# 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1989 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

The AP poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989.
| | 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 Dec 12 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Michigan (23) | Notre Dame (1–0) (31) | Notre Dame (1–0) (37) | Notre Dame (2–0) (57) | Notre Dame (3–0) (57) | Notre Dame (4–0) (57) | Notre Dame (5–0) (54) | Notre Dame (6–0) (52) | Notre Dame (7–0) (56) | Notre Dame (8–0) (58) | Notre Dame (9–0) (56) | Notre Dame (10–0) (57) | Notre Dame (11–0) (57) | Colorado (11–0) (53) | Colorado (11–0) (55) | Colorado (11–0) (51) | Miami (FL) (11–1) (38) | 1. |
| 2. | Notre Dame (20) | Michigan (0–0) (18) | Michigan (0–0) (15) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (3) | Colorado (8–0) (2) | Colorado (9–0) (4) | Colorado (10–0) (3) | Colorado (11–0) (3) | Alabama (10–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (4) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (4) | Notre Dame (12–1) (19) | 2. |
| 3. | Nebraska (10) | Miami (FL) (0–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (5) | Nebraska (2–0) | Nebraska (3–0) | Colorado (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) (2) | Colorado (6–0) (3) | Colorado (7–0) (1) | Nebraska (8–0) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) (1) | Michigan (10–1) (1) | Michigan (10–1) (1) | Florida State (10–2) (2) | 3. |
| 4. | Miami (FL) (4) | Nebraska (0–0) (6) | Nebraska (1–0) (3) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Nebraska (4–0) | Nebraska (5–0) | Nebraska (6–0) | Nebraska (7–0) | Michigan (6–1) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Colorado (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | USC (1) | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Michigan (0–1) | Colorado (3–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Alabama (7–0) | Florida State (7–2) | Florida State (7–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Florida State (9–2) | Florida State (9–2) | Tennessee (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Florida State (2) | UCLA (0–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Florida State (6–2) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Florida State (8–2) | Nebraska (10–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Auburn (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | LSU | Arkansas (0–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Arkansas (5–0) | Pittsburgh (5–0–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Michigan (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Auburn | Oklahoma (1–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0–1) | Houston (4–0) | Pittsburgh (5–0–1) | Illinois (5–1) | Illinois (6–1) | Illinois (7–1) | USC (8–2) | Tennessee (8–1) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | USC (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | UCLA | Colorado (1–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | USC (3–1) т | Pittsburgh (4–0–1) | USC (5–1) | Florida State (5–2) | USC (6–2) | USC (7–2) | Tennessee (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Arkansas (9–1) | Auburn (9–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Arkansas | Clemson (1–0) | Illinois (1–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | West Virginia (4–0–1) т | USC (4–1) | Alabama (5–0) | USC (5–2) | Tennessee (6–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Illinois (9–2) | Arkansas (10–1) | Arkansas (10–1) | Illinois (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Penn State (1) | Illinois (1–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Auburn (2–1) | Alabama (4–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Illinois (8–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Illinois (9–2) | Illinois (9–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Clemson | Penn State (0–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | USC (1–1) | Tennessee (3–0) | Houston (3–0) | Auburn (3–1) | NC State (6–0) | Houston (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Auburn (6–2) | Illinois (7–2) | USC (8–2–1) | USC (8–2–1) | USC (8–2–1) | USC (8–2–1) | Clemson (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Syracuse | USC (0–1) | USC (0–1) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | NC State (6–0) | Illinois (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Houston (7–2) | Houston (7–2) | Houston (8–2) | Houston (9–2) | Houston (9–2) | Arkansas (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Colorado | Syracuse (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Houston (2–0) | NC State (5–0) | Clemson (5–1) | Florida State (4–2) | Penn State (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Houston (9–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Oklahoma | Texas A&M (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | NC State (4–0) | Clemson (4–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Washington State (6–1) | West Virginia (5–1–1) | Arizona (6–2) | Houston (6–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Penn State (8–3–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Alabama | Florida State (0–1) | Alabama (0–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Houston (4–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Texas A&M (7–3) | Texas A&M (8–3) | Texas A&M (8–3) | Michigan State (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Houston (1–0) | Arizona (3–1) | Syracuse (2–1) | Air Force (6–0) т | Penn State (5–1) | Arizona (5–2) | Houston (5–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Penn State (6–2–1) | West Virginia (7–2–1) | West Virginia (8–2–1) | West Virginia (8–2–1) | West Virginia (8–2–1) | Pittsburgh (8–3–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Arizona | Southern Miss (1–0) | Houston (1–0) | NC State (3–0) | Syracuse (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Washington State (5–1) т | West Virginia (4–1–1) | BYU (6–1) | NC State (7–1) | Virginia (8–2) | West Virginia (7–2–1) | Texas Tech (8–2) | Penn State (7–3–1) | Penn State (7–3–1) | Penn State (7–3–1) | Virginia (10–3) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Alabama (0–0) | NC State (2–0) | Washington State (3–0) | Washington State (4–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Florida State (3–2) | Air Force (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | West Virginia (6–2–1) | Pittsburgh (5–2–1) | Pittsburgh (6–2–1) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | BYU (10–2) | Texas Tech (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Pittsburgh | Arizona (1–0) | UCLA (0–1) | Illinois (1–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Air Force (5–0) | West Virginia (4–1–1) | Florida (5–1) | NC State (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Texas Tech (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Duke (8–3) | Duke (8–3) | Duke (8–3) | Texas A&M (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Houston | LSU (0–1) | LSU (0–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Washington (2–1) | Washington State (4–1) | Michigan State (2–2) | BYU (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Clemson (7–2) | BYU (7–2) | BYU (8–2) | BYU (9–2) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3–1) | 21. |
| 22. | Illinois | Houston (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Oregon (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Florida State (2–2) | UCLA (3–2) | Arizona (4–2) | Clemson (6–2) | Texas (4–2) | NC State (7–2) | Ohio State (7–2) | Penn State (6–3–1) | Michigan State (7–4) | Michigan State (7–4) | Michigan State (7–4) | BYU (10–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Iowa | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | Arizona (2–1) | Georgia (2–0) | Oregon (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–2) | Washington State (6–2) | BYU (6–2) | Texas Tech (6–2) | Fresno State (10–0) | Duke (8–3) | Hawaii (9–2) | Hawaii (9–2) | Pittsburgh (7–3–1) | Washington (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | NC State | BYU (1–0) | Iowa (0–0) | UCLA (1–1) | Air Force (4–0) | Michigan State (1–2) | South Carolina (4–1–1) | South Carolina (4–1–1) | Texas (4–2) | Virginia (7–2) | Fresno State (9–0) | Hawaii (8–2) | Hawaii (8–2) | Pittsburgh (6–3–1) | Pittsburgh (7–3–1) | Texas Tech (8–3) | Ohio State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Ohio State | NC State (1–0) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Florida State (2–2) | UCLA (2–2) | BYU (4–1) тFlorida (4–1) т | Oklahoma (4–2) | South Carolina (5–1–1) | Fresno State (8–0) | Arizona (6–3) | Duke (7–3) | Michigan State (6–4) | Texas Tech (8–3) | Texas Tech (8–3) | Hawaii (9–2–1) | Arizona (8–4) | 25. |
| | 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 Dec 12 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: IowaOhio State | Dropped: ArizonaBYUFlorida StatePenn StateSouthern Miss | Dropped: IowaLSUMississippi State | Dropped: Ohio StateOregonUCLA | Dropped: ArizonaGeorgiaWashington | Dropped: OregonSyracuseTexas A&M | Dropped: ClemsonMichigan StateUCLA | Dropped: Air ForceOklahoma | Dropped: South CarolinaWashington State | Dropped: Texas | Dropped: ArizonaFloridaNC State | Dropped: Fresno State | None | None | None | Dropped: DukeHawaii | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 19 | 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. | Notre Dame (30) | Notre Dame (1–0) (34) | Notre Dame (1–0) (39) | Notre Dame (2–0) (45) | Notre Dame (3–0) (43) | Notre Dame (4–0) (47) | Notre Dame (5–0) (42) | Notre Dame (6–0) (41) | Notre Dame (7–0) (45) | Notre Dame (8–0) (47) | Notre Dame (9–0) (45) | Notre Dame (10–0) (45) | Notre Dame (11–0) (43) | Colorado (11–0) (39) | Colorado (11–0) (42) | Miami (FL) (11–1) (36) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska (8) | Nebraska (0–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (3) | Colorado (8–0) (2) | Colorado (9–0) (5) | Colorado (10–0) (4) | Colorado (11–0) (4) | Alabama (10–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (4) | Florida State (10–2) (7) | 2. |
| 3. | Auburn | USC (0–0) (1) | Nebraska (1–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–0) т | Nebraska (3–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (5–0) (1) | Colorado (6–0) (1) | Colorado (7–0) (1) | Nebraska (8–0) (1) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) | Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) | Michigan (10–1) | Notre Dame (12–1) (6) | 3. |
| 4. | USC (3) | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) т | Auburn (2–0) (1) | Colorado (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) (1) | Nebraska (6–0) (1) | Nebraska (7–0) (1) | Alabama (7–0) | Florida State (7–2) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) (2) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Colorado (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Miami (FL) (1) | Miami (FL) (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) (7) | Colorado (3–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Florida State (6–2) | Michigan (7–1) | Florida State (7–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Notre Dame (11–1) | Florida State (9–2) (1) | Tennessee (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Florida State (1) | Michigan (0–0) (8) | Clemson (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Arkansas (5–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Florida State (8–2) (1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Auburn (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan (7) | UCLA (0–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Michigan (0–1) | Michigan (1–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Miami (FL) (7–1) | Miami (FL) (8–1) | Miami (FL) (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | UCLA | Arkansas (0–0) | Arkansas (0–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | West Virginia (4–0–1) | Alabama (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Florida State (5–2) | Illinois (6–1) | Illinois (7–1) | USC (8–2) | Tennessee (8–1) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Michigan (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | LSU | Clemson (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | USC (3–1) | Pittsburgh (4–0–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0–1) | Illinois (5–1) | USC (6–2) | USC (7–2) | Arkansas (8–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Arkansas (9–1) | Arkansas (10–1) | USC (9–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Arkansas | Penn State (0–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Alabama (3–0) т | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | USC (5–2) | Tennessee (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) т | Tennessee (7–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Illinois (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Clemson | Colorado (0–0) | Illinois (1–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | USC (2–1) | Auburn (2–1) т | Auburn (3–1) | Auburn (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Arkansas (7–1) т | Auburn (7–2) | Illinois (8–2) | Illinois (9–2) | Illinois (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Penn State | Texas A&M (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0–1) | NC State (6–0) | NC State (6–0) | Tennessee (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1–1) | Auburn (6–2) | Illinois (7–2) | USC (8–2–1) | USC (8–2–1) | USC (8–2–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | West Virginia | West Virginia (1–0) | Alabama (0–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Alabama (2–0) | NC State (5–0) | Clemson (5–1) | Florida State (4–2) | Penn State (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Clemson (8–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Arkansas (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Colorado | Alabama (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | NC State (4–0) | Clemson (4–1) | Air Force (6–0) | Washington State (6–1) | West Virginia (5–1–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Virginia (9–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Virginia (10–2) | Penn State (8–3–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Syracuse (0–0) | NC State (2–0) | USC (1–1) | Arizona (3–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Illinois (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Auburn (4–2) | NC State (7–1) | Clemson (8–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | BYU (10–2) | Texas A&M (8–3) | Virginia (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Syracuse | Florida State (0–1) | USC (0–1) | NC State (3–0) | Washington State (4–0) | Washington State (4–1) | Washington State (5–1) т | Penn State (5–1) | Arizona (5–2) | Arizona (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Penn State (6–2–1) | BYU (9–2) | West Virginia (8–2–1) | BYU (10–2) | Texas Tech (9–3) т | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia | BYU (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Washington State (3–0) | Washington (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Florida State (3–2) т | Air Force (6–1) | NC State (6–1) | Penn State (5–2) | Virginia (8–2) | BYU (8–2) | Texas Tech (8–2) | Texas A&M (7–3) | West Virginia (8–2–1) | Michigan State (8–4) т | 17. |
| 18. | BYU | Southern Miss (1–0) | Air Force (2–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | West Virginia (4–1–1) | West Virginia (4–1–1) | BYU (6–1) | Clemson (7–2) | BYU (7–2) | Pittsburgh (5–2–1) | Ohio State (8–2) | Penn State (7–3–1) | Penn State (7–3–1) | BYU (10–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Iowa | LSU (0–1) | Georgia (0–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Air Force (4–0) | Syracuse (2–1) | Hawaii (5–1) т | Arizona (4–2) | Clemson (6–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) т | West Virginia (6–2–1) т | Texas Tech (7–2) | West Virginia (7–2–1) | Hawaii (9–2) | Hawaii (9–2) т | Pittsburgh (7–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Washington | Georgia (0–0) | UCLA (0–1) | Georgia (1–0) тOhio State (1–0) т | Florida State (2–2) | Hawaii (4–1) тFlorida State (2–2) т | Michigan State (2–2) т | BYU (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Texas (4–2) т | Texas Tech (6–2) т | West Virginia (7–2–1) | Pittsburgh (6–2–1) | Ohio State (8–3) тArizona (7–4) т | Texas Tech (8–3) т | Washington (8–4) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 19 | 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: IowaWashington | Dropped: Penn StateTexas A&MFlorida StateBYUSouthern MissLSU | Dropped: IllinoisUCLA | Dropped: SyracuseOregonOhio State | Dropped: ArizonaWashingtonGeorgia | Dropped: Texas A&MSyracuse | Dropped: ClemsonHawaiiMichigan State | Dropped: Washington StateAir Force | Dropped: BYUFlorida | Dropped: NC StateArizonaTexas | None | Dropped: Penn State | Dropped: Texas TechPittsburgh | Dropped: Ohio StateArizona | Dropped: Texas A&MWest VirginiaHawaii | |