# 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprise the 2021 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 at the FBS level. 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 usually released starting midway through the season. The CFP rankings determine who makes the four-team playoff that 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 16 | Week 1 Sep 7 | 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 11 | |
| 1. | Alabama (47) | Alabama (1–0) (59) | Alabama (2–0) (60) | Alabama (3–0) (59) | Alabama (4–0) (58) | Alabama (5–0) (53) | Georgia (6–0) (62) | Georgia (7–0) (63) | Georgia (7–0) (63) | Georgia (8–0) (63) | Georgia (9–0) (63) | Georgia (10–0) (62) | Georgia (11–0) (62) | Georgia (12–0) (62) | Alabama (12–1) (50) | Georgia (14–1) (61) | 1. |
| 2. | Oklahoma (6) | Georgia (1–0) (3) | Georgia (2–0) (2) | Georgia (3–0) (3) | Georgia (4–0) (4) | Georgia (5–0) (9) | Iowa (6–0) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Alabama (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Michigan (11–1) | Michigan (12–1) (9) | Alabama (13–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Clemson (6) | Ohio State (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Oregon (4–0) | Iowa (5–0) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Oklahoma (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Cincinnati (10–0) | Alabama (10–1) | Cincinnati (12–0) | Georgia (12–1) | Michigan (12–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State (1) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Oklahoma (6–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Oklahoma (8–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Oregon (9–1) | Cincinnati (11–0) | Alabama (11–1) | Cincinnati (13–0) (3) | Cincinnati (13–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Georgia (3) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Michigan State (8–0) | Oregon (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Oklahoma State (11–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Baylor (12–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Texas A&M | Clemson (0–1) | Clemson (1–1) | Penn State (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Michigan (6–0) | Michigan (7–0) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Baylor (11–2) | Ohio State (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Iowa State | Cincinnati (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Oklahoma State (12–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Cincinnati | Notre Dame (1–0) | Cincinnati (2–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Oregon (4–1) | Michigan (6–0) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Michigan State (7–0) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Michigan State (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | Notre Dame (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Notre Dame | Iowa State (1–0) | Ohio State (1–1) | Clemson (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Oregon (4–1) | Michigan State (7–0) | Iowa (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Oklahoma State (9–1) | Baylor (9–2) | Baylor (10–2) | Oklahoma State (11–2) | Michigan State (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | North Carolina | Iowa (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Florida (3–1) | BYU (5–0) | Michigan State (6–0) | Oregon (5–1) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Wake Forest (8–0) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Ole Miss (8–2) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oregon (10–2) | Utah (10–3) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Oregon | Penn State (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | Michigan State (5–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Iowa (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Baylor (8–2) | Oregon (9–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | Ole Miss (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin | Oregon (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Auburn (6–2) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Michigan State (9–2) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | Utah (10–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Florida | Florida (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | BYU (4–0) | Arkansas (4–1) | Ole Miss (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Wake Forest (7–0) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Wake Forest (8–1) | Wake Forest (9–1) | BYU (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Pittsburgh (11–2) | Pittsburgh (11–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Miami (FL) | USC (1–0) | Iowa State (1–1) | Iowa State (2–1) | Michigan (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Baylor (7–1) | BYU (8–2) | BYU (8–2) | Texas A&M (8–3) | Utah (9–3) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Clemson (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | USC | Texas (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Coastal Carolina (5–0) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Ole Miss (6–2) | UTSA (9–0) | UTSA (10–0) | UTSA (11–0) | Iowa (10–2) | Oregon (10–3) | Wake Forest (11–3) | 15. |
| 16. | LSU | UCLA (2–0) | Coastal Carolina (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Coastal Carolina (4–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Wake Forest (6–0) | Wake Forest (6–0) | Baylor (6–1) | UTSA (8–0) | Auburn (6–3) | Texas A&M (7–3) | Utah (8–3) | Houston (11–1) | Louisiana (12–1) | Louisiana (13–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Indiana | Coastal Carolina (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Coastal Carolina (3–0) | Michigan State (4–0) | Ole Miss (3–1) | Arkansas (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | BYU (7–2) | Houston (8–1) | Houston (9–1) | Iowa (9–2) | Pittsburgh (10–2) | Iowa (10–3) | Houston (12–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Wisconsin (0–1) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Fresno State (4–1) | Auburn (4–1) | Arizona State (5–1) | NC State (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Kentucky (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Iowa (8–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Wake Forest (10–2) | NC State (9–3) | Kentucky (10–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Penn State | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Wake Forest (5–0) | BYU (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | SMU (7–0) | Iowa (6–2) | Iowa (7–2) | Wisconsin (7–3) | Houston (10–1) | San Diego State (11–1) | Clemson (9–3) | BYU (10–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Washington | Ole Miss (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | Florida (3–2) | Florida (4–2) | Baylor (6–1) | Penn State (5–2) | Houston (7–1) | Wisconsin (6–3) | Pittsburgh (8–2) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Louisiana (11–1) | Wake Forest (10–3) | NC State (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Texas | Utah (1–0) | North Carolina (1–1) | North Carolina (2–1) | Baylor (4–0) | Texas (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–2) | SMU (6–0) | San Diego State (7–0) | Coastal Carolina (7–1) | NC State (7–2) | Arkansas (7–3) | Wake Forest (9–2) | NC State (9–3) | Houston (11–2) | Arkansas (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Coastal Carolina | Miami (FL) (0–1) | Auburn (2–0) | Fresno State (3–1) | Auburn (3–1) | Arizona State (4–1) | NC State (4–1) | San Diego State (6–0) | Iowa State (5–2) | Penn State (5–3) | Coastal Carolina (8–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | San Diego State (10–1) | Clemson (9–3) | Arkansas (8–4) | Oregon (10–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Louisiana | Arizona State (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | NC State (3–1) | NC State (4–1) | SMU (6–0) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | UTSA (8–0) | SMU (7–1) | Penn State (6–3) | San Diego State (9–1) | Louisiana (10–1) | Arkansas (8–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Iowa (10–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Utah | North Carolina (0–1) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | UCLA (2–1) | Wake Forest (4–0) | SMU (5–0) | San Diego State (5–0) | UTSA (7–0) | Coastal Carolina (6–1) | Louisiana (7–1) | Louisiana (8–1) | Utah (7–3) | NC State (8–3) | Texas A&M (8–4) | UTSA (12–1) | Utah State (11–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Arizona State | Auburn (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Kansas State (3–0) | Clemson (2–2) | San Diego State (4–0) | Texas (4–2) | Purdue (4–2) | BYU (6–2) | Fresno State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | NC State (7–3) | Arkansas (7–4) | Kentucky (9–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | San Diego State (12–2) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 16 | Week 1 Sep 7 | 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 11 | |
| | | Dropped: LSUIndianaWashingtonLouisiana | Dropped: USCTexasUtah | Dropped: Virginia TechArizona StateMiami (FL) | Dropped: Iowa StateWisconsinNorth CarolinaKansas State | Dropped: Texas A&MFresno StateUCLABaylorClemson | Dropped: Auburn | Dropped: ArkansasArizona StateBYUFloridaTexas | Dropped: NC StatePurdue | Dropped: PittsburghSan Diego StateIowa State | Dropped: KentuckySMUFresno State | Dropped: AuburnCoastal CarolinaPenn State | None | Dropped: UTSAWisconsin | Dropped: San Diego State | Dropped: Texas A&MUTSA | |

### Ranking highlights
#### Preseason

* Iowa State received its highest ranking (No. 7) in program history.
* Coastal Carolina and Louisiana, respectively No. 22 and No. 23, were the first Sun Belt Conference teams ever ranked in the preseason.

#### Week 5

* Clemson's long streak of poll rankings ends.

#### Week 6

* Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 3) in program history.

#### Week 7

* UTSA was ranked for the first time in program history at No. 24.
* Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 2) in program history.

#### Week 8

* UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 23) in program history.

#### Week 9

* Wake Forest received its highest ranking (No. 10) in program history.
* UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 16) in program history.

#### Week 10

* UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 15) in program history.

#### Final Poll

* Cincinnati received its highest final ranking (No. 4). Its previous high was No. 8 in 2009 and 2020.
* Baylor received its highest final ranking (No. 5). Its previous high was No. 7 in 2014.
* Wake Forest received its highest final ranking (No. 15). Its previous high was No. 18 in 2006.

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 10 | Week 1 Sep 7 | 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 11 | |
| 1. | Alabama (63) | Alabama (1–0) (64) | Alabama (2–0) (64) | Alabama (3–0) (64) | Alabama (4–0) (64) | Alabama (5–0) (63) | Georgia (6–0) (64) | Georgia (7–0) (65) | Georgia (7–0) (64) | Georgia (8–0) (64) | Georgia (9–0) (64) | Georgia (10–0) (62) | Georgia (11–0) (62) | Georgia (12–0) (62) | Alabama (12–1) (54) | Georgia (14–1) (62) | 1. |
| 2. | Clemson | Georgia (1–0) (1) | Georgia (2–0) (1) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | Georgia (4–0) (1) | Georgia (5–0) (2) | Iowa (6–0) (1) | Oklahoma (7–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Cincinnati (8–0) | Alabama (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) | Michigan (12–1) (5) | Alabama (13–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (2) | Ohio State (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oregon (4–0) | Iowa (5–0) | Oklahoma (6–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Cincinnati (10–0) | Ohio State (10–1) | Michigan (11–1) | Georgia (12–1) | Michigan (12–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Oklahoma (8–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Ohio State (9–1) | Cincinnati (11–0) | Cincinnati (12–0) | Cincinnati (13–0) (3) | Cincinnati (13–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Georgia | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Oklahoma State (11–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Ohio State (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Texas A&M | Clemson (0–1) | Clemson (1–1) | Iowa (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Michigan (6–0) | Michigan (7–0) | Michigan State (8–0) | Oregon (8–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Baylor (11–2) | Baylor (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Michigan (6–0) | Michigan State (7–0) | Michigan State (7–0) | Oregon (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Oklahoma State (12–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Iowa State | Cincinnati (1–0) | Cincinnati (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | Michigan State (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | North Carolina | Florida (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Michigan State (6–0) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Wake Forest (8–0) | Michigan State (8–1) | Oklahoma State (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Baylor (10–2) | Oklahoma State (11–2) | Notre Dame (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Cincinnati | Iowa State (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | BYU (5–0) | Oregon (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Ole Miss (8–2) | Baylor (9–2) | Oregon (10–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida | Oregon (1–0) | Ohio State (1–1) | Florida (2–1) | Arkansas (4–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Iowa (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oregon (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Utah (10–3) | Ole Miss (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Oregon | Iowa (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Wake Forest (9–1) | Iowa (9–2) | Iowa (10–2) | Pittsburgh (11–2) | Utah (10–4) | 12. |
| 13. | LSU | Penn State (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Wake Forest (7–0) | Baylor (7–1) | Wake Forest (8–1) | Baylor (8–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Pittsburgh (11–3) | 13. |
| 14. | USC | USC (1–0) | Iowa State (1–1) | Iowa State (2–1) | Michigan (4–0) | Kentucky (5–0) | Ole Miss (4–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Auburn (6–2) | Iowa (7–2) | Iowa (8–2) | Texas A&M (8–3) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | Wake Forest (11–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Wisconsin | Texas (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | BYU (4–0) | Coastal Carolina (5–0) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | Wake Forest (6–0) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Ole Miss (6–2) | BYU (8–2) | BYU (8–2) | BYU (9–2) | Pittsburgh (10–2) | Oregon (10–3) | Kentucky (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Miami (FL) | UCLA (2–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | Michigan State (4–0) т | Arkansas (4–1) | Wake Forest (6–0) | Coastal Carolina (6–0) | SMU (7–0) | Iowa (6–2) | UTSA (9–0) | Texas A&M (7–3) | Houston (10–1) | Houston (11–1) | Iowa (10–3) | Clemson (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Indiana | Wisconsin (0–1) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Coastal Carolina (3–0) | Coastal Carolina (4–0) т | Ole Miss (3–1) | Florida (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Kentucky (6–2) | Houston (8–1) | Houston (9–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Utah (9–3) | Louisiana (12–1) | Houston (12–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Utah (1–0) | Coastal Carolina (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Florida (3–2) | Texas A&M (4–2) | NC State (5–1) | Baylor (6–1) | UTSA (8–0) | Baylor (7–2) | UTSA (10–0) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Wake Forest (10–2) | NC State (9–3) | Louisiana (13–1) | 18. |
| 19. | Texas | Coastal Carolina (1–0) | North Carolina (1–1) | Michigan (3–0) | Clemson (2–2) | Auburn (4–1) | Arkansas (4–2) | SMU (6–0) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | Houston (7–1) | NC State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (8–2) | Utah (8–3) | San Diego State (11–1) | Wake Forest (10–3) | NC State (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Penn State | Ole Miss (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | North Carolina (2–1) | UCLA (3–1) | Wake Forest (5–0) | BYU (5–1) | Baylor (6–1) | San Diego State (7–0) | BYU (7–2) | Auburn (6–3) | Wisconsin (7–3) | UTSA (11–0) | NC State (9–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Arkansas (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Washington | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Fresno State (4–1) | Clemson (3–2) | NC State (4–1) | San Diego State (6–0) | Auburn (5–2) | Coastal Carolina (7–1) | Coastal Carolina (8–1) | Louisiana (9–1) | Wake Forest (9–2) | Louisiana (11–1) | Houston (11–2) | Oregon (10–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Oklahoma State | North Carolina (0–1) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Auburn (3–1) | NC State (4–1) | Arizona State (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | UTSA (8–0) | NC State (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Arkansas (7–3) | San Diego State (10–1) | Kentucky (9–3) | Clemson (9–3) | BYU (10–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Louisiana | Oklahoma State (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (2–1) | Kentucky (4–0) | Texas (4–1) | SMU (6–0) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Iowa State (5–2) | Penn State (5–3) | Penn State (6–3) | San Diego State (9–1) | Louisiana (10–1) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Iowa (10–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Coastal Carolina | Miami (FL) (0–1) | Arkansas (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Baylor (4–0) | SMU (5–0) | San Diego State (5–0) | Clemson (4–2) | Coastal Carolina (6–1) | SMU (7–1) | Wisconsin (6–3) | NC State (7–3) | NC State (8–3) | Clemson (9–3) | Arkansas (8–4) | Utah State (11–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Ole Miss | Arizona State (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Fresno State (3–1) | Wake Forest (4–0) | Arizona State (4–1) | Clemson (3–2) | UTSA (7–0) | NC State (5–2) | Pittsburgh (6–2) | Louisiana (8–1) | Utah (7–3) | Kentucky (8–3) | Arkansas (8–4) | UTSA (12–1) | Texas A&M (8–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 10 | Week 1 Sep 7 | 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 11 | |
| | | Dropped: LSUIndianaWashingtonLouisiana | Dropped: USCTexasUtahMiami (FL) | Dropped: Virginia TechArizona State | Dropped: Iowa StateWisconsinNorth Carolina | Dropped: Texas A&MUCLAFresno StateBaylor | Dropped: AuburnTexas | Dropped: FloridaArkansasBYUArizona State | Dropped: Clemson | Dropped: San Diego StateIowa State | Dropped: KentuckySMU | Dropped: AuburnCoastal CarolinaPenn State | Dropped: Arkansas | Dropped: WisconsinUTSA | Dropped: San Diego State | Dropped: UTSA | |

## CFP rankings

The initial 2021 College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
| | Week 9 Nov. 2 | Week 10 Nov. 9 | Week 11 Nov. 16 | Week 12 Nov. 23 | Week 13 Nov. 30 | Week 14 (Final) Dec. 5 | |
| 1. | Georgia (8–0) | Georgia (9–0) | Georgia (10–0) | Georgia (11–0) | Georgia (12–0) | Alabama (12–1) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Michigan (11–1) | Michigan (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Michigan State (8–0) | Oregon (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) | Georgia (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Oregon (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Cincinnati (11–0) | Cincinnati (12–0) | Cincinnati (13–0) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State (7–1) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Cincinnati (10–0) | Michigan (10–1) | Oklahoma State (11–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Cincinnati (8–0) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Notre Dame (10–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan State (8–1) | Michigan State (9–1) | Oklahoma State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Baylor (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Oklahoma (9–0) | Oklahoma (9–0) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Baylor (9–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | Ole Miss (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Wake Forest (8–0) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Oklahoma State (9–1) | Ole Miss (9–2) | Baylor (10–2) | Oklahoma State (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Notre Dame (7–1) | Oklahoma State (8–1) | Wake Forest (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oregon (10–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Baylor (8–2) | Oregon (9–2) | Michigan State (10–2) | Utah (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Baylor (7–1) | Wake Forest (8–1) | Ole Miss (8–2) | Michigan State (9–2) | BYU (10–2) | Pittsburgh (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Auburn (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Oklahoma (9–1) | BYU (9–2) | Iowa (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas A&M (6–2) | BYU (8–2) | BYU (8–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oregon (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | BYU (7–2) | Ole Miss (7–2) | Wisconsin (7–3) | Texas A&M (8–3) | Pittsburgh (10–2) | Iowa (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Ole Miss (6–2) | NC State (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–3) | Iowa (9–2) | Wake Forest (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Mississippi State (5–3) | Auburn (6–3) | Iowa (8–2) | Pittsburgh (9–2) | Utah (9–3) | Wake Forest (10–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Kentucky (6–2) | Wisconsin (6–3) | Pittsburgh (8–2) | Wake Forest (9–2) | NC State (9–3) | NC State (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | NC State (6–2) | Purdue (6–3) | San Diego State (9–1) | Utah (8–3) | San Diego State (11–1) | Clemson (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Minnesota (6–2) | Iowa (7–2) | NC State (7–3) | NC State (8–3) | Clemson (9–3) | Houston (11–2) | 20. |
| 21. | Wisconsin (5–3) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Arkansas (7–3) | San Diego State (10–1) | Houston (11–1) | Arkansas (8–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Iowa (6–2) | San Diego State (8–1) | UTSA (10–0) | UTSA (11–0) | Arkansas (8–4) | Kentucky (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Fresno State (7–2) | UTSA (9–0) | Utah (7–3) | Clemson (8–3) | Kentucky (9–3) | Louisiana (12–1) | 23. |
| 24. | San Diego State (7–1) | Utah (6–3) | Houston (9–1) | Houston (10–1) | Louisiana (11–1) | San Diego State (11–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Pittsburgh (6–2) | Arkansas (6–3) | Mississippi State (6–4) | Arkansas (7–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | Texas A&M (8–4) | 25. |
| | Week 9 Nov. 2 | Week 10 Nov. 9 | Week 11 Nov. 16 | Week 12 Nov. 23 | Week 13 Nov. 30 | Week 14 (Final) Dec. 5 | |
| | | Dropped: Mississippi StateKentuckyMinnesotaFresno State | Dropped: AuburnPurdue | Dropped: Mississippi State | Dropped: UTSA Wisconsin | None | |