | South Florida (6–2) | Maryland (6–2) | Cincinnati (7–2) | Maryland (7–3) | Florida State (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Ole Miss (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Connecticut (5–0) | Wisconsin (3–2) | California (4–1) | Boston College (5–1) | Oregon (6–2) | Florida State (6–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | North Carolina (7–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Ole Miss (8–4) | Missouri (9–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Wake Forest (3–1) | North Carolina (4–1) | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Minnesota (6–1) | California (5–2) тGeorgia Tech (6–2) т | Tulsa (8–1) | California (6–3) | Boston College (7–3) | Pittsburgh (7–3) | Oregon State (8–4) | Oregon State (8–4) | 25. |
| | Week 5 Sept 28 | Week 6 Oct 5 | Week 7 Oct 12 | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| | | Dropped: Fresno StateOregonConnecticut | Dropped: AuburnNorthwesternWisconsin | Dropped: Virginia TechMichigan StateNorth CarolinaWake ForestVanderbiltCalifornia | Dropped: PittsburghKansasBoston College | Dropped: MinnesotaSouth FloridaOregon | Dropped: Georgia TechMarylandWest Virginia | Dropped: Florida StateTulsaSouth CarolinaCalifornia | Dropped: LSUMarylandNorth Carolina | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: Boston College | |

## BCS standings

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the two teams that competed in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
| | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| 1. | Texas (7–0) | Texas (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) | Alabama (11–0) | Alabama (11–0) | Alabama (12–0) | Oklahoma (12–1) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (7–0) | Alabama (8–0) | Texas Tech (9–0) | Texas Tech (10–0) | Texas Tech (10–0) | Texas (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Florida (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Penn State (8–0) | Penn State (9–0) | Penn State (9–0) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Texas (11–1) | Texas (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Texas (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | USC (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | USC (9–1) | USC (10–1) | USC (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Oklahoma State (7–0) | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | USC (8–1) | USC (9–1) | Utah (12–0) | Utah (12–0) | Utah (12–0) | 6. |
| 7. | Georgia (6–1) | Texas Tech (8–0) | USC (7–1) | Utah (10–0) | Utah (11–0) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Tech (7–0) | Florida (6–1) | Utah (9–0) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State (7–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Boise State (9–0) | Boise State (10–0) | Boise State (11–0) | Boise State (12–0) | Boise State (12–0) | 9. |
| 10. | Florida (5–1) | Utah (8–0) | Boise State (8–0) | Georgia (8–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Utah (8–0) | Boise State (7–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | TCU (10–2) | TCU (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Boise State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–2) | TCU (9–1) | Missouri (8–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Ball State (12–0) | Cincinnati (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | LSU (5–1) | TCU (8–1) | Georgia (7–2) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Missouri (9–2) | Cincinnati (10–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | TCU (7–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Missouri (7–2) | Ball State (9–0) | BYU (10–1) | TCU (10–2) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Missouri (5–2) | Florida State (6–1) | BYU (8–1) | Michigan State (9–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Ball State (11–0) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Georgia (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | South Florida (6–1) | Ball State (8–0) | LSU (6–2) | North Carolina (7–2) | TCU (9–2) | Cincinnati (9–2) | Georgia (9–3) | BYU (10–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Minnesota (7–1) | Ball State (8–0) | BYU (9–1) | Ball State (10–0) | Oregon State (8–3) | Boston College (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Georgia Tech (6–1) | Tulsa (7–0) | Michigan State (8–2) | TCU (9–2) | LSU (7–3) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | Michigan State (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Tulsa (7–0) | LSU (5–2) | North Carolina (6–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Cincinnati (8–2) | Michigan State (9–3) | Oregon (9–3) | Virginia Tech (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Ball State (7–0) | BYU (7–1) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | LSU (6–3) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Florida State (8–3) | Missouri (9–3) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | BYU (6–1) | Michigan State (7–2) | California (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Oregon State (7–3) | Boston College (8–3) | Michigan State (9–3) | Missouri (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Northwestern (6–1) | North Carolina (6–2) | Florida State (6–2) | Cincinnati (7–2) | North Carolina (7–3) | Georgia Tech (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Ball State (12–1) | 22. |
| 23. | Kansas (5–2) | South Florida (6–2) | Maryland (6–2) | Tulsa (8–1) | Miami (FL) (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Minnesota (6–1) | Oregon (6–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | Wake Forest (6–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Florida State (8–4) | Boston College (9–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Florida State (5–1) | Connecticut (6–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | Maryland (7–3) | Pittsburgh (7–3) | Virginia Tech (8–4) | Ole Miss (8–4) | 25. |
| | Week 8 Oct 19 | Week 9 Oct 26 | Week 10 Nov 2 | Week 11 Nov 9 | Week 12 Nov 16 | Week 13 Nov 23 | Week 14 Nov 30 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| | | Dropped: PittsburghGeorgia TechNorthwesternKansas | Dropped: MinnesotaTulsaOregonSouth FloridaConnecticut | Dropped: Georgia TechCaliforniaMarylandNorthwesternWest Virginia | Dropped: Florida StateWake ForestTulsaSouth Carolina | Dropped: LSUNorth CarolinaMiami (FL)Maryland | Dropped: Oregon State | Dropped: Florida State | |