# 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1972 NCAA University Division 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 | Week 1 Sep 11 | Week 2 Sep 18 | Week 3 Sep 25 | Week 4 Oct 2 | Week 5 Oct 9 | Week 6 Oct 16 | Week 7 Oct 23 | Week 8 Oct 30 | Week 9 Nov 6 | Week 10 Nov 13 | Week 11 Nov 20 | Week 12 Nov 27 | Week 13 Dec 4 | Week 14 (Final) Jan | |
| 1. | Nebraska (28) | USC (1–0) (13) | USC (2–0) (28) | USC (3–0) (28) | USC (4–0) (36) | USC (5–0) (34) | USC (6–0) (28) | USC (7–0) (44) | USC (8–0) (41) | USC (9–0) (40) | USC (9–0) (42) | USC (10–0) (44) | USC (10–0) (46) | USC (11–0) (50) | USC (12–0) (50) | 1. |
| 2. | Colorado (13) | Colorado (1–0) (12) | Oklahoma (1–0) (11) | Oklahoma (2–0) (14) | Oklahoma (3–0) (13) | Oklahoma (3–0) (15) | Oklahoma (4–0) (20) | Alabama (6–0) (2) | Alabama (7–0) (3) | Alabama (8–0) (3) | Alabama (9–0) (5) | Alabama (10–0) (5) | Alabama (10–0) (4) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State (4) | Ohio State (0–0) (5) | Colorado (2–0) (7) | Colorado (3–0) (5) | Ohio State (2–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) (2) | Nebraska (6–1) (4) | Nebraska (7–1) (5) | Michigan (9–0) (3) | Michigan (10–0) (1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Arkansas (2) | Oklahoma (0–0) (12) | Ohio State (1–0) (2) | Tennessee (3–0) (1) | Alabama (3–0) | Ohio State (3–0) (1) | Ohio State (4–0) (1) | Ohio State (5–0) (1) | Michigan (7–0) (1) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Penn State | Alabama (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) (2) | Ohio State (1–0) (1) | Michigan (3–0) (1) | Michigan (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Michigan (6–0) (1) | Ohio State (6–0) (1) | Ohio State (7–0) (1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Auburn (10–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Oklahoma (2) | Penn State (0–0) (1) | UCLA (2–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Michigan (5–0) (1) | LSU (6–0) | LSU (6–0) | LSU (7–0) | Penn State (8–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Texas (9–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Alabama | Tennessee (1–0) (1) | Alabama (1–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | LSU (5–0) | Colorado (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Texas (7–1) | Texas (8–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Texas (9–1) | Alabama (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | USC | UCLA (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | LSU (3–0) | LSU (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | UCLA (7–1) | UCLA (8–1) | LSU (7–1) | LSU (8–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Tennessee (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Washington (1) | LSU (0–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | LSU (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Colorado (5–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Texas (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Michigan | Nebraska (0–1) (1) | Arizona State (2–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Texas (3–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Texas (4–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | Penn State (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU | Michigan (0–0) | Penn State (0–1) | Arizona State (3–0) | Washington (4–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | UCLA (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | LSU (8–1–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | LSU (9–2–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Arizona State | Washington (1–0) (1) | Michigan (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Colorado (3–1) | Washington (5–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Iowa State (5–2–1) | Tennessee (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Notre Dame | Arizona State (1–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Penn State (1–1) | Florida State (4–0) | Colorado (4–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Tennessee (5–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | Colorado (8–3) | Colorado (8–3) | Colorado (8–3) | Arizona State (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas | Notre Dame (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | Washington (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Auburn (4–1) т | Tennessee (4–2) | Iowa State (5–1) | Missouri (5–3) | UCLA (8–2) | UCLA (8–3) | North Carolina (9–1) | UCLA (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Tennessee | Texas (0–0) | Washington (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Stanford (3–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Texas (3–1) т | Iowa State (4–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Colorado (7–3) | North Carolina (8–1) | UCLA (8–3) | Arizona State (9–2) | UCLA (8–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Ole Miss | Georgia (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Air Force (4–0) | Air Force (5–0) | Arizona State (5–1) | Missouri (4–3) | Colorado (6–3) | North Carolina (7–1) | Missouri (6–4) | Arizona State (9–2) | North Carolina (9–1) | Colorado (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia | Arkansas (0–1) | Florida State (2–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Louisville (6–0) | Iowa State (5–2) | Washington (8–2) | Iowa State (5–3–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Louisville (9–1) | NC State (8–3–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Purdue | Purdue (0–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Tulane (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Washington (5–1) | Arkansas (4–2) т | Texas Tech (6–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | Arizona State (7–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Louisville (9–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Florida State | Ole Miss (0–0) | Stanford (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Oklahoma State (3–1) | Arizona State (4–1) | SMU (4–1) т | Air Force (6–1) | Arizona State (6–2) | Missouri (5–4) | Washington State (7–4) | Washington State (7–4) | Washington State (7–4) | Washington State (7–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Stanford | Florida State (1–0) | Ole Miss (1–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Arkansas (3–1) | Iowa State (3–1) | West Virginia (5–2) т | Arkansas (5–2) | Stanford (5–3) тYale (5–1) т | Washington State (6–4) | Texas Tech (8–2) | Oklahoma State (6–4) | Purdue (6–5) | Georgia Tech (7–4–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug | Week 1 Sep 11 | Week 2 Sep 18 | Week 3 Sep 25 | Week 4 Oct 2 | Week 5 Oct 9 | Week 6 Oct 16 | Week 7 Oct 23 | Week 8 Oct 30 | Week 9 Nov 6 | Week 10 Nov 13 | Week 11 Nov 20 | Week 12 Nov 27 | Week 13 Dec 4 | Week 14 (Final) Jan | |
| | | Dropped: Stanford | Dropped: ArkansasPurdue | Dropped: GeorgiaMichigan State | Dropped: Arizona StateTulaneWest Virginia | Dropped: Florida StateOle Miss | Dropped: Oklahoma State | Dropped: Air ForceStanfordWashington | Dropped: Arizona StateFlorida StateSMUWest Virginia | Dropped: Air ForceArkansasLouisville | Dropped: StanfordTexas TechYale | Dropped: Washington | Dropped: Iowa StateMissouriTexas Tech | Dropped: Oklahoma State | Dropped: PurdueWest Virginia | |

## UPI Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Sep 6 | Week 1 Sep 12 | Week 2 Sep 19 | Week 3 Sep 26 | Week 4 Oct 3 | Week 5 Oct 10 | Week 6 Oct 17 | Week 7 Oct 24 | Week 8 Oct 31 | Week 9 Nov 7 | Week 10 Nov 14 | Week 11 Nov 21 | Week 12 Nov 28 | Week 13 (Final) Dec 5 | |
| 1. | Nebraska (26) | Oklahoma (0–0) (11) | USC (2–0) (14) | USC (3–0) (20) | USC (4–0) (22) | USC (5–0) (21) | USC (6–0) (22) | USC (7–0) (32) | USC (8–0) (31) | USC (9–0) (27) | USC (9–0) (31) | USC (10–0) (31) | USC (10–0) (31) | USC (11–0) (35) | 1. |
| 2. | Colorado (4) | USC (1–0) (11) | Oklahoma (1–0) (13) | Oklahoma (2–0) (12) | Oklahoma (3–0) (11) | Oklahoma (3–0) (13) | Oklahoma (4–0) (12) | Alabama (5–0) (2) | Alabama (7–0) (2) | Nebraska (7–1) (6) | Alabama (9–0) (3) | Alabama (10–0) (3) | Alabama (10–0) (3) | Oklahoma (10–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (2) | Colorado (1–0) (6) | Colorado (2–0) (4) | Colorado (3–0) (1) | Alabama (4–0) (1) | Alabama (5–0) (1) | Alabama (5–0) (1) | Ohio State (5–0) | Nebraska (6–1) (2) | Alabama (8–0) (2) | Michigan (9–0) | Michigan (10–0) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State (2) | Ohio State (0–0) (4) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) (1) | Ohio State (6–0) | Ohio State (7–0) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Arkansas (1) | Alabama (1–0) (2) | Ohio State (1–0) (2) | Alabama (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Ohio State (4–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Michigan (7–0) | Michigan (8–0) | Nebraska (7–1–1) (1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) (1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (9–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Penn State | Tennessee (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) (1) | Ohio State (1–0) (1) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | LSU (6–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | LSU (7–0) | Texas (6–1) | Texas (7–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Alabama | Penn State (0–0) | UCLA (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–1) | LSU (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | LSU (5–0) | Colorado (6–1) | LSU (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Auburn (9–1) | 7. |
