# 1998 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls and one formulaic ranking made up the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), did not bestow a National Championship title for Division I-A football. That title was primarily bestowed by different polling agencies. There were several polls that currently existed. The main weekly polls were the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings made their debut in 1998, and began being released about halfway through the season.

## 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 16 | Week 1 Sep 7 | Week 2 Sep 14 | Week 3 Sep 21 | Week 4 Sep 28 | Week 5 Oct 5 | Week 6 Oct 12 | Week 7 Oct 19 | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 Dec 7 | Week 15 (Final) Final | |
| 1. | Ohio State (30) | Ohio State (1–0) (39) | Ohio State (2–0) (57) | Ohio State (3–0) (64) | Ohio State (3–0) (58) | Ohio State (4–0) (66) | Ohio State (5–0) (64) | Ohio State (6–0) (64) | Ohio State (7–0) (64) | Ohio State (8–0) (63) | Tennessee (8–0) (46