# 1991 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1991 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 25 | Week 1 Sep 3 | Week 2 Sep 10 | Week 3 Sep 17 | 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 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Florida State (49) | Florida State (1–0) (54) | Florida State (2–0) (53) | Florida State (3–0) (47) | Florida State (3–0) (48) | Florida State (4–0) (56) | Florida State (5–0) (58) | Florida State (6–0) (56) | Florida State (7–0) (56) | Florida State (8–0) (53) | Florida State (9–0) (53) | Florida State (10–0) (53) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (46) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (37 1⁄2) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (37) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (32) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (5) | Michigan (0–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (8) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (8) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (3) т | Miami (FL) (8–0) (3) | Washington (10–0) (14) | Washington (11–0) (22 1⁄2) | Washington (11–0) (23) | Washington (12–0) (28) | 2. |
| 3. | Miami (FL) (2) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (1) | Michigan (1–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | Washington (3–0) (1) | Washington (4–0) (1) | Washington (5–0) (2) | Washington (6–0) (2) | Washington (7–0) (4) | Washington (8–0) (4) т | Washington (9–0) (4) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington (1) | Washington (0–0) (2) | Washington (1–0) (2) | Washington (1–0) (1) | Washington (2–0) (3) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Florida State (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida (1) | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida State (10–2) | Alabama (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Florida (0–0) | Florida (1–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | California (8–1) | California (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | California (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (6–1) | California (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Georgia Tech | Clemson (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Baylor (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Alabama (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | California (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson (1) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Iowa (8–1) | Iowa (9–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Texas A&M (10–1) | East Carolina (11–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Oklahoma | Houston (1–0) (1) | Houston (1–0) (1) | Iowa (2–0) | Penn State (3–1) т | Syracuse (4–0) | Florida (4–1) | Penn State (5–2) | California (5–1) | California (6–1) | Iowa (7–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (7–2) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Iowa (10–1–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Syracuse (3–0) т | Baylor (4–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | NC State (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Nebraska (9–1–1) | Syracuse (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Houston (1) | Colorado (0–0) | Colorado (1–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Baylor (3–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | NC State (6–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Texas A&M (8–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Colorado | Texas (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | California (4–0) | Illinois (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Texas A&M (7–1) | East Carolina (9–1) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas | Nebraska (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Alabama (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Colorado (5–2–1) | East Carolina (8–1) | Clemson (7–1–1) | California (9–2) | California (9–2) | Tennessee (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska | Iowa (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Syracuse (4–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Colorado (5–2) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | Colorado (7–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 15. |
| 16. | USC | USC (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Auburn (3–1) | NC State (5–0) | Baylor (5–1) | Colorado (4–2) | Clemson (4–1–1) | East Carolina (7–1) | Colorado (6–2–1) | Syracuse (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Auburn | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Georgia Tech (1–1) | Colorado (2–1) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Iowa (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Illinois (4–2) | East Carolina (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Georgia (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Auburn (1–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Syracuse (5–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | Clemson (9–2–1) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Michigan State (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | NC State (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | NC State (6–1) | Ohio State (6–2) | Ohio State (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Virginia (8–2–1) | UCLA (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Michigan State | Alabama (0–0) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Colorado (8–3–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Texas A&M | Texas A&M (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Houston (1–1) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Georgia Tech (2–2) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Baylor (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (7–3) | NC State (9–2) | NC State (9–2) | Tulsa (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Alabama | Ohio State (0–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | USC (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Colorado (3–2) | Baylor (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Stanford (6–3) | NC State (8–2) | Tulsa (8–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Stanford (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Ohio State | UCLA (0–0) | Baylor (1–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Ole Miss (5–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–2) | UCLA (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | BYU (7–3) | Tulsa (7–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Tulsa (9–2) | BYU (8–3–2) | 23. |
| 24. | UCLA | Syracuse (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | California (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Auburn (3–2) | Syracuse (4–2) | Georgia (5–2) | Arkansas (5–2) | Virginia (6–2–1) | NC State (7–2) | Georgia (7–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | NC State (9–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Syracuse | BYU (0–1) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Colorado (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Arizona State (4–1) | Arkansas (5–2) | Fresno State (7–0) | Indiana (5–2–1) | Illinois (6–3) | UCLA (7–3) | Georgia (7–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Air Force (10–3) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 25 | Week 1 Sep 3 | Week 2 Sep 10 | Week 3 Sep 17 | 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 2 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | None | Dropped: TexasUSCBYU | Dropped: AlabamaUCLAMichigan State | Dropped: Texas A&MHoustonGeorgiaUSC | Dropped: Arizona StateMississippi StateNorth Carolina | Dropped: UCLAGeorgia Tech | Dropped: AuburnOle Miss | Dropped: Arizona State | Dropped: IllinoisPittsburgh | Dropped: ArkansasFresno State | Dropped: GeorgiaIndianaUCLA | Dropped: BaylorBYUIllinois | None | None | Dropped: Ohio StateVirginia | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 25 | Week 1 Sep 2 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | 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 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Florida State (42) | Florida State (1–0) (43) | Florida State (2–0) (51) | Florida State (3–0) (47) | Florida State (3–0) (49) | Florida State (4–0) (55) | Florida State (5–0) (55) | Florida State (6–0) (55) | Florida State (7–0) (53) | Florida State (8–0) (47) | Florida State (9–0) (47) | Florida State (10–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (44) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (32) | Washington (11–0) (29) | Washington (12–0) (33 1⁄2) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (3) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (6) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (4) | Washington (10–0) (15) | Washington (11–0) (27) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (30) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (25 1⁄2) | 2. |
| 3. | Michigan (6) | Michigan (0–0) (6) | Washington (1–0) (2) | Michigan (2–0) (4) | Michigan (2–0) (4) | Washington (3–0) (1) | Washington (4–0) (1) | Washington (5–0) (1) | Washington (6–0) (2) | Washington (7–0) (2) | Washington (8–0) (8) | Washington (9–0) (8) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington (3) | Washington (0–0) (3) | Michigan (1–0) (3) | Washington (1–0) (1) | Washington (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida State (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Notre Dame (1) | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Clemson (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Penn State (10–2) | Alabama (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Georgia Tech (1) | Florida (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | California (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida | Notre Dame (0–0) (1) | Florida (1–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Iowa (8–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | California (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Penn State | Clemson (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | California (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Iowa (7–1) | California (8–1) | Iowa (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Oklahoma (0–0) (2) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Penn State (5–1) | NC State (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (6–1) | California (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Alabama (9–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | East Carolina (11–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Colorado (1) | Colorado (0–0) (1) | Houston (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Baylor (4–0) | Florida (4–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | NC State (6–0) | Penn State (7–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Iowa (10–1–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Oklahoma (2) | Houston (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Baylor (3–0) | Syracuse (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | California (6–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Nebraska (9–1–1) | Syracuse (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Colorado (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | California (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (7–2) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Clemson (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Syracuse (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Clemson (7–1–1) | California (9–2) | East Carolina (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Houston | Nebraska (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | NC State (5–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Colorado (5–2) | Colorado (5–2–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | Colorado (7–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | California (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska | USC (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Penn State (5–2) | Colorado (4–2) | Tennessee (4–2) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Colorado (6–2–1) | East Carolina (9–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Tennessee (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Auburn | Auburn (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | California (4–0) | Baylor (5–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Clemson (4–1–1) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 16. |
| 17. | USC | Iowa (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Auburn (3–1) | Iowa (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Illinois (4–2) | NC State (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | East Carolina (8–1) | Syracuse (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Stanford (8–3) | Clemson (9–2–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | NC State (3–0) | Syracuse (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Syracuse (6–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | UCLA (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Texas A&M (0–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (1–1) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Syracuse (5–2) | Oklahoma (5–2) | East Carolina (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Georgia (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas A&M | Michigan State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Houston (1–1) | California (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | East Carolina (6–1) | Ohio State (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Colorado (8–3–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Ohio State | Alabama (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Baylor (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (7–3) | NC State (9–2) | NC State (9–2) | Tulsa (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Michigan State | Ohio State (0–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Colorado (3–2) | Fresno State (6–0) | Georgia (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | NC State (7–2) | NC State (8–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Stanford (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Alabama | UCLA (0–0) | Baylor (1–0) | USC (1–1) | NC State (2–0) | Georgia Tech (2–2) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Baylor (5–2) | Fresno State (7–0) | Georgia (6–2) | BYU (7–2) | Fresno State (9–1) | Ohio State (8–3) | UCLA (8–3) | BYU (8–3–2) | 23. |
| 24. | UCLA | Syracuse (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | UCLA (2–1) | Auburn (3–2) | Arizona State (4–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | UCLA (5–2) | Indiana (5–2–1) | Stanford (6–3) | BYU (7–3–1) | BYU (8–3–1) | Georgia (8–3) | Air Force (10–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Baylor | Baylor (0–0) | Georgia (2–0) | California (2–0) | Arizona State | Colorado (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Fresno State (5–0) | Pittsburgh (5–2) | Arkansas (5–2) | BYU (6–3) | Fresno State (8–1) | UCLA (7–3) | Fresno State (10–1) | Tulsa (9–2) | NC State (9–3) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 25 | Week 1 Sep 2 | Week 2 Sep 9 | Week 3 Sep 16 | 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 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: BYU | Dropped: TexasUSC | Dropped: AlabamaMichigan StateUCLA | Dropped: HoustonGeorgiaUSC | Dropped: Mississippi StateArizona State | Dropped: Georgia TechUCLA | Dropped: SyracuseOle Miss | Dropped: GeorgiaArizona State | Dropped: IllinoisAuburnPittsburgh | Dropped: Fresno StateArkansas | Dropped: UCLAGeorgiaIndiana | Dropped: Virginia | None | Dropped: BYUFresno State | Dropped: VirginiaOhio State | |

## FWAA poll

The Football Writers Association of America awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy to Washington based on the post-bowl voting of a 5-member committee. The Huskies received 3 first-place votes while the Hurricanes got two. The voting members of the FWAA committee were Bob Hammel of the Bloomington Herald-Times, Bil Lumpkin of the Birmingham Post-Herald, Bill McGrotha of the Tallahassee Democrat, Volney Meece of the Daily Oklahoman, and Thomas O'Toole of the Scripps Howard News Service.
| | Final January 4 | |
| 1. | Washington (3) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (2) | 2. |
| | Final January 4 | |

## NFF poll

In its first year after losing the Coaches' Poll, United Press International polled 104 members of the National Football Foundation to assemble a Top 25 ranking. Washington was ranked No. 1 in the final UPI-NFF poll, with 71 first-place votes to Miami's 21, and won the NFF MacArthur Bowl national championship trophy.
| | Final Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Washington (12–0) (71) 2279 | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (12–0) (21) 2224 | 2. |
| 3. | Penn State (11–2) 2055 | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (11–2) 1998 | 4. |
| 5. | Alabama (11–1) 1850 | 5. |
| 6. | Michigan (10–2) 1743 | 6. |
| 7. | Florida (10–2) 1652 | 7. |
| 8. | California (10–2) 1607 | 8. |
| 9. | East Carolina (11–1) 1482 | 9. |
| 10. | Iowa (10–1–1) 1439 | 10. |
| 11. | Syracuse (10–2) 1361 | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame (10–3) 1349 | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M (10–2) 1236 | 13. |
| 14. | Tennessee (9–3) 1059 | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska (9–2–1) 964 | 15. |
| 16. | Oklahoma (9–3) 961 | 16. |
| 17. | Clemson (9–2–1) 681 | 17. |
| 18. | Colorado (8–3–1) 666 | 18. |
| 19. | UCLA (9–3) 655 | 19. |
| 20. | Georgia (9–3) 565 | 20. |
| 21. | Tulsa (10–2) 381 | 21. |
| 22. | Stanford (8–4) 325 | 22. |
| 23. | NC State (9–3) 303 | 23. |
| 24. | BYU (8–3–2) 262 | 24. |
| 25. | Ohio State (8–4) 181 | 25. |
| | Final Jan 3 | |