| 8. | USC | LSU (0–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Michigan (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | LSU (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | UCLA (7–1) | UCLA (8–1) | Penn State (8–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | Penn State (10–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Washington | Nebraska (0–1) | LSU (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | Washington (4–0) | Auburn (4–0) | UCLA (5–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Texas (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | LSU (8–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Michigan | Michigan (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Washington (5–0) | Colorado (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU | UCLA (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Texas (3–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Texas (4–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Tennessee (9–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Arizona State | Arizona State (0–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Washington (3–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Iowa State (5–2–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | LSU (8–2–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Notre Dame | Texas (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) т | Florida State (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Arizona State (5–1) | Iowa State (5–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Tennessee (5–2) | Colorado (8–3) | Colorado (8–3) | Arizona State (9–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Tennessee | Notre Dame (0–0) | Penn State (0–1) т | Texas (1–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Air Force (5–0) | Iowa State (4–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Iowa State (5–2) | UCLA (8–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Arizona State (9–2) | Colorado (8–3) т | 14. |
| 15. | Texas | Washington (1–0) | Texas (0–0) | Iowa State (2–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Air Force (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Air Force (6–1) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Colorado (7–3) | Utah State (7–3) | Utah State (8–3) т | North Carolina (9–1) т | 15. |
| 16. | Purdue | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Penn State (1–1) | Colorado (3–1) | Colorado (4–1) | Arizona State (4–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Tennessee (4–2) т | North Carolina (6–1) т | Washington (8–2) | North Carolina (8–1) т | Washington State (7–4) т | Louisville (9–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia | Iowa State (0–0) т | Washington (2–0) | Air Force (2–0) т | Iowa State (3–0) | Penn State (3–1) | | SMU (4–1) | Texas Tech (6–1) т | Colorado (6–3) т | North Carolina (7–1) | Missouri (6–4) т | UCLA (8–3) т | UCLA (8–3) т | 17. |
| 18. | Michigan State | Georgia (0–0) т | Iowa State (1–0) | West Virginia (3–0) т | Stanford (3–0) | Arizona State (3–1) | | Florida State (6–1) | Stanford (5–2) | | Arizona State (7–2) т | Iowa State (5–3–1) | North Carolina (9–1) т | Washington State (7–4) т | 18. |
| 19. | Iowa State | Purdue (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Penn State (2–1) | Oklahoma State (3–1) | | | | | Utah State (6–3) т | | Missouri (6–4) | Utah State (8–3) т | 19. |
| 20. | Illinois тWest Virginia т | Auburn (0–0) | Arkansas (0–1) | Mississippi (2–0) | Arizona State (2–1) | Stanford (3–1) | | | | | | | | San Diego State (10-1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Sep 6 | Week 1 Sep 12 | Week 2 Sep 19 | Week 3 Sep 26 | Week 4 Oct 3 | Week 5 Oct 10 | Week 6 Oct 17 | Week 7 Oct 24 | Week 8 Oct 31 | Week 9 Nov 7 | Week 10 Nov 14 | Week 11 Nov 21 | Week 12 Nov 28 | Week 13 (Final) Dec 5 | |
| | | Dropped: ArkansasMichigan StateIllinoisWest Virginia | Dropped: AuburnPurdue | Dropped: ArkansasGeorgiaMichigan State | Dropped: MississippiWest Virginia | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: Iowa StateOklahoma StateTexasWashington | Dropped: Air ForceStanford | Dropped: Arizona StateFlorida StateSMU | Dropped: Air ForceStanford | Dropped: Texas Tech | Dropped: UCLAWashington | Dropped: Iowa State | Dropped: Missouri | |
The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December. USC was a unanimous selection, with all 35 first-place votes.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
| 1 | USC | Pac-8 | Won Rose, 42–17 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | Won Sugar, 14–0 |
| 3 | Ohio State | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 17–42 |
| 4 | Alabama | SEC | Lost Cotton, 13–17 |
| 5 | Texas | Southwest | Won Cotton, 17–13 |
| 6 | Michigan | Big Ten | none |
| 7 | Auburn | SEC | Won Gator, 24–3 |
| 8 | Penn State | Independent | Lost Sugar, 0–14 |
| 9 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Won Orange, 40–6 |
| 10 | LSU | SEC | Lost Bluebonnet, 17–24 |
| 11 | Tennessee | SEC | Won Bluebonnet, 24–17 |
| 12 | Notre Dame | Independent | Lost Orange, 6–40 |
| 13 | Arizona State | WAC | Won Fiesta, 49–35 |
| 14 | Colorado | Big Eight | Lost Gator, 3–24 |
| 14 | North Carolina | ACC | Won Sun, 32–28 |
| 16 | Louisville | MVC | none |
| 17 | UCLA | Pac-8 | none |
| 17 | Washington State | Pac-8 | none |
| 17 | Utah State | Independent | none |
| 20 | San Diego State | PCAA | none |
* Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac-8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.