# 2001 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), does not bestow a National Championship title for Division I-A football. That title is primarily bestowed by different polling agencies. There are several polls that currently exist. The main weekly polls are the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. About halfway through the season the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings are released.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| | Selected for BCS National Championship Game |
| (#–#) | 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 26 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 9 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 Dec 9 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 4 | |
| 1. | Florida (20) | Florida (0–0) (21) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (37) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (40) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (39) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (34) | Florida (5–0) (30) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (48) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (55) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (44) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (52) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (71) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (72) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (72) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (72) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (33) | Miami (FL) (0–0) (33) | Florida (1–0) (19) | Florida (2–0) (14) | Florida (3–0) (15) | Florida (4–0) (22) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (23) | Oklahoma (6–0) (21) | Oklahoma (7–0) (22) | Nebraska (9–0) (17) | Nebraska (10–0) (17) | Nebraska (11–0) (28) | Nebraska (11–0) (20) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (10) | Oklahoma (1–0) (10) | Oklahoma (2–0) (10) | Oklahoma (3–0) (11) | Oklahoma (3–0) (11) | Oklahoma (4–0) (9) | Oklahoma (5–0) (16) | Nebraska (7–0) (2) | Nebraska (8–0) (2) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Texas (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Colorado (10–2) | Florida (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (3) | Texas (1–0) (4) | Nebraska (3–0) (2) | Nebraska (4–0) (2) | Nebraska (5–0) (2) | Nebraska (6–0) (2) | UCLA (5–0) (1) | UCLA (6–0) (1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Colorado (10–2) | Nebraska (11–1) | Tennessee (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Texas (5) | Texas (0–0) (4) | Nebraska (2–0) (2) | Texas (2–0) (4) | Texas (3–0) (4) | Texas (4–0) (4) | Oregon (5–0) | Oregon (6–0) | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Texas (7–1) | Texas (8–1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (9–1) | Tennessee (9–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Florida (9–2) | Texas (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Florida State | Florida State (0–0) | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Tennessee (3–0) (7) | Virginia Tech (5–0) | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Florida (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Tennessee (7–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Florida (9–2) | Maryland (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Oregon | Oregon (0–0) (1) | Oregon (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Oregon (4–0) | UCLA (4–0) | Florida (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Maryland (10–1) | Maryland (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | LSU (10–3) | 7. |
| 8. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Fresno State (5–0) (1) | Fresno State (6–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Washington (7–1) | BYU (10–0) | Maryland (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Tennessee (10–2) | Nebraska (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | Texas (5–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | UCLA (6–1) | BYU (9–0) | Washington State (9–1) | BYU (11–0) | Colorado (9–2) | BYU (12–0) | Texas (10–2) | Colorado (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Georgia Tech | Oregon State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Fresno State (4–0) (1) | Fresno State (5–0) (1) | Washington (4–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Maryland (7–0) | Stanford (5–1) | Florida State (6–2) | Maryland (9–1) | Illinois (9–1) | BYU (11–0) | Texas (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Washington State (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Oregon State | Georgia Tech (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Fresno State (3–0) (1) | Kansas State (2–0) | Washington (3–0) | Texas (4–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Washington (6–1) | Washington State (8–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Maryland (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Michigan | Michigan (0–0) | Kansas State (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Kansas State (2–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Maryland (6–0) | South Carolina (6–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Illinois (8–1) | Washington (8–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) | LSU (9–3) | Illinois (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Kansas State | Kansas State (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Clemson (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | BYU (8–0) | Maryland (8–1) | Stanford (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Washington State (9–2) | South Carolina (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Northwestern (3–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Colorado (5–1) | Washington State (7–0) | Florida State (5–2) | South Carolina (7–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | Colorado (8–2) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | Syracuse (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Washington | Washington (0–0) | Washington (0–0) | LSU (2–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Washington (4–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Maryland (7–1) | Illinois (7–1) | Colorado (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Florida State (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Northwestern | Northwestern (0–0) | Northwestern (0–0) | Northwestern (1–0) | Northwestern (2–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Clemson (3–1) | South Carolina (5–1) | BYU (7–0) | Washington State (7–1) | Stanford (5–2) | Washington (7–2) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | Georgia (7–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Stanford (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | UCLA | UCLA (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Georgia Tech (3–1) | Purdue (4–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Auburn (6–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Auburn (7–2) | Louisville (10–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Louisville (11–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Florida State (2–1) | LSU (2–1) | BYU (5–0) | BYU (6–0) | Fresno State (6–1) | Georgia (5–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Virginia Tech (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Clemson | Clemson (0–0) | Fresno State (2–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Oregon State (1–1) | Clemson (3–1) | Georgia (3–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Florida State (4–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Georgia (5–2) | Louisville (9–1) | Georgia (6–3) | Washington (8–3) | Fresno State (11–2) | BYU (12–1) | Washington (8–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Mississippi State | Mississippi State (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | BYU (3–0) | BYU (4–0) | Colorado (4–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Purdue (5–1) | Georgia Tech (6–2) | UCLA (6–3) | Marshall (9–1) | Marshall (10–1) | Washington (8–3) | Fresno State (11–2) | Michigan (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | South Carolina | South Carolina (0–0) | South Carolina (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Mississippi State (1–1) | Purdue (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Florida State (3–2) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Illinois (6–1) | Colorado (7–2) | Florida State (6–3) | Georgia Tech (7–3) | Fresno State (10–2) | LSU (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | Boston College (8–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Wisconsin | Wisconsin (1–0) | Oregon State (0–1) | Oregon State (1–1) | Illinois (3–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Maryland (5–0) | Northwestern (4–1) | Illinois (6–1) | North Carolina (5–3) | Michigan State (5–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (7–3) | Ohio State (7–4) | Ohio State (7–4) | Georgia (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Michigan State (2–0) | Toledo (4–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Georgia Tech (4–2) | North Carolina (5–3) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | Georgia (5–3) | Fresno State (9–2) | Ohio State (7–4) | Louisville (10–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Toledo (10–2) | 23. |
| 24. | Colorado State | Colorado State (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) | BYU (3–0) | Purdue (2–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Kansas State (2–2) | Purdue (4–1) | Purdue (4–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Auburn (6–2) | Marshall (8–1) | Arkansas (7–3) | Louisville (10–2) | Florida State (7–4) | Florida State (7–4) | Georgia Tech (8–5) | 24. |
| 25. | Alabama | Alabama (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Louisville (3–0) | Toledo (3–0) | Maryland (4–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Toledo (5–0) | Colorado (5–2) | Colorado (6–2) | Louisville (8–1) | Ohio State (6–3) | Boston College (7–3) | Auburn (7–3) | Toledo (9–2) | Toledo (9–2) | BYU (12–2) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 11 | Week 1 Aug 26 | Week 2 Sep 2 | Week 3 Sep 9 | Week 4 Sep 23 | Week 5 Sep 30 | Week 6 Oct 7 | Week 7 Oct 14 | Week 8 Oct 21 | Week 9 Oct 28 | Week 10 Nov 4 | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 Dec 9 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 4 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Colorado StateAlabama | Dropped: WisconsinGeorgia | Dropped: ClemsonOhio StateNotre DameLouisville | Dropped: Oregon StateMississippi StateIllinoisMichigan State | Dropped: NorthwesternLSUToledo | Dropped: Ohio StateStanfordKansas StateTexas A&M | Dropped: ClemsonNorthwesternToledo | Dropped: AuburnFresno State | Dropped: PurdueNorth CarolinaTexas A&M | Dropped: Georgia TechMichigan State | Dropped: AuburnUCLAFlorida StateOhio State | Dropped: Georgia TechArkansasBoston College | Dropped: MarshallAuburn | None | Dropped: Fresno StateOhio State | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 2 | Week 1 Aug 28 | Week 2 Sep 4 | Week 3 Sep 10 | Week 4 Sep 24 | Week 5 Oct 1 | Week 6 Oct 8 | Week 7 Oct 15 | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 7 | |
| 1. | Florida (25) | Florida (0–0) (28) | Florida (1–0) (26) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (29) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (34) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (35) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (25) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (48) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (46) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (41) | Nebraska (11–0) (30) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (33) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (59) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (59) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (60) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (60) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (15) | Miami (FL) (0–0) (16) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (22) | Florida (2–0) (19) | Florida (3–0) (14) | Florida (4–0) (16) | Florida (5–0) (25) | Oklahoma (6–0) (11) | Oklahoma (7–0) (13) | Nebraska (9–0) (14) | Nebraska (10–0) (18) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (28) | Nebraska (11–0) (25) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (8) | Oklahoma (1–0) (10) | Oklahoma (2–0) (9) | Oklahoma (3–0) (7) | Oklahoma (3–0) (9) | Oklahoma (4–0) (8) | Oklahoma (5–0) (10) | Nebraska (7–0) (1) | Nebraska (8–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) (1) | Florida (8–1) (2) | Florida (9–1) (1) | Texas (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Colorado (10–2) | Florida (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska (6) | Nebraska (1–0) (2) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–0) (2) | Nebraska (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (5–0) | Nebraska (6–0) | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Tennessee (9–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Tennessee (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida State (1) | Florida State (0–0) (1) | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) (1) | Texas (3–0) | Texas (4–0) | Virginia Tech (5–0) | Oregon (6–0) | UCLA (6–0) | Texas (7–1) | Texas (8–1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Colorado (10–2) | Florida (9–2) | Texas (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Texas (2) | Texas (0–0) (2) | Texas (1–0) (1) | Texas (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) (1) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Oregon (5–0) | UCLA (5–0) | Florida (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Florida (9–2) | Maryland (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Tennessee (1) | Oregon (0–0) (1) | Tennessee (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) (1) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | Florida (5–1) | Texas (6–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) | BYU (11–0) т | Maryland (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Nebraska (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Oregon (1) | Tennessee (0–0) | Oregon (1–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Oregon (4–0) | Washington (4–0) | Texas (5–1) | Michigan (5–1) | BYU (8–0) | Washington (7–1) | BYU (10–0) | BYU (11–0) (1) | Maryland (10–1) т | BYU (12–0) т | Tennessee (10–2) | LSU (10–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | Michigan (5–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Oregon (7–1) | BYU (9–0) | Maryland (9–1) | Maryland (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) т | Texas (10–2) | Colorado (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Michigan (1) | Michigan (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Washington (3–0) | Fresno State (5–0) | Fresno State (6–0) | BYU (7–0) | Washington (6–1) | Florida State (6–2) | Washington State (9–1) | Illinois (9–1) | Colorado (9–2) | Texas (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Maryland (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Kansas State | Kansas State (0–0) | Kansas State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Fresno State (5–0) (1) | Texas (4–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Washington (5–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Maryland (8–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Washington State (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Oregon State | Oregon State (0–0) | Oregon State (0–1) | UCLA (2–0) | Washington (2–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Washington (4–1) | Maryland (7–0) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Washington State (8–1) | Illinois (8–1) | Washington (8–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) | LSU (9–3) | Illinois (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Georgia Tech | Washington (0–0) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Washington (1–0) | Fresno State (4–0) (1) | Kansas State (2–1) | Florida State (3–1) | BYU (6–0) | Oregon (6–1) | Stanford (5–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Washington State (9–2) | South Carolina (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Washington | Georgia Tech (1–0) | UCLA (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Maryland (6–0) | South Carolina (6–1) | Florida State (5–2) | Illinois (7–1) | Washington (7–2) | Colorado (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | Syracuse (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | UCLA | UCLA (0–0) | Washington (0–0) | Fresno State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Clemson (4–1) | Washington State (7–0) | Purdue (5–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | Stanford (6–2) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Florida State (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Notre Dame | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | Northwestern (3–0) | Purdue (4–0) | South Carolina (5–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Maryland (7–1) | UCLA (6–2) | Colorado (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Louisville (11–2) | 16. |
| 17. | LSU | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Georgia Tech (3–1) | BYU (5–0) | Colorado (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Georgia Tech (6–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Louisville (10–1) | Syracuse (9–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | BYU (12–1) | Stanford (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Clemson | Clemson (0–0) | Mississippi State (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Northwestern (2–0) | BYU (4–0) т | Clemson (3–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Florida State (4–2) | Illinois (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Auburn (7–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | Marshall (10–1) | Georgia (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | Virginia Tech (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Mississippi State | Mississippi State (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Northwestern (1–0) | Oregon State (1–1) | Purdue (3–0) т | Texas A&M (5–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Fresno State (6–1) | Washington State (7–1) | Stanford (5–2) | Louisville (9–1) | Georgia Tech (7–3) | Georgia (7–3) | Washington (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Washington (8–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Northwestern | Northwestern (0–0) | Northwestern (0–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | BYU (3–0) | LSU (2–1) | Maryland (5–0) | Northwestern (4–1) | Purdue (4–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | Colorado (7–2) | Florida State (6–3) | Marshall (9–1) | Washington (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | South Carolina (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Purdue (2–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Kansas State (2–2) | Auburn (5–1) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Georgia (5–2) | UCLA (6–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Fresno State (10–2) | Fresno State (11–2) | Fresno State (11–2) | Marshall (11–2) | 21. |
| 22. | South Carolina | South Carolina (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) | Oregon State (1–1) | Mississippi State (1–1) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Florida State (3–2) | Stanford (4–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | South Carolina (7–3) | Fresno State (9–2) | Auburn (7–3) | Louisville (10–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Toledo (10–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Wisconsin | Wisconsin (1–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Illinois (3–0) | Toledo (4–0) | Toledo (5–0) | Toledo (5–0) | Illinois (6–1) | Georgia (5–2) | Michigan State (5–2) | Georgia Tech (6–3) | Georgia (6–3) | Louisville (10–2) | Ohio State (7–4) | Ohio State (7–4) | Boston College (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Colorado State | Colorado State (0–0) | Georgia (1–0) | Purdue (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Northwestern (3–1) | Purdue (4–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Clemson (5–2) | Purdue (5–2) | Marshall (8–1) | Auburn (7–3) | LSU (7–3) | Florida State (7–4) | Florida State (7–4) | BYU (12–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Alabama | Alabama (0–0) | Purdue (1–0) | BYU (3–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Maryland (4–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–2) | Clemson (4–2) | Colorado (6–2) | Louisville (8–1) | Fresno State (8–2) | Arkansas (7–3) | Ohio State (7–4) | Marshall (10–2) | Marshall (10–2) | Georgia (8–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 2 | Week 1 Aug 28 | Week 2 Sep 4 | Week 3 Sep 10 | Week 4 Sep 24 | Week 5 Oct 1 | Week 6 Oct 8 | Week 7 Oct 15 | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 Dec 10 | Week 16 (Final) Jan 7 | |
| | | None | Dropped: Colorado StateAlabama | Dropped: WisconsinGeorgia | Dropped: Ohio StateNotre Dame | Dropped: Oregon StateMississippi StateIllinoisMichigan State | Dropped: LSU | Dropped: Texas A&MKansas StateStanfordOhio State | Dropped: ColoradoNorthwesternToledo | Dropped: AuburnFresno State | Dropped: Texas A&MClemson | Dropped: GeorgiaMichigan StatePurdue | Dropped: Florida StateUCLA | Dropped: Georgia TechArkansas | Dropped: Auburn | None | Dropped: Fresno StateOhio State | |

## BCS standings

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the two teams that competed in the BCS National Championship Game, the 2002 Rose Bowl.
| | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 9 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (7–0) | Nebraska (9–0) | Nebraska (10–0) | Nebraska (11–0) | Nebraska (11–0) | Miami (FL) (10–0) | Miami (FL) (11–0) | Miami (FL) (11–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska (8–0) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–0) | Miami (FL) (8–0) | Miami (FL) (9–0) | Florida (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | UCLA (6–0) | Miami (FL) (6–0) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Texas (10–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Colorado (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Miami (FL) (5–0) | Michigan (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Nebraska (11–1) | Colorado (10–2) | Oregon (10–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Virginia Tech (6–0) | Texas (7–1) | Texas (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Texas (6–1) | Stanford (5–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Texas (9–1) | Texas (9–1) | Tennessee (9–1) | Florida (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Florida (7–1) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Colorado (9–2) | Texas (10–2) | Texas (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Maryland (7–0) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Washington State (9–1) | Illinois (9–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | Illinois (10–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Tennessee (4–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Washington State (8–1) | Stanford (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Stanford (9–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Washington State (7–0) | Oregon (7–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Illinois (8–1) | Michigan (8–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Maryland (10–1) | Maryland (10–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Florida (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Stanford (5–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Washington (8–2) | Maryland (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Washington (5–1) | Washington State (7–1) | Illinois (7–1) | Maryland (9–1) | Maryland (10–1) | BYU (11–0) | BYU (12–0) | Washington State (9–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Oregon (6–1) | BYU (8–0) | BYU (9–0) | BYU (10–0) | BYU (11–0) | Washington State (9–2) | Washington State (9–2) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Stanford (4–1) | Purdue (5–1) | Florida State (6–2) | Colorado (8–2) | Washington State (9–2) | Washington (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | 14. |
| 15. | South Carolina (6–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Maryland (8–1) | Syracuse (8–2) | Colorado (8–2) | Georgia (7–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | 15. |
| | Week 8 Oct 22 | Week 9 Oct 29 | Week 10 Nov 5 | Week 11 Nov 12 | Week 12 Nov 19 | Week 13 Nov 26 | Week 14 Dec 3 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 9 | |
| | | Dropped: MarylandSouth Carolina | Dropped: UCLAPurdueVirginia Tech | Dropped: WashingtonFlorida State | Dropped: Syracuse | Dropped: Michigan | Dropped: Georgia | Dropped: BYU | |