# 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1986 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 24 | Week 1 Sep 9 | Week 2 Sep 16 | Week 3 Sep 23 | Week 4 Sep 30 | Week 5 Oct 7 | Week 6 Oct 14 | Week 7 Oct 21 | Week 8 Oct 28 | Week 9 Nov 4 | Week 10 Nov 11 | Week 11 Nov 18 | Week 12 Nov 25 | Week 13 Dec 2 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (44) | Oklahoma (1–0) (55) | Oklahoma (1–0) (55) | Oklahoma (2–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (56) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (56) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (53) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (57) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (56) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (54) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (53) | Penn State (12–0) (54) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (6) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (1) | Alabama (4–0) (1) | Alabama (5–0) (2) | Alabama (6–0) (2) | Alabama (7–0) (3) | Penn State (7–0) (4) | Penn State (8–0) (4) | Michigan (9–0) (1) | Penn State (10–0) (3) | Penn State (11–0) (4) | Penn State (11–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Miami (FL) (1) | Michigan (0–0) (1) | Michigan (1–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Nebraska (3–0) | Nebraska (4–0) | Nebraska (5–0) | Nebraska (6–0) | Michigan (7–0) (1) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Penn State (9–0) (1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) (3) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA (3) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Arizona State (9–0–1) (1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Arizona State (10–1–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Alabama | Penn State (1–0) (1) | Penn State (1–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) (1) | Penn State (4–0) (1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Auburn (7–0) | Arizona State (7–0–1) | Arizona State (8–0–1) (1) | Nebraska (9–1) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Penn State (3) | Nebraska (1–0) (1) | Nebraska (1–0) (1) | Washington (2–0) (1) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Penn State (5–0) (1) | Penn State (6–0) (1) | Washington (6–1) | Alabama (8–1) (1) | Nebraska (8–1) (1) | Michigan (9–1) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Auburn (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Texas A&M (1) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Washington (1–0) (1) | Penn State (2–0) (1) | Auburn (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Arizona State (6–0–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Arizona State (9–1–1) | Ohio State (10–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Nebraska (1) | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Iowa (5–0) | Washington (5–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Arizona State (9–1–1) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Michigan (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | Auburn (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | USC (3–0) | USC (4–0) | Washington (4–1) | Arizona State (5–0–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Alabama (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Ohio State (0–1) | Auburn (1–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Arizona State (4–0–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Washington (7–2) | USC (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | LSU (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida State | BYU (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Arkansas (8–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | Ohio State (9–3) | Arizona (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Baylor | Baylor (1–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (3–1) | LSU (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | LSU (5–1) | UCLA (6–2) | LSU (6–2) | Washington (7–2–1) | Arizona (8–2) | Washington (8–2–1) | Baylor (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Florida | Florida (1–1) | Florida (1–1) | Maryland (3–0) | Baylor (3–1) | Baylor (4–1) | Mississippi State (5–1) | Mississippi State (6–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Washington (6–2) | USC (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Washington (8–2–1) | Alabama (9–3) | Texas A&M (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Auburn | LSU (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Arizona (6–1) | USC (6–2) | Arizona (7–2) | Arizona (7–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Baylor (8–3) | UCLA (8–3–1) | 14. |
| 15. | LSU | Florida State (1–1) | Florida State (1–1) | Iowa (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | USC (4–1) | Arizona (5–1) | UCLA (5–2) | NC State (6–1–1) | Clemson (7–2) | Auburn (8–2) | UCLA (7–3–1) | UCLA (7–3–1) | Arkansas (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Georgia т | UCLA (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–1) | UCLA (1–1) | Arizona State (2–0–1) | LSU (2–1) | Arizona (4–1) | Clemson (5–1) | NC State (5–1–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Baylor (8–3) | Arizona (8–3) | Iowa (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Washington т | Washington (0–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Baylor (2–1) | Michigan State (2–1) | NC State (3–0–1) | Clemson (4–1) | UCLA (4–2) | Ohio State (6–2) | Arizona (6–2) | Arkansas (7–2) | Baylor (7–3) | USC (7–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Clemson (8–2–2) | 17. |
| 18. | BYU | Arkansas (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | LSU (1–1) | LSU (1–1) | Stanford (4–0) | North Carolina (4–0–1) | SMU (5–1) | USC (5–2) | LSU (5–2) | Baylor (6–3) | UCLA (6–3–1) | Georgia (7–3) | NC State (8–2–1) | Washington (8–3–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Arkansas | Georgia (0–0) | UCLA (0–1) | Michigan State (1–1) | Fresno State (3–0) | Mississippi State (4–1) | UCLA (3–2) | Stanford (5–1) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Georgia (6–2) | UCLA (6–3) | Clemson (7–2–1) | NC State (8–2–1) | Iowa (8–3) | Boston College (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Michigan State | Michigan State (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Florida State (1–1–1) | NC State (3–0–1) | Clemson (3–1) | Baylor (4–2) тSMU (4–1) т | NC State (4–1–1) | Florida State (4–2–1) | Clemson (6–2) | Ole Miss (6–2–1) | Georgia (7–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Virginia Tech (9–2–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 24 | Week 1 Sep 9 | Week 2 Sep 16 | Week 3 Sep 23 | Week 4 Sep 30 | Week 5 Oct 7 | Week 6 Oct 14 | Week 7 Oct 21 | Week 8 Oct 28 | Week 9 Nov 4 | Week 10 Nov 11 | Week 11 Nov 18 | Week 12 Nov 25 | Week 13 Dec 2 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Michigan StateOhio StateTennessee | Dropped: BYUFloridaGeorgiaNotre Dame | Dropped: MarylandFlorida State | Dropped: Fresno StateMichigan StateUCLA | Dropped: NC StateStanford | Dropped: BaylorNorth CarolinaUSC | Dropped: ClemsonSMUStanford | Dropped: Florida StateMississippi State | Dropped: GeorgiaIowaNC State | Dropped: Ole Miss | Dropped: ClemsonStanford | Dropped: USC | Dropped: GeorgiaNC StateStanford | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 19 | Week 1 Sep 9 | Week 2 Sep 16 | Week 3 Sep 23 | Week 4 Sep 30 | Week 5 Oct 7 | Week 6 Oct 14 | Week 7 Oct 21 | Week 8 Oct 28 | Week 9 Nov 4 | Week 10 Nov 11 | Week 11 Nov 18 | Week 12 Nov 25 | Week 13 Dec 2 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (36) | Oklahoma (1–0) (44) | Oklahoma (1–0) (43) | Oklahoma (2–0) (44) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (44) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (48) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (44) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (41) | Penn State (12–0) (50) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (1) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) | Alabama (1) | Alabama (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) (3) | Alabama (7–0) (3) | Michigan (7–0) (1) | Penn State (8–0) (1) | Michigan (9–0) (1) | Penn State (10–0) (2) | Penn State (11–0) (5) | Penn State (11–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas A&M (5) | Michigan (0–0) (1) | Michigan (1–0) (1) | Alabama (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Nebraska (5–0) | Nebraska (6–0) | Penn State (7–0) (2) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Penn State (9–0) (2) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA (2) | Alabama (2–0) (1) | Alabama (3–0) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | Michigan (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Arizona State (9–0–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Penn State (2) | Penn State (1–0) (2) | Nebraska (1–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Penn State (6–0) | Auburn (7–0) | Arizona State (7–0–1) | Arizona State (8–0–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Arizona State (10–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Alabama (1) | Nebraska (1–0) | Penn State (1–0) (2) | Penn State (2–0) (2) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Miami (FL) (3) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Arizona State (6–0–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Michigan (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Nebraska | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | USC (3–0) | USC (4–0) | Iowa (5–0) | Washington (5–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Arizona State (9–1–1) | Arizona State (9–1–1) | Auburn (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | BYU (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Washington (4–1) | Arizona State (5–0–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Alabama (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Baylor (1–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Arizona State (4–0–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Washington (7–2) | USC (7–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arizona (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida State | Auburn (1–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–1) | LSU (4–1) | LSU (5–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | LSU (6–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Arizona (8–2) | Washington (8–2–1) | LSU (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Baylor | Ohio State (0–1) | Arkansas (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Baylor (3–1) | Washington (3–1) | LSU (3–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | UCLA (6–2) | USC (7–2) | Washington (7–2–1) | Washington (8–2–1) | Ohio State (9–3) | Texas A&M (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Auburn | Washington (0–0) | BYU (2–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Washington (6–2) | Arizona (7–2) | Arkansas (8–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | Arizona (8–3) | Baylor (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Arkansas | Georgia (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Arizona State (2–0–1) | Baylor (4–1) | Arizona (4–1) | Mississippi State (6–1) | Arizona (6–1) | NC State (6–1–1) | Stanford (7–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Alabama (9–3) | UCLA (8–3–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Georgia | Arkansas (0–0) | Arizona (2–0) | UCLA (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Mississippi State (5–1) | Arizona (5–1) | UCLA (5–2) | USC (6–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Arizona (7–2) | Baylor (8–3) | UCLA (7–3–1) | Iowa (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | BYU т | Arizona (1–0) | Maryland (2–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Michigan State (2–1) | Clemson (3–1) | USC (4–1) | Clemson (5–1) | NC State (5–1–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Arkansas (7–2) | Stanford (7–2) | UCLA (7–3–1) | Baylor (8–3) | Arkansas (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Washington т | LSU (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Baylor (2–1) | UCLA (2–1) | Georgia (3–1) | Clemson (4–1) | UCLA (4–2) т | Ohio State (6–2) т | Arizona (6–2) | Clemson (7–2) | Baylor (7–3) | USC (7–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Washington (8–3–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Maryland (1–0) | Florida State (1–1) | Michigan State (1–1) | Fresno State (3–0) | NC State (3–0–1) | North Carolina (4–0–1) | Stanford (5–1) т | Baylor (5–3) т | LSU (5–2) | Baylor (6–3) | Clemson (7–2–1) | Clemson (7–2–2) | Clemson (7–2–2) | Boston College (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | LSU | UCLA (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–1) | Fresno State (2–0) | NC State (3–0–1) | Indiana (4–0) | UCLA (3–2) | NC State (4–1–1) | USC (5–2) т | Baylor (5–3) т | UCLA (6–3) | NC State (7–2–1) | NC State (8–2–1) т | San Jose State (9–2) | Clemson (8–2–2) | 19. |
| 20. | Maryland | Iowa (0–0) | USC (1–0) | Florida State (1–1–1) | Stanford (3–0) | North Carolina (3–0–1) | Baylor (4–2) | Baylor (4–3) тNorth Carolina (4–1–1) т | Florida State (4–2–1) т | Stanford (6–2) т | NC State (6–2–1) | San Jose State (9–2) Georgia (7–3) | Florida State (6–3–1) тSan Jose State (9–2) т | Virginia Tech (8–2–1) | Florida State (7–4–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 19 | Week 1 Sep 9 | Week 2 Sep 16 | Week 3 Sep 23 | Week 4 Sep 30 | Week 5 Oct 7 | Week 6 Oct 14 | Week 7 Oct 21 | Week 8 Oct 28 | Week 9 Nov 4 | Week 10 Nov 11 | Week 11 Nov 18 | Week 12 Nov 25 | Week 13 Dec 2 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: UCLA | Dropped: LSUGeorgiaBYU | Dropped: MarylandFlorida State | Dropped: Michigan StateUCLAFresno StateStanford | Dropped: GeorgiaNC StateIndiana | Dropped: USC | Dropped: Mississippi StateClemsonStanfordNorth Carolina | Dropped: Florida State | Dropped: Iowa | Dropped: UCLA | Dropped: StanfordGeorgia | Dropped: USCNC StateFlorida State | Dropped: StanfordSan Jose StateVirginia Tech | |