# 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1982 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 29 | Week 1 Sep 6 | 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 3 | |
| 1. | Pittsburgh (36) | Pittsburgh (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Washington (3–0) | Washington (4–0) | Washington (5–0) | Washington (6–0) | Pittsburgh (6–0) | Pittsburgh (7–0) | Georgia (9–0) | Georgia (10–0) | Georgia (10–0) | Georgia (11–0) | Georgia (11–0) | Penn State (11–1) (44) | 1. |
| 2. | Washington (15) | Washington (0–0) | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Washington (7–0) | SMU (8–0) | SMU (9–0) | SMU (10–0) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (10–1) | Penn State (10–1) | SMU (11–0–1) (9) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (3) | Nebraska (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Georgia (6–0) | Georgia (7–0) | Georgia (8–0) | Arizona State (9–0) | Penn State (9–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Nebraska (12–1) (2) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska (2) | Alabama (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Florida (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | SMU (6–0) | SMU (7–0) | Arizona State (8–0) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | SMU (10–0–1) | SMU (10–0–1) | SMU (10–0–1) | Georgia (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | North Carolina (2) | North Carolina (0–0) | Florida (2–0) | Florida (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | SMU (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) | Arkansas (6–0) | Arkansas (7–0) | Penn State (8–1) | Washington (9–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | UCLA (10–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | SMU | Georgia (0–0) | SMU (1–0) | SMU (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | SMU (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Arkansas (5–0) | Nebraska (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | LSU (7–0–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1) | Arizona State (9–1) | Arkansas (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Arizona State (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Georgia | Penn State (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | SMU (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Arkansas (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Arizona State (7–0) | Penn State (7–1) | Washington (8–1) | Florida State (8–1) | LSU (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Washington (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Penn State | SMU (0–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | UCLA (4–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Arizona State (7–0) | Penn State (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Arizona State (9–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Texas (9–2) | Clemson (9–1–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (0–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Alabama (6–1) | UCLA (7–0–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Arkansas (8–1–1) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | USC | USC (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Arizona State (6–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | Washington (7–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Clemson (7–1–1) | Clemson (8–1–1) | West Virginia (9–2) | West Virginia (9–2) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Clemson | Florida (1–0) | North Carolina (0–1) | North Carolina (1–1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Arizona State (5–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | UCLA (5–0–1) | UCLA (6–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | UCLA (8–1–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Arizona State (9–2) | Arizona State (9–2) | LSU (8–3–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Michigan | Michigan (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | North Carolina (2–1) | North Carolina (3–1) | UCLA (4–0–1) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | UCLA (7–1–1) | LSU (7–1–1) | West Virginia (9–2) | Texas (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Ohio State (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Arkansas | Arkansas (0–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Arizona State (4–0) | Texas (3–0) | West Virginia (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | LSU (5–0–1) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Notre Dame (6–1–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | LSU (8–2–1) | LSU (8–2–1) | Florida State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Arizona State (3–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | USC (3–1) | LSU (4–0–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Texas (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Arkansas (8–2–1) | Auburn (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Miami (FL) | Arizona State (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | West Virginia (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | USC (3–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | USC (7–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | USC (8–3) | USC (8–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Florida | Clemson (0–1) | Clemson (0–1) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | USC (2–1) | West Virginia (3–1) | LSU (3–0–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | USC (5–2) | USC (6–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Maryland (8–3) | USC (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | West Virginia (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Florida State (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Texas (6–2) | USC (7–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Texas (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Notre Dame | UCLA (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | USC (1–1) | Boston College (2–0–1) | LSU (3–0) | Texas (3–1) | Clemson (4–1–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | North Carolina (5–2) | Maryland (7–2) | Notre Dame (6–2–1) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Auburn (8–3) | North Carolina (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Arizona State | Miami (FL) (0–1) | USC (0–1) | Illinois (3–0) | Minnesota (3–0) | Boston College (3–0–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Texas (3–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Maryland (6–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | Maryland (7–3) | Tulsa (10–1) | Auburn (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | West Virginia (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | UCLA | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Auburn (3–0) | Illinois (4–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Michigan (5–2) | Florida (5–2) | Texas (5–2) | Tulsa (9–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Tulsa (10–1) | Maryland (8–4) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 29 | Week 1 Sep 6 | 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 3 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Oklahoma | Dropped: Clemson | Dropped: Ohio StateIllinoisMichigan | Dropped: MinnesotaAuburn | Dropped: FloridaBoston College | Dropped: Illinois | Dropped: Notre DameTexas | Dropped: MiamiAuburn | Dropped: North CarolinaFlorida | Dropped: Alabama | Dropped: Notre Dame | Dropped: Tulsa | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: MichiganTulsa | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 29 | Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27 | Week 4 Oct 4 | Week 5 Oct 11 | Week 6 Oct 18 | Week 7 Oct 25 | Week 8 Nov 1 | Week 9 Nov 8 | Week 10 Nov 15 | Week 11 Nov 22 | Week 12 Nov 29 | Week 13 Dec 7 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Pittsburgh (26) | Pittsburgh (1–0) (17) | Pittsburgh (2–0) (17) | Pittsburgh (3–0) (19) | Washington (4–0) (16) | Washington (5–0) (25) | Washington (6–0) (29) | Washington (7–0) (24) | Pittsburgh (7–0) (33) | Georgia (9–0) (22) | Georgia (10–0) (28) | Georgia (10–0) (37) | Georgia (11–0) (37) | Georgia (11–0) (34) | Penn State (11–1) (33) | 1. |
| 2. | Washington (8) | Washington (1–0) (12) | Nebraska (2–0) (8) | Washington (3–0) (18) | Pittsburgh (4–0) (16) | Alabama (5–0) (10) | Pittsburgh (5–0) (11) | Pittsburgh (6–0) (12) | Georgia (8–0) (1) | SMU (9–0) (18) | SMU (10–0) (9) | Penn State (9–1) (2) | Penn State (10–1) (2) | Penn State (10–1) (3) | SMU (11–0–1) (4) | 2. |
| 3. | Nebraska (3) | Nebraska (1–0) (6) | Washington (2–0) (13) | Penn State (4–0) (3) | Penn State (4–0) (6) | Pittsburgh (4–0) (7) | Georgia (6–0) | Georgia (7–0) (1) | SMU (8–0) (5) | Nebraska (8–1) (1) | Penn State (9–1) (3) | Nebraska (9–1) (3) | Nebraska (10–1) (3) | Nebraska (11–1) (3) | Nebraska (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Alabama (3) | Alabama (1–0) (6) | Alabama (2–0) (4) | Alabama (3–0) (2) | Alabama (4–0) (2) | Georgia (5–0) | SMU (6–0) | SMU (7–0) (3) | Arkansas (7–0) (2) | Penn State (8–1) (1) | Nebraska (9–1) (2) | SMU (10–0–1) | SMU (10–0–1) | SMU (10–0–1) | Georgia (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Penn State | Georgia (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Florida (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | SMU (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) (1) | Arkansas (6–0) (1) | Nebraska (7–1) (1) | LSU (7–0–1) | Washington (9–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | UCLA (10–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | North Carolina (1) | SMU (1–0) (1) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | SMU (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Arkansas (5–0) | Nebraska (6–1) (1) | Penn State (7–1) | Washington (8–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1) | LSU (8–1–1) | Arkansas (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Arizona State (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Georgia | Florida (2–0) | Florida (2–0) | SMU (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Arkansas (5–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Arkansas (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Texas (9–2) | Washington (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Oklahoma (1) | Penn State (2–0) | SMU (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | UCLA (4–0) (1) | North Carolina (4–1) | Penn State (5–1) (1) | North Carolina (5–1) | UCLA (7–0–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | West Virginia (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Michigan (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Alabama (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | West Virginia (9–2) | Pittsburgh (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Michigan | Arkansas (1–0) | North Carolina (1–1) | North Carolina (2–1) | North Carolina (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | UCLA (5–0–1) | UCLA (6–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Texas (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Florida State (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | SMU | North Carolina (0–1) | Ohio State (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | UCLA (4–0–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | LSU (5–0–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | UCLA (8–1–1) | West Virginia (9–2) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Arizona State (9–2) | LSU (8–3–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Arkansas | Ohio State (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | West Virginia (4–1) | LSU (4–0–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Clemson (7–1–1) | Washington (9–2) | Arizona State (9–2) | Arkansas (8–2–1) | Ohio State (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas | Clemson (0–1) | UCLA (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Florida (3–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Clemson (5–1–1) | North Carolina (5–2) | UCLA (7–1–1) | LSU (7–1–1) | Texas (7–2) | LSU (8–2–1) | LSU (8–2–1) | North Carolina (8–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Ohio State | Texas (0–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | LSU (3–0) | LSU (3–0–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Notre Dame (6–1–1) | West Virginia (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Maryland (8–3) | Auburn (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Miami (FL) | West Virginia (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Boston College (3–0–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Texas (3–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Michigan (6–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Texas (6–2) | Maryland (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Auburn (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Florida | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Boston College (2–0–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Texas (3–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Michigan (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Maryland (7–2) | Notre Dame (6–2–1) | Tulsa (10–1) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | UCLA | UCLA (1–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Auburn (3–0) | West Virginia (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Clemson (4–1–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | Maryland (6–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | Tulsa (9–1) | Ohio State (8–3) | Auburn (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Alabama (8–4) т | 17. |
| 18. | Notre Dame | Mississippi State (2–0) | Illinois (3–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Stanford (3–1) | Oklahoma (3–2) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Auburn (6–1) | Florida (5–2) | Texas (5–2) | Maryland (7–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Tulsa (10–1) | Texas (9–3) т | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Notre Dame (0–0) | Boston College (1–0–1) | Clemson (1–1–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Florida (3–2) | Michigan (4–2) | Florida (4–2) | Texas (4–2) | North Carolina (5–3) | North Carolina (6–3) | BYU (8–3) | Tulsa (10–1) | Florida (8–3) | West Virginia (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas A&M | BYU (1–1) | BYU (1–1) | San Jose State (3–0) тMinnesota (3–0) т | Clemson (2–1–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Florida (4–2) | Boston College (5–1–1) | Notre Dame (5–1–1) | Tulsa (8–1) | Alabama (7–3) тNew Mexico (9–1) т | Alabama (7–3) тNew Mexico (10–1) т | Boston College (8–2–1) тBYU (8–3) т | Florida State (8–3) | Maryland (8–4) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 29 | Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27 | Week 4 Oct 4 | Week 5 Oct 11 | Week 6 Oct 18 | Week 7 Oct 25 | Week 8 Nov 1 | Week 9 Nov 8 | Week 10 Nov 15 | Week 11 Nov 22 | Week 12 Nov 29 | Week 13 Dec 7 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: OklahomaTexas A&M | Dropped: MichiganClemson | Dropped: Ohio StateIllinoisBYU | Dropped: AuburnMississippi StateSan Jose StateMinnesota | Dropped: Boston CollegeStanford | Dropped: Illinois | Dropped: Notre DameTexas | Dropped: Miami (FL)AuburnBoston College | Dropped: Florida | None | Dropped: Notre DameNorth Carolina | Dropped: ClemsonAlabamaNew Mexico | Dropped: Boston CollegeBYU | Dropped: TulsaFlorida | |