# 1985 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1985 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 | 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 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 2 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (23) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) (16) | Auburn (2–0) (23) | Auburn (2–0) (26) | Iowa (3–0) (35) | Iowa (4–0) (34) | Iowa (5–0) (27) | Iowa (6–0) (60) | Iowa (7–0) (58) | Florida (7–0–1) (42) | Penn State (9–0) | Penn State (10–0) (46) | Penn State (11–0) (49) | Penn State (11–0) (47) | Penn State (11–0) (47) | Oklahoma (11–1) (55) | 1. |
| 2. | Auburn (13) | Auburn (0–0) | Oklahoma (0–0) (28) | Oklahoma (0–0) (23) | Oklahoma (0–0) (21) | Oklahoma (1–0) (13) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Michigan (5–0) (20) | Florida (5–0–1) | Florida (6–0–1) | Penn State (8–0) (15) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) (12) | Iowa (10–1) (3) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) | Michigan (10–1–1) (1) | 2. |
| 3. | SMU (3) | SMU (0–0) | Florida (1–0) (3) | USC (1–0) (6) | Iowa (2–0) (5) | SMU (2–0) (6) | Michigan (4–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) (12) | Penn State (6–0) | Penn State (7–0) | Nebraska (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Iowa (9–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) (6) | Iowa (10–1) (3) | Oklahoma (10–1) (5) | Penn State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Iowa (7) | Iowa (0–0) | USC (1–0) (6) | Iowa (1–0) (5) | Florida State (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) (1) | Florida State (4–0) | Arkansas (5–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) (1) | Air Force (10–0) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) (1) | Oklahoma (9–1) (5) | Iowa (10–1) (3) | Tennessee (9–1–2) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida (4) | Florida (0–0) | Iowa (0–0) (5) | SMU (1–0) (3) | Ohio State (2–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Florida (4–0–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Air Force (9–0) | Iowa (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) (2) | Michigan (9–1–1) (1) | Michigan (9–1–1) (1) | Michigan (9–1–1) (1) | Florida (9–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | USC (2) | USC (0–0) | SMU (1–0) (2) | Florida State (2–0) | SMU (1–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) (1) | Arkansas (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) (1) | Auburn (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Iowa (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Michigan (8–1–1) | Florida (8–1–1) | Florida (9–1–1) | Florida (9–1–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Maryland (3) | Maryland (0–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) (3) | Florida (3–0–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | BYU (6–1) | Air Force (8–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) (1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | UCLA (9–2–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Ohio State | BYU (1–0) | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Air Force (7–0) | Ohio State (6–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Michigan (7–1–1) | UCLA (8–1–1) | Nebraska (9–2) | Tennessee (8–1–2) | Tennessee (8–1–2) | Air Force (12–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Nebraska | Ohio State (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | BYU (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Michigan (6–1–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Florida (8–1–1) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (11–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | BYU (1) | Nebraska (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Air Force (6–0) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Tennessee (7–1–2) | Air Force (11–1) | Air Force (11–1) | Iowa (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Illinois (2) | Illinois (0–0) | Penn State (1–0) | Florida (1–0–1) | Florida (1–0–1) | Florida (2–0–1) | BYU (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Baylor (7–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | BYU (9–2) | Air Force (11–1) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Nebraska (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Washington (2) | Washington (0–0) | LSU (0–0) | UCLA (1–0–1) | Michigan (2–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Georgia (7–1–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | LSU (8–1–1) | LSU (8–1–1) | Arkansas (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | BYU (2–1) | UCLA (2–0–1) | Nebraska (2–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Baylor (6–1) | Baylor (7–1) | Auburn (6–2) | Florida (7–1–1) | Air Force (10–1) | LSU (7–1–1) | Arkansas (9–2) | UCLA (8–2–1) | Alabama (9–2–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | BYU (3–1) | Auburn (2–1) | Tennessee (2–0–1) | Baylor (5–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | UCLA (6–1–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | UCLA (8–2–1) | Arkansas (9–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Arkansas | Arkansas (0–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | BYU (3–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | UCLA (6–1–1) | LSU (5–1) | BYU (8–2) | Baylor (8–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Alabama (8–2–1) | Alabama (8–2–1) | Florida State (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State (0–0) | BYU (1–1) | Alabama (2–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Tennessee (1–0–1) | SMU (2–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Tennessee (3–1–1) | LSU (4–1) | Florida State (6–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Tennessee (6–1–2) | UCLA (8–2–1) | Auburn (8–3) | Auburn (8–3) | BYU (11–3) | 16. |
| 17. | South Carolina | Florida State (1–0) | Maryland (0–1) | Maryland (1–1) | Maryland (2–1) | Air Force (4–0) | Texas (3–0) | LSU (3–1) | UCLA (5–1–1) | BYU (6–2) | Georgia (6–1–1) | Baylor (7–2) | LSU (6–1–1) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Baylor (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Penn State | South Carolina (1–0) | Nebraska (0–1) | Nebraska (0–1) | USC (1–1) | Georgia (3–1) | Georgia (3–1) | UCLA (4–1–1) | LSU (4–1) | Georgia (5–1–1) | BYU (7–2) | Tennessee (5–1–2) | Arkansas (8–2) | Texas (8–2) | Florida State (8–3) | Florida State (8–3) | Maryland (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Florida State | Penn State (0–0) | Illinois (0–1) | Michigan (1–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Baylor (3–1) | Baylor (4–1) | Army (5–0) | Texas (4–1) | Tennessee (3–1–2) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | LSU (5–1–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Georgia Tech (9–2–1) | 19. |
| 20. | UCLA | UCLA (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Illinois (1–1) | Virginia (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1–1) | Minnesota (5–1) | SMU (4–2) | Alabama (6–2) | Alabama (6–2–1) | Georgia (7–2–1) | Georgia (7–2–1) | Bowling Green (11–0) | Maryland (8–3) тBowling Green (11–0) т | LSU (9–2–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug | 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 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 2 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Washington | Dropped: Notre Dame | Dropped: South CarolinaIllinois | Dropped: UCLAMarylandUSCVirginia | None | Dropped: SMUTexas | Dropped: AlabamaGeorgiaArmy | Dropped: TexasMinnesota | Dropped: SMU | None | Dropped: Alabama | Dropped: Baylor | Dropped: TexasGeorgia | None | Dropped: AuburnOklahoma StateBowling Green | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug | 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 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 2 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (14) | Oklahoma (0–0) (14) | Oklahoma (0–0) (18) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (2–0) (32) | Iowa (3–0) (19) | Iowa (4–0) (16) | Iowa (5–0) (16) | Iowa (6–0) (42) | Iowa (7–0) (42) | Penn State (8–0) (34) | Penn State (9–0) (34) | Penn State (10–0) (41) | Penn State (11–0) (39) | Penn State (11–0) (37) | Penn State (11–0) (36) | Oklahoma (11–1) (41) | 1. |
| 2. | Auburn (8) | Auburn (0–0) (8) | Auburn (1–0) (16) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Oklahoma (0–0) (8) | Oklahoma (1–0) (14) | Oklahoma (2–0) (14) | Oklahoma (3–0) (14) | Penn State (6–0) | Penn State (7–0) | Nebraska (7–1) (5) | Nebraska (8–1) (4) | Nebraska (9–1) (1) | Oklahoma (8–1) (2) | Oklahoma (9–1) (2) | Oklahoma (10–1) (1) | Michigan (10–1–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | USC (1–0) (5) | USC (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Ohio State (3–0) (1) | Michigan (4–0) (10) | Michigan (5–0) (11) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) (1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska | Nebraska (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) (1) | Iowa (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Florida State (4–0) (1) | Florida State (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Air Force (9–0) (2) | Air Force (10–0) (3) | Iowa (9–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Tennessee (9–1–2) | 4. |
| 5. | USC (2) | USC (0–0) (2) | Florida State (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Michigan (3–0) (5) | Oklahoma State (4–0) (1) | Arkansas (5–0) | Auburn (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Iowa (8–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Michigan (9–1–1) | Michigan (9–1–1) | Michigan (9–1–1) | Air Force (12–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Washington (5) | Washington (0–0) (5) | Oklahoma State (1–0) (1) | Florida State (2–0) (1) | Penn State (3–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Air Force (7–0) | Air Force (8–0) | Iowa (7–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Michigan (8–1–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | UCLA (9–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | BYU (9) | BYU (1–0) (9) | Iowa (0–0) | Oklahoma State (1–0) (1) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | BYU (6–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Air Force (11–1) | Tennessee (8–1–2) | Air Force (11–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Iowa (1) | Iowa (0–0) (1) | UCLA (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Alabama (4–0) | BYU (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Baylor (7–1) | Michigan (7–1–1) | UCLA (8–1–1) | Nebraska (9–2) | Air Force (11–1) | Tennessee (8–1–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Maryland (1) | Maryland (0–0) (1) | Penn State (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Air Force (6–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Michigan (6–1–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Tennessee (7–1–2) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (11–2) | Iowa (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Illinois | Illinois (0–0) | LSU (0–0) | BYU (2–1) | Alabama (3–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | BYU (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Baylor (7–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Air Force (10–1) | BYU (10–2) | LSU (8–1–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | Nebraska (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | South Carolina (2–0) т | South Carolina (2–0) | UCLA (2–0–1) | Arkansas (3–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Baylor (6–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) т | Alabama (2–0) | BYU (3–1) | BYU (3–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | Georgia (7–1–1) | Florida State (8–2) | LSU (7–1–1) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Florida State (1) | Florida State (1–0) (1) | BYU (1–1) | UCLA (1–0–1) | Arkansas (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Tennessee (2–0–1) | Baylor (5–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Auburn (7–2) | BYU (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | UCLA (8–2–1) | UCLA (8–2–1) | Florida State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State (0–0) | Nebraska (0–1) | Arkansas (1–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Tennessee (1–0–1) | Texas (3–0) | Alabama (4–1) т | Miami (FL) (5–1) | UCLA (6–1–1) | Auburn (6–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Baylor (8–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Alabama (8–2–1) | Alabama (8–2–1) | Alabama (9–2–1) | 14. |
| 15. | UCLA | UCLA (0–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Maryland (2–1) | Air Force (4–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) т | UCLA (5–1–1) | LSU (4–1) | Georgia (6–1–1) | BYU (8–2) | Tennessee (6–1–2) | UCLA (8–2–1) | Auburn (8–3) | Auburn (8–3) | Baylor (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Arkansas | Arkansas (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Maryland (1–1) | USC (1–1) | Texas (2–0) | UCLA (3–1–1) | UCLA (4–1–1) | Tennessee (3–1–1) | BYU (6–2) | Florida State (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Arkansas (8–2) | Texas (8–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Florida State (8–3) | Fresno State (11–0–1) (1) | 16. |
| 17. | Penn State | Penn State (0–0) | West Virginia (1–0) | Nebraska (0–1) | Virginia (2–0) | UCLA (2–1–1) | Georgia (3–1) | LSU (3–1) | Texas (4–1) | Georgia (5–1–1) | Tennessee (4–1–2) | Tennessee (5–1–2) | LSU (6–1–1) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Florida State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | BYU (11–3) | 17. |
| 18. | South Carolina | South Carolina (1–0) | Maryland (0–1) | West Virginia (2–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Baylor (4–1) | Texas (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Tennessee (3–1–2) | BYU (7–2) | LSU (5–1–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Fresno State (10–0–1) | Fresno State (10–0–1) | Georgia Tech (9–2–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Georgia | Georgia (0–0) | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Texas (1–0) | Baylor (3–1) | LSU (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1–1) | Arizona (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Fresno State (10–0–1) | Maryland (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Maryland (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Boston College | Boston College (0–1) | Texas (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | Kansas (3–0) | Indiana (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Army (5–0) т Arizona (4–1) т | Minnesota (5–1) | Alabama (5–2) | Alabama (6–2) | Texas (6–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Georgia (7–2–1) | Arizona (8–3) | Arizona (8–3) | LSU (9–2–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug | 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 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 2 | |
| | | None | Dropped: WashingtonIllinoisGeorgiaBoston College | Dropped: Notre DamePittsburgh | Dropped: South CarolinaWest VirginiaArizona | Dropped: MarylandUSCVirginiaKansas | None | Dropped: Indiana | Dropped: AlabamaGeorgiaArmy | Dropped: TexasArizonaMinnesota | None | Dropped: Alabama | Dropped: Georgia | Dropped: BaylorArizona State | Dropped: TexasOklahoma StateGeorgia | Dropped: Maryland | Dropped: AuburnOklahoma StateArizona | |

## USA/CNN Poll

| | Week 16 Final Jan 2 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (11–1) (32) | 1. |
| 2. | Penn State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Michigan (10–1–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Tennessee (9–1–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida (9–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Air Force (12–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas A&M (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | UCLA (9–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Iowa (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Nebraska (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Alabama (9–2–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Ohio State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Florida State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Arkansas (10–2) | 15. |
| 16. | BYU (11–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Maryland (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Georgia Tech (9–2–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Baylor (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Auburn (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | LSU (9–2–1) | 21. |
| 22. | Army (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Fresno State (11–0–1) | 23. |
| 24. | Georgia (7–3–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 25. |
| | Week 16 Final Jan 2 | |