# 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1997 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, did not bestow a national championship; instead that title was 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 11 | Week 1 Aug 25 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 8 | Week 4 Sep 15 | Week 5 Sep 22 | Week 6 Sep 29 | Week 7 Oct 6 | Week 8 Oct 13 | Week 9 Oct 20 | Week 10 Oct 27 | Week 11 Nov 3 | Week 12 Nov 10 | Week 13 Nov 17 | Week 14 Nov 24 | Week 15 Dec 1 | Week 16 Dec 8 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Penn State (21) | Penn State (0–0) (22) | Penn State (0–0) (23) | Penn State (1–0) (22) | Penn State (2–0) (25) | Florida (3–0) (32) | Florida (4–0) (36) | Florida (5–0) (35) | Penn State (5–0) (51) | Nebraska (6–0) (33) | Nebraska (7–0) (35) | Nebraska (8–0) (46) | Michigan (9–0) (44) | Michigan (10–0) (44) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (12–0) (51½) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida (12) | Florida (0–0) (14) | Florida (1–0) (14) | Florida (2–0) (15) | Washington (2–0) (19) | Penn State (3–0) (28) | Penn State (3–0) (25) | Penn State (4–0) (26) | Nebraska (5–0) (14) | Penn State (6–0) (26) | Penn State (6–0) (25) | Penn State (7–0) (16) | Florida State (9–0) (23) | Florida State (10–0) (24) | Nebraska (10–0) (1) | Nebraska (11–0) (1) | Nebraska (12–0) (1) | Nebraska (13–0) (18½) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida State (7) | Florida State (0–0) (6) | Tennessee (1–0) (7) | Washington (1–0) (14) | Florida (2–0) (14) | Nebraska (3–0) (7) | Nebraska (3–0) (6) | Nebraska (4–0) (6) | Florida State (5–0) (3) | Florida State (6–0) (9) | Florida State (7–0) (8) | Florida State (8–0) (5) | Nebraska (9–0) (3) | Nebraska (10–0) (2) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Tennessee (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington (10) | Washington (0–0) (9) | Washington (0–0) (9) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (4–0) (1) | North Carolina (6–0) (2) | North Carolina (7–0) (2) | Michigan (7–0) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Tennessee (8) | Tennessee (0–0) (7) | Florida State (0–0) (6) | Florida State (1–0) (4) | Florida State (2–0) (3) | North Carolina (3–0) (2) | North Carolina (4–0) (2) | North Carolina (5–0) (2) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | North Carolina (7–0) (2) | North Carolina (8–0) (2) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (0–0) (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (4) | North Carolina (2–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | North Carolina (4) | North Carolina (0–0) (4) | North Carolina (0–0) (4) | North Carolina (1–0) (2) | Nebraska (2–0) (2) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Florida (5–1) | Washington (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Georgia (7–1) | UCLA (8–2) | Florida (9–2) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | Tennessee (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Colorado (3) | Colorado (0–0) (3) | Colorado (0–0) (3) | Colorado (1–0) (3) | Michigan (1–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | LSU (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State (1) | Ohio State (0–0) (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | Kansas State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Washington State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Washington State (7–0) | UCLA (7–2) | Kansas State (8–1) | Florida (8–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Michigan State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | Washington State (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Auburn (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Auburn (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | UCLA (6–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Florida (7–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Miami (FL) | Syracuse (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | LSU (3–1) | Georgia (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | UCLA (5–2) | Kansas State (6–1) | Florida (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Michigan | Miami (FL) (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Kansas State (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | LSU (6–2) | Washington State (8–1) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Michigan (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Washington State (3–0) | Washington State (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Iowa (4–1) | Michigan State (5–1) | Iowa (5–2) | Arizona State (6–2) | Arizona State (7–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Auburn | Alabama (0–0) | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Colorado (2–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Georgia (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Washington State (7–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | Penn State (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Syracuse | Auburn (0–0) | Stanford (0–0) | Stanford (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Kansas State (3–0) | Iowa (4–1) | UCLA (4–2) | LSU (5–2) | West Virginia (6–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Washington (7–3) | LSU (7–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (11–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Stanford | Stanford (0–0) | Clemson (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–2) | Air Force (7–0) | Iowa (4–2) | Purdue (6–1) | Toledo (8–0) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (10–2) | Washington (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | BYU (0–0) | BYU (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Air Force (6–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Purdue (7–2) T | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Southern Miss (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Clemson | Clemson (0–0) | Iowa (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Stanford (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Kansas State (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) T | LSU (7–3) | Colorado State (9–2) | Colorado State (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–3) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Iowa | Iowa (0–0) | Kansas State (0–0) T | Michigan State (1–0) | Stanford (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–0) | BYU (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Michigan State (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Syracuse (7–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Syracuse (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | USC | Kansas State (0–0) | Northwestern (1–0) T | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–0) | UCLA (2–2) | Kansas State (3–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Purdue (5–1) | Toledo (7–0) | Syracuse (6–3) | Iowa (6–3) | West Virginia (7–4) | Mississippi State (7–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Mississippi (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Kansas State | USC (0–0) | USC (0–0) | USC (0–1) | Colorado State (2–1) | BYU (1–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (5–2) | Purdue (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Purdue (7–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Air Force (10–2) | Missouri (7–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Wisconsin | Northwestern (1–0) | Colorado State (1–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | UCLA (1–2) | UCLA (1–2) | BYU (2–1) | Colorado (2–2) | Wisconsin (6–1) | Toledo (6–0) | Southern Miss (5–2) | Southern Miss (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Michigan State | Michigan State (0–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Colorado State (1–1) | Georgia (2–0) | Arizona State (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | Georgia Tech (3–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Mississippi (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | Missouri (6–4) | Colorado State (8–2) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Michigan State (7–4) | Michigan State (7–4) | Georgia Tech (7–5) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 11 | Week 1 Aug 25 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 8 | Week 4 Sep 15 | Week 5 Sep 22 | Week 6 Sep 29 | Week 7 Oct 6 | Week 8 Oct 13 | Week 9 Oct 20 | Week 10 Oct 27 | Week 11 Nov 3 | Week 12 Nov 10 | Week 13 Nov 17 | Week 14 Nov 24 | Week 15 Dec 1 | Week 16 Dec 8 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: Wisconsin | Dropped: Syracuse | Dropped: BYUNorthwestern | Dropped: TexasNotre DameUSC | Dropped: Miami (FL)Colorado State | Dropped: Clemson | Dropped: AlabamaArizona State | Dropped: BYUColorado | Dropped: Air ForceGeorgia TechWisconsinStanford | Dropped: Mississippi | Dropped: West VirginiaMichigan State | Dropped: ToledoSouthern Miss | Dropped: IowaOklahoma State | Dropped: Virginia TechWest VirginiaWisconsin | Dropped: Mississippi State | None | Dropped: Air ForceMichigan State | |

## Coaches Poll

In the final Coaches Poll of the 1997 season, Nebraska leapfrogged Michigan to secure a share of the national championship, making it the 3rd split championship of the 1990s. Eight coaches split their first-place votes, with a final tally of 32 first-place votes for Nebraska and 30 for Michigan. The final vote count was Nebraska 1,520, Michigan 1,516.
| | Preseason Aug 11 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 8 | Week 4 Sep 15 | Week 5 Sep 22 | Week 6 Sep 29 | Week 7 Oct 6 | Week 8 Oct 13 | Week 9 Oct 20 | Week 10 Oct 27 | Week 11 Nov 3 | Week 12 Nov 10 | Week 13 Nov 17 | Week 14 Nov 24 | Week 15 Dec 1 | Week 16 Dec 8 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 4 | |
| 1. | Florida (19) | Florida (1–0) (25) | Florida (2–0) (25) | Florida (2–0) (25) | Florida (3–0) (43) | Florida (4–0) (45) | Florida (5–0) (48) | Penn State (5–0) (51) | Nebraska (6–0) (28) | Nebraska (7–0) (37) | Nebraska (8–0) (50) | Florida State (9–0) (26) | Florida State (10–0) (29) | Michigan (11–0) (46) | Michigan (11–0) (58) | Michigan (11–0) (53½) | Nebraska (13–0) (32) | 1. |
| 2. | Penn State (9) | Penn State (0–0) (13) | Penn State (1–0) (12) | Penn State (2–0) (14) | Penn State (3–0) (14) | Penn State (3–0) (13) | Penn State (4–0) (11) | Nebraska (5–0) (9) | Penn State (6–0) (29) | Penn State (6–0) (20) | Florida State (8–0) (2) | Michigan (9–0) (20) | Michigan (10–0) (20) | Nebraska (10–0) (16) | Nebraska (11–0) (4) | Nebraska (12–0) (8½) | Michigan (12–0) (30) | 2. |
| 3. | Washington (15) | Tennessee (1–0) (10) | Washington (1–0) (13) | Washington (2–0) (12) | Nebraska (3–0) (3) | Nebraska (3–0) (3) | Nebraska (4–0) (2) | Florida State (5–0) (1) | Florida State (6–0) (3) | Florida State (7–0) (3) | Penn State (7–0) (8) | Nebraska (9–0) (16) | Nebraska (10–0) (13) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Tennessee (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (3) | Washington (0–0) (7) | Tennessee (2–0) (5) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) (1) | North Carolina (7–0) (1) | Michigan (7–0) (2) | Michigan (8–0) (2) | Ohio State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Tennessee (8) | Florida State (0–0) (3) | Nebraska (1–0) (2) | Florida State (2–0) (2) | North Carolina (3–0) (1) | North Carolina (4–0) (1) | North Carolina (5–0) (1) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) (1) | North Carolina (7–0) | North Carolina (8–0) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | UCLA (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (2) | Florida State (1–0) (3) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Florida (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Colorado (3) | Colorado (0–0) (1) | Colorado (1–0) (1) | North Carolina (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Washington (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Kansas State (9–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | North Carolina (1) | North Carolina (0–0) (1) | North Carolina (1–0) (1) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Auburn (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | Washington (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Kansas State (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Tennessee (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Washington (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | UCLA (8–2) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Washington State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | LSU (5–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Washington State (7–0) | Kansas State (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | Florida (8–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (2–1) | Michigan State (4–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | LSU (7–2) | Washington State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Kansas State (6–1) | LSU (6–2) | Florida (7–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Michigan | Notre Dame (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Kansas State (5–1) | UCLA (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Washington State (8–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Miami (FL) | Michigan (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Washington State (3–0) | LSU (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Michigan State (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | Arizona State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Alabama (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | Washington State (4–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Iowa (4–1) | LSU (5–2) | Georgia (6–1) | Washington State (7–1) | Arizona State (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Syracuse | BYU (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Colorado (1–1) | Kansas State (3–0) | Iowa (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | UCLA (5–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Arizona State (6–2) | Auburn (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (11–2) | 16. |
| 17. | BYU | Stanford (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Stanford (4–1) | Air Force (7–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (7–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (10–2) | Penn State (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Stanford | Auburn (0–0) | Stanford (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Air Force (6–0) | UCLA (4–2) | Georgia (5–1) | Purdue (6–1) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | LSU (7–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (9–2) | Arizona State (8–3) | Washington (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Auburn | Iowa (0–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–2) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Iowa (4–2) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Syracuse (6–3) | Syracuse (7–3) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Colorado State (9–2) | Arizona State (8–3) | Texas A&M (9–3) | Southern Miss (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Iowa | Clemson (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) т | Kansas State (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Michigan State (5–2) | Toledo (8–0) | Purdue (7–2) | Washington (7–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Syracuse (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Clemson | USC (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Clemson (2–1) | Stanford (3–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) т | Georgia (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Air Force (10–2) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | USC | Virginia Tech (1–0) | USC (0–1) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Stanford (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | BYU (3–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Iowa (6–3) | Colorado State (8–2) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Mississippi (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Kansas State | Kansas State (0–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Stanford (1–1) | Arizona State (2–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Kansas State (3–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Purdue (5–1) | Toledo (7–0) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Missouri (7–4) | Air Force (10–2) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Washington (7–4) | Missouri (7–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Wisconsin | Northwestern (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Texas (1–1) | BYU (1–1) | BYU (2–1) | West Virginia (4–1) | Wisconsin (6–1) | Air Force (7–1) | Syracuse (5–3) | Purdue (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Virginia Tech | Colorado State (1–0) | NC State (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Air Force (4–0) | UCLA (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Syracuse (5–3) | BYU (5–2) | Southern Miss (6–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Purdue (7–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | New Mexico (9–2) | Michigan State (7–4) | Air Force (10–3) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 11 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 8 | Week 4 Sep 15 | Week 5 Sep 22 | Week 6 Sep 29 | Week 7 Oct 6 | Week 8 Oct 13 | Week 9 Oct 20 | Week 10 Oct 27 | Week 11 Nov 3 | Week 12 Nov 10 | Week 13 Nov 17 | Week 14 Nov 24 | Week 15 Dec 1 | Week 16 Dec 8 | Week 17 (Final) Jan 4 | |
| | | Dropped: SyracuseWisconsin | Dropped: BYUNorthwesternColorado State | Dropped: Notre DameUSCWest VirginiaNC State | Dropped: Miami (FL)Texas | Dropped: Clemson | Dropped: AlabamaArizona State | Dropped: BYUColorado | Dropped: StanfordWisconsinGeorgia Tech | Dropped: Texas A&MAir Force | Dropped: Michigan StateBYU | Dropped: ToledoSouthern Miss | Dropped: Oklahoma StateIowa | Dropped: Mississippi StateWest VirginiaWisconsin | Dropped: Virginia Tech | Dropped: New Mexico | Dropped: Michigan State | |