# 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprised the 2018 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 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, 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. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is released midway through the season after the ninth week. The CFP rankings determine who makes the four-team playoff which determines the College Football Playoff National Champion.

## Legend

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

## AP Poll

| | Preseason Aug 20 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8 | |
| 1. | Alabama (42) | Alabama (1–0) (48) | Alabama (2–0) (54) | Alabama (3–0) (58) | Alabama (4–0) (60) | Alabama (5–0) (58) | Alabama (6–0) (59) | Alabama (7–0) (60) | Alabama (8–0) (61) | Alabama (8–0) (60) | Alabama (9–0) (60) | Alabama (10–0) (61) | Alabama (11–0) (61) | Alabama (12–0) (61) | Alabama (13–0) (61) | Clemson (15–0) (61) | 1. |
| 2. | Clemson (18) | Clemson (1–0) (12) | Clemson (2–0) (6) | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | Georgia (6–0) | Ohio State (7–0) (1) | Clemson (7–0) | Clemson (8–0) | Clemson (9–0) | Clemson (10–0) | Clemson (11–0) | Clemson (12–0) | Clemson (13–0) | Alabama (14–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Georgia | Georgia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) (2) | Clemson (4–0) (1) | Ohio State (5–0) (1) | Ohio State (6–0) (1) | Clemson (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Notre Dame (11–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Ohio State (13–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Wisconsin (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Clemson (5–0) (1) | Clemson (6–0) (1) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | LSU (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Oklahoma (12–1) | Oklahoma (12–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State | Wisconsin (1–0) (1) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | LSU (4–0) | LSU (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | LSU (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | Notre Dame (12–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Washington | Oklahoma (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) (1) | LSU (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Michigan (6–1) | Texas (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | LSU (10–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Oklahoma | Auburn (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Stanford (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Washington (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | West Virginia (7–1) | West Virginia (8–1) | Washington State (10–1) | UCF (11–0) | UCF (12–0) | Georgia (11–3) т | 7. |
| 8. | Miami (FL) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Washington State (9–1) | UCF (10–0) т | Michigan (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | Florida (10–3) т | 8. |
| 9. | Auburn | Washington (0–1) | Stanford (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Penn State (4–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Texas (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | UCF (7–0) | LSU (7–2) | Ohio State (9–1) | LSU (9–2) т | Texas (9–3) | Washington (10–3) | Texas (10–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Penn State | Stanford (1–0) | Washington (1–1) | Washington (2–1) т | Auburn (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | UCF (5–0) | UCF (6–0) | UCF (7–0) | Washington State (7–1) | Washington State (8–1) | LSU (8–2) | Ohio State (10–1) | Washington (9–3) | Florida (9–3) | Washington State (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Michigan State | LSU (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) т | Washington (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Kentucky (7–1) | UCF (8–0) | UCF (9–0) | Texas (8–3) | Florida (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | UCF (12–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame | Virginia Tech (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | UCF (4–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Kentucky (7–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Washington State (10–2) т | Washington State (10–2) | Kentucky (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Stanford | Penn State (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | UCF (3–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | LSU (5–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Florida (6–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | Florida (8–3) | LSU (9–3) т | Penn State (9–3) | Washington (10–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Michigan | West Virginia (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | Washington State (6–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Utah State (8–1) | Utah State (9–1) | Utah State (10–1) | Penn State (9–3) | Texas (9–4) | Michigan (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | USC | Michigan State (1–0) | TCU (2–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Wisconsin (4–1) | Washington (5–2) | Washington (6–2) | Texas (6–2) | Texas (6–3) | Florida (7–3) | Penn State (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Syracuse (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | TCU | TCU (1–0) | Mississippi State (2–0) | UCF (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | NC State (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Utah (6–2) | Fresno State (8–1) | Penn State (7–3) | Washington (8–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 16. |
