# 1983 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1983 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 28 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Nebraska (30) | Nebraska (1–0) (44) | Nebraska (2–0) (51) | Nebraska (3–0) (57) | Nebraska (4–0) (60) | Nebraska (5–0) (60) | Nebraska (6–0) (55) | Nebraska (7–0) (52) | Nebraska (8–0) (54) | Nebraska (9–0) (57) | Nebraska (10–0) (58) | Nebraska (11–0) (59) | Nebraska (11–0) (58) | Nebraska (12–0) (52) | Nebraska (12–0) (51) | Miami (FL) (11–1) (47 1⁄2) | 1. |
| 2. | Oklahoma (11) | Oklahoma (0–0) (3) | Oklahoma (1–0) (2) | Texas (1–0) (2) | Texas (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | Texas (4–0) (5) | Texas (5–0) (6) | Texas (6–0) (4) | Texas (7–0) (2) | Texas (8–0) (2) | Texas (9–0) (1) | Texas (10–0) (1) | Texas (11–0) (3) | Texas (11–0) (3) | Nebraska (12–1) (4 1⁄2) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas (3) | Texas (0–0) (2) | Texas (0–0) (2) | Ohio State (2–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Alabama (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) | North Carolina (7–0) | North Carolina (7–0) | Auburn (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (10–1) | Auburn (11–1) (7) | 3. |
| 4. | Penn State (2) | Auburn (0–0) (1) | Notre Dame (1–0) (1) | Arizona (3–0) | Iowa (3–0) | North Carolina (5–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | West Virginia (6–0) | Auburn (6–1) | Georgia (7–0–1) | Georgia (8–0–1) | Illinois (9–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Georgia (10–1–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Auburn (2) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Florida (6–0–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Illinois (8–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Texas (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Michigan (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Florida (5–0–1) | Georgia (6–0–1) | Illinois (7–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) | SMU (8–1) | SMU (9–1) | SMU (10–1) | SMU (10–1) | Florida (9–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida State (1) | Ohio State (0–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Iowa (2–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Florida (5–0–1) | Georgia (5–0–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Maryland (7–1) | SMU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1–1) | Georgia (8–1–1) | Georgia (9–1–1) | Georgia (9–1–1) | BYU (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | USC | North Carolina (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | Ohio State (2–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Georgia (4–0–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Michigan (6–1) | SMU (6–1) | BYU (8–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Michigan (9–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | USC (0–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Washington (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Florida (4–0–1) | Arizona (5–0–1) | SMU (5–0) | Illinois (6–1) | Florida (6–1–1) | Michigan (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (10–1) | Ohio State (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Michigan (1) | Georgia (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | USC (1–0–1) | Auburn (2–1) | Arizona (4–0–1) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Michigan (5–1) | SMU (5–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Illinois (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | North Carolina | Arizona (1–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Auburn (1–1) | Georgia (2–0–1) | Georgia (3–0–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Maryland (7–2) | Iowa (8–2) | Florida (7–2–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Florida (8–2–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | 11. |
| 12. | LSU | Florida State (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Florida (3–0–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | SMU (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | BYU (7–1) | Iowa (7–2) | Florida (7–2–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Florida (7–2–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | SMU (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Alabama | LSU (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | SMU (3–0) | SMU (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Arizona State (4–0–1) | Maryland (6–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Boston College (7–1) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Alabama (7–2) | Boston College (9–2) | Boston College (9–2) | Air Force (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Arizona | Alabama (0–0) | USC (0–0–1) | Georgia (1–0–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Ohio State (6–2) | Florida (6–2–1) | West Virginia (8–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Iowa (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Georgia | SMU (1–0) | Florida (1–0–1) | Florida (2–0–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Iowa (3–1) | Oklahoma (3–2) | Maryland (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | Iowa (6–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | Washington (8–2) | Boston College (8–2) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Alabama (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Iowa | Iowa (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | Maryland (3–1) т | Maryland (4–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Ohio State (5–2) | Boston College (6–1) | Alabama (6–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Maryland (8–3) | Air Force (9–2) т | West Virginia (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Maryland | Maryland (0–0) | Maryland (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Florida State (2–1) | Washington (3–1) т | Washington (4–1) | Ohio State (4–2) | Iowa (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Clemson (7–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2) | Maryland (8–3) | Air Force (9–2) | Maryland (8–3) т | UCLA (7–4–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Washington | Florida (1–0) | SMU (2–0) | SMU (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | BYU (5–1) | Alabama (4–2) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Boston College (7–2) | Air Force (8–2) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3–1) | 18. |
| 19. | SMU | Washington (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Boston College (3–0) | Maryland (2–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Arizona (5–1–1) | Boston College (5–1) т | Alabama (5–2) | North Carolina (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Alabama (7–3) | East Carolina (8–3) | Boston College (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | UCLA | Penn State (0–1) | West Virginia (2–0) | Florida State (2–1) | Arizona State (2–0–1) | BYU (3–1) | BYU (4–1) | Alabama (4–2) | Notre Dame (5–2) т | Washington (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Maryland (7–3) | East Carolina (8–3) | East Carolina (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–4) т Baylor (7–3–1) т | East Carolina (8–3) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 28 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: UCLA | Dropped: LSUPenn State | Dropped: Maryland | Dropped: USCNotre DamePittsburghBoston College | Dropped: LSUFlorida State | None | None | Dropped: Arizona StateArizona | None | Dropped: OklahomaNotre Dame | Dropped: North Carolina | Dropped: WashingtonMissouri | None | Dropped: Alabama | Dropped: MarylandBaylorOklahoma | |

## Coaches Poll

Clemson, USC, and Arizona were on probation by the NCAA during the 1983 season; they were therefore ineligible to receive votes in the Coaches Poll.
| | Preseason Aug 28 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Nebraska (18) | Nebraska (1–0) (32) | Nebraska (2–0) (36) | Nebraska (3–0) (39) | Nebraska (4–0) (40) | Nebraska (5–0) (42) | Nebraska (6–0) (38) | Nebraska (7–0) (38) | Nebraska (8–0) (38) | Nebraska (9–0) (38) | Nebraska (10–0) (38) | Nebraska (11–0) (40) | Nebraska (11–0) (39) | Nebraska (12–0) (33) | Nebraska (12–0) (31) | Miami (FL) (11–1) (30) | 1. |
| 2. | Texas (7) | Texas (0–0) (2) | Oklahoma (1–0) (2) | Texas (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | Texas (4–0) (3) | Texas (5–0) (4) | Texas (6–0) (4) | Texas (7–0) (3) | Texas (8–0) (2) | Texas (9–0) (1) | Texas (10–0) (1) | Texas (11–0) (2) | Texas (11–0) (3) | Nebraska (12–1) (6) | 2. |
| 3. | Auburn (3) | Auburn (0–0) (1) | Texas (0–0) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Iowa (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) | North Carolina (7–0) | North Carolina (7–0) | Auburn (7–1) | Auburn (8–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (9–1) | Auburn (10–1) | Auburn (11–1) (4) | 3. |
| 4. | Penn State (3) | Oklahoma (0–0) (2) | Auburn (1–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Alabama (3–0) | North Carolina (5–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | West Virginia (6–0) | Florida (6–0–1) | Georgia (7–0–1) | Georgia (8–0–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Miami (FL) (10–1) | Georgia (10–1–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma (6) | Michigan (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) (1) | Alabama (2–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Florida (5–0–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) | Illinois (9–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Texas (11–1) (1) | 5. |
| 6. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Florida (4–0–1) | Georgia (4–0–1) | Florida (5–0–1) | Georgia (6–0–1) | Illinois (7–1) | Illinois (8–1) | SMU (8–1) | SMU (9–1) | SMU (10–1) | SMU (10–1) | Florida (9–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida State | Georgia (1–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Georgia (5–0–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Maryland (7–1) | SMU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1–1) | Georgia (8–1–1) | Georgia (9–1–1) | Georgia (9–1–1) | BYU (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Notre Dame (2) | North Carolina (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Georgia (2–0–1) | Georgia (3–0–1) | Auburn (4–1) | SMU (5–0) | Michigan (6–1) | SMU (6–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Michigan | Notre Dame (0–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Florida (3–0–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | SMU (5–0) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Illinois (6–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | Iowa (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (10–1) | Michigan (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | North Carolina т | LSU (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | Auburn (2–1) | Auburn (2–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Maryland (6–1) | Florida (6–1–1) | BYU (8–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Iowa (9–2) | Illinois (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU т | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Georgia (1–0–1) | Ohio State (2–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Ohio State (7–2) | Iowa (8–2) | Florida (7–2–1) | Florida (8–2–1) | Florida (8–2–1) | SMU (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | UCLA | Florida (1–0) | Iowa (1–0) | SMU (2–0) | SMU (3–0) | SMU (4–0) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Iowa (5–1) | SMU (5–1) | BYU (7–1) | Boston College (7–1) | Florida (7–2–1) | Alabama (7–2) | Boston College (9–2) | Boston College (9–2) | Alabama (8–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Georgia (1) | Florida State (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Florida (2–0–1) | LSU (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Maryland (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Boston College (6–1) | Florida (6–2–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | UCLA (7–4–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Alabama | Alabama (0–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Auburn (1–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Iowa (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Arizona State (4–0–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Washington (7–2) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Iowa (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Pittsburgh | West Virginia (1–0) | Florida (1–0–1) | Boston College (3–0) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Maryland (3–1) | Maryland (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | Ohio State (6–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Boston College (8–2) | Maryland (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Air Force (10–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Washington | SMU (0–0) | Washington (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Maryland (2–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | Arizona State (3–0–1) | BYU (5–1) | Ohio State (5–2) | Michigan (6–2) | Alabama (6–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–3) | Air Force (8–2) | Air Force (9–2) | West Virginia (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | SMU | Iowa (0–0) | SMU (2–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Arizona State (2–0–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Oklahoma (3–2) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Alabama (5–2) | Maryland (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Baylor (7–3–1) | Baylor (7–3–1) | Penn State (8–4–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Arizona State | Arizona State (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Washington (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | Ohio State (4–2) | Boston College (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–2) | North Carolina (7–2) | Baylor (7–2–1) | Air Force (8–2) | Virginia Tech (9–2) | Virginia Tech (9–2) | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Miami (FL) | Penn State (0–1) | Maryland (1–0) | Arizona State (1–0–1) | Washington (2–1) | BYU (3–1) | BYU (4–1) | Pittsburgh (4–2) | Alabama (4–2) | Pittsburgh (6–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | Boston College (7–2) | Baylor (7–3–1) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Maryland т Iowa т | Maryland (0–0) | Boston College (2–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Oklahoma State (4–1) | Alabama (4–2) тBoston College (5–1) т | Pittsburgh (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–3) | Virginia Tech (9–2) | Oklahoma (7–4) | Oklahoma (8–4) | Boston College (9–3) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 28 | Week 1 Sep 5 | Week 2 Sep 12 | Week 3 Sep 19 | Week 4 Sep 26 | Week 5 Oct 3 | Week 6 Oct 10 | Week 7 Oct 17 | Week 8 Oct 24 | Week 9 Oct 31 | Week 10 Nov 7 | Week 11 Nov 14 | Week 12 Nov 21 | Week 13 Nov 28 | Week 14 Dec 5 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: WashingtonMiami (FL) | Dropped: LSUPenn State | Dropped: Florida StateMaryland | Dropped: Boston CollegeNotre DameArkansasMichigan State | Dropped: LSUKentuckyPittsburgh | None | Dropped: Oklahoma State | Dropped: Arizona State | Dropped: Washington | Dropped: OklahomaNotre Dame | Dropped: MarylandNorth CarolinaTennessee | Dropped: WashingtonWest VirginiaMissouri | Dropped: Alabama | None | Dropped: MarylandBaylorOklahoma | |