| 17. | West Virginia | USC (1–0) | Boise State (2–0) | TCU (2–1) | Kentucky (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Houston (7–1) | Boston College (7–2) | Washington (7–3) | Kentucky (8–3) | Utah (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Penn State (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Mississippi State | Mississippi State (1–0) | UCF (2–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Texas (3–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | Penn State (4–2) | Iowa (6–1) | Utah State (7–1) | Mississippi State (6–3) | Iowa State (6–3) | Utah (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Fresno State (12–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Florida State | UCF (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Oregon (3–1) | Texas (4–1) | Colorado (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | Oregon (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Florida (6–3) | Cincinnati (9–1) | Syracuse (8–3) | Boise State (10–2) | Fresno State (11–2) | Army (11–2) | 19. |
| 20. | Virginia Tech | Boise State (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | BYU (3–1) | Michigan State (3–1) | NC State (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Wisconsin (5–2) | Fresno State (7–1) | Washington (7–3) | Kentucky (7–3) | Northwestern (7–4) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Utah (9–4) | West Virginia (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | UCF | Michigan (0–1) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Michigan State (2–1) | Colorado (4–0) | Auburn (4–2) | South Florida (6–0) | South Florida (7–0) | Mississippi State (5–3) | Penn State (6–3) | Utah (7–3) | Boise State (9–2) | Northwestern (8–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Northwestern (9–5) | 21. |
| 22. | Boise State | Miami (0–1) | USC (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Duke (4–0) | Florida (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–2) | Mississippi State (4–2) | NC State (5–1) | Syracuse (6–2) | NC State (6–2) | Boston College (7–3) | Mississippi State (7–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Army (9–2) | Utah State (11–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Texas | Oregon (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Boston College (3–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | NC State (4–0) | South Florida (5–0) | Wisconsin (4–2) | Utah (5–2) | Virginia (6–2) | Iowa State (5–3) | Boise State (8–2) | Army (9–2) | Army (9–2) | Boise State (10–3) | Boise State (10–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Oregon | South Carolina (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Michigan State (1–1) | California (3–0) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | Mississippi State (4–2) | Michigan State (4–2) | Stanford (5–2) | Boston College (6–2) | Michigan State (6–3) | Northwestern (6–4) | Pittsburgh (7–4) | Iowa State (7–4) | Missouri (8–4) | Cincinnati (11–2) | 24. |
| 25. | LSU | Florida (1–0) | Michigan State (1–1) | BYU (2–1) | Texas Tech (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Washington State (5–1) | Appalachian State (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–3) | Cincinnati (8–1) | Mississippi State (6–4) | Iowa State (6–4) | Fresno State (10–2) | Iowa State (8–4) | Iowa (9–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 20 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8 | |
| | | Dropped: Florida StateTexas | Dropped: South CarolinaFlorida | Dropped: Boise StateUSCArizona State | Dropped: Virginia TechOklahoma StateTCUTexas A&MBoston College | Dropped: BYUDukeMississippi StateCaliforniaTexas Tech | Dropped: StanfordMichigan StateVirginia TechOklahoma State | Dropped: Miami (FL)ColoradoAuburn | Dropped: CincinnatiMississippi StateMichigan State | Dropped: WashingtonOregonWisconsinSouth FloridaNC StateStanfordAppalachian State | Dropped: UtahHoustonIowaVirginiaTexas A&M | Dropped: Fresno StateNC StateMichigan State | Dropped: CincinnatiBoston College | Dropped: Utah StatePittsburgh | Dropped: Northwestern | Dropped: Mississippi StateUtahMissouriIowa State | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 2 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8 | |
| 1. | Alabama (61) | Alabama (1–0) (59) | Alabama (2–0) (59) | Alabama (3–0) (60) | Alabama (4–0) (61) | Alabama (5–0) (61) | Alabama (6–0) (61) | Alabama (7–0) (61) | Alabama (8–0) (60) | Alabama (8–0) (62) | Alabama (9–0) (63) | Alabama (10–0) (64) | Alabama (11–0) (63) | Alabama (12–0) (63) | Alabama (13–0) (62) | Clemson (15–0) (64) | 1. |
| 2. | Clemson (3) | Clemson (1–0) (3) | Clemson (2–0) (3) | Clemson (3–0) (2) | Clemson (4–0) (2) | Georgia (5–0) | Georgia (6–0) | Ohio State (7–0) (1) | Clemson (7–0) (2) | Clemson (8–0) (2) | Clemson (9–0) (1) | Clemson (10–0) (1) | Clemson (11–0) (1) | Clemson (12–0) (1) | Clemson (13–0) (2) | Alabama (14–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State (1) | Georgia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) (1) | Ohio State (6–0) (1) | Clemson (6–0) (2) | Notre Dame (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Notre Dame (11–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Ohio State (13–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Georgia | Ohio State (1–0) (1) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) (1) | Ohio State (4–0) (1) | Clemson (5–0) (2) | Clemson (6–0) (2) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | LSU (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Oklahoma (12–1) | Oklahoma (12–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | LSU (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (7–1) т | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | Notre Dame (12–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Washington | Wisconsin (1–0) | Wisconsin (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | LSU (4–0) | LSU (5–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) т | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | Florida (10–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Wisconsin | Auburn (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Stanford (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Washington (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Texas (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | West Virginia (8–1) | Washington State (10–1) | UCF (11–0) | UCF (12–0) | LSU (10–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Miami (FL) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Texas (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | West Virginia (7–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | LSU (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | Georgia (11–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Penn State | Stanford (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | UCF (5–0) | UCF (6–0) | Ohio State (7–1) | UCF (7–0) | Washington State (8–1) | Washington State (9–1) | UCF (10–0) | Texas (9–3) | Washington (10–3) | Texas (10–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Auburn | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | Wisconsin (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | UCF (7–0) | West Virginia (6–1) | LSU (7–2) | LSU (8–2) | Ohio State (10–1) | Florida (9–3) | Florida (9–3) | Washington State (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Washington (0–1) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Washington (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Washington State (7–1) | UCF (8–0) | UCF (9–0) | Texas (8–3) | Washington (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | Kentucky (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Michigan State | USC (1–0) | Washington (1–1) | Washington (2–1) | West Virginia (3–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | LSU (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Kentucky (7–1) | Kentucky (7–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Penn State (9–3) | Penn State (9–3) | UCF (12–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Stanford | Michigan State (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | UCF (4–0) | Michigan (5–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Washington (6–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Utah State (9–1) | Florida (8–3) | Washington State (10–2) | Washington State (10–2) | Washington (10–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Michigan | Virginia Tech (1–0) | TCU (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | UCF (4–0) | Stanford (4–1) | Texas (5–1) | Washington (5–2) | Kentucky (6–1) | Florida (6–2) | Boston College (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | Penn State (8–3) | LSU (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | Michigan (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | USC | LSU (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Kentucky (5–0) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | NC State (5–0) | Washington State (6–1) | Texas (6–2) | Mississippi State (6–3) | Penn State (7–3) | Utah State (10–1) | Kentucky (9–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Syracuse (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | TCU | TCU (1–0) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Penn State (4–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Utah (6–2) | Utah State (8–1) | Florida (7–3) | Washington (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Virginia Tech | West Virginia (1–0) | Boise State (2–0) | TCU (2–1) | Kentucky (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Houston (7–1) | Fresno State (8–1) | Washington (7–3) | Utah (8–3) | Utah (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Penn State (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Mississippi State | Mississippi State (1–0) | UCF (2–0) | UCF (2–0) | Michigan State (2–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Colorado (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Iowa (6–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Washington (7–3) | Iowa State (6–3) | Kentucky (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Fresno State (12–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Florida State | Boise State (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Michigan State (3–1) | NC State (5–0) | Wisconsin (4–2) | Wisconsin (5–2) | Washington (6–3) | Texas (6–3) | Utah (7–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Utah (9–4) | Northwestern (9–5) | 19. |
| 20. | West Virginia | UCF (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Oregon (3–1) | Texas (4–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | South Florida (6–0) | South Florida (7–0) | Utah State (7–1) | Penn State (6–3) | Cincinnati (9–1) | Mississippi State (7–4) | Boise State (10–2) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Army (11–2) | 20. |
| 21. | Texas | Miami (FL) (0–1) | USC (1–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Oklahoma State (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Oregon (5–2) | Mississippi State (5–3) | Florida (6–3) | Kentucky (7–3) | Northwestern (7–4) | Northwestern (8–4) | Fresno State (11–2) | Utah State (11–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Boise State | Michigan (0–1) | Michigan (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Texas (3–1) | Colorado (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–2) | Iowa (5–1) | NC State (5–1) | Virginia (6–2) | NC State (6–2) | Boston College (7–3) | Boise State (9–2) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Northwestern (8–5) | West Virginia (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | UCF | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Michigan State (1–1) | Duke (4–0) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | South Florida (5–0) | Washington State (5–1) | Stanford (5–2) | Fresno State (7–1) | Cincinnati (8–1) | Mississippi State (6–4) | Fresno State (9–2) | Fresno State (10–2) | Utah State (10–2) | Cincinnati (11–2) | 23. |
| 24. | LSU | South Carolina (1–0) | Michigan State (1–1) | Boise State (2–1) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | Boise State (3–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Stanford (4–2) | Utah (5–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | Utah (6–3) | Boise State (8–2) | Army (9–2) | Utah State (10–2) | Boise State (10–3) | Boise State (10–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Oklahoma State | Florida (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Boston College (3–0) | Boise State (2–1) | NC State (4–0) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Colorado (5–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Boston College (6–2) | Iowa State (5–3) | UAB (9–1) | Pittsburgh (7–4) | Army (9–2) | Army (9–2) | Mississippi State (8–5) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 2 | Week 1 Sep 4 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8 | |
| | | Dropped: Florida StateTexas | Dropped: FloridaSouth Carolina | Dropped: Arizona StateUSC | Dropped: TCUTexas A&MBoston College | Dropped: Mississippi StateDuke | Dropped: Michigan StateOklahoma StateVirginia TechBoise State | Dropped: Miami (FL)Auburn | Dropped: CincinnatiColorado | Dropped: Texas A&MWisconsinSouth FloridaOregonNC StateStanfordMiami (FL) | Dropped: HoustonIowaVirginia | Dropped: Fresno StateNC State | Dropped: Iowa StateCincinnatiBoston CollegeUAB | Dropped: Pittsburgh | None | Dropped: Utah | |

## CFP rankings

| | Week 9 Oct 30 | Week 10 Nov 6 | Week 11 Nov 13 | Week 12 Nov 20 | Week 13 Nov 27 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2 | |
| 1. | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) | Alabama (11–0) | Alabama (12–0) | Alabama (13–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Clemson (8–0) | Clemson (9–0) | Clemson (10–0) | Clemson (11–0) | Clemson (12–0) | Clemson (13–0) | 2. |
| 3. | LSU (7–1) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Notre Dame (11–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | 3. |
| 4. | Notre Dame (8–0) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Oklahoma (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Michigan (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Georgia (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Oklahoma (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Washington State (7–1) | Washington State (8–1) | Washington State (9–1) | Washington State (10–1) | UCF (11–0) | UCF (12–0) | 8. |
| 9. | Kentucky (7–1) | West Virginia (7–1) | West Virginia (9–1) | UCF (10–0) | Florida (9–3) | Washington (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | LSU (9–3) | Florida (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida (6–2) | Kentucky (7–2) | UCF (9–0) | Florida (8–3) | Washington (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | UCF (7–0) | UCF (8–0) | Syracuse (8–2) | Penn State (8–3) | Penn State (9–3) | Penn State (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | West Virginia (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Florida (7–3) | West Virginia (8–2) | Washington State (10–2) | Washington State (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Penn State (6–2) | NC State (6–2) | Penn State (7–3) | Texas (8–3) | Texas (9–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Utah (6–2) | Florida (6–3) | Texas (7–3) | Kentucky (8–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Texas (9–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Iowa (6–2) | Mississippi State (6–3) | Iowa State (6–3) | Washington (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Texas (6–2) | Boston College (7–2) | Kentucky (7–3) | Utah (8–3) | Utah (9–3) | Utah (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Mississippi State (5–3) | Michigan State (6–3) | Washington (7–3) | Mississippi State (7–4) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Mississippi State (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Syracuse (6–2) | Texas (6–3) | Utah (7–3) | Northwestern (7–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas A&M (5–3) | Penn State (6–3) | Boston College (7–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | NC State (5–2) | Iowa (6–3) | Mississippi State (6–4) | Utah State (10–1) | Northwestern (8–4) | Fresno State (11–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Boston College (6–2) | Iowa State (5–3) | Northwestern (6–4) | Texas A&M (7–4) | Boise State (10–2) | Northwestern (8–5) | 22. |
| 23. | Fresno State (7–1) | Fresno State (8–1) | Utah State (9–1) | Boise State (9–2) | Iowa State (7–4) | Missouri (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Iowa State (4–3) | Auburn (6–3) | Cincinnati (9–1) | Pittsburgh (7–4) | Missouri (8–4) | Iowa State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Virginia (6–2) | Washington (7–3) | Boise State (8–2) | Iowa State (6–4) | Fresno State (10–2) | Boise State (10–3) | 25. |
| | Week 9 Oct 30 | Week 10 Nov 6 | Week 11 Nov 13 | Week 12 Nov 20 | Week 13 Nov 27 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2 | |
| | | Dropped: UtahTexas A&MVirginia | Dropped: NC StateMichigan StateIowaFresno StateAuburn | Dropped: Boston CollegeCincinnati | Dropped: Utah StatePittsburgh | None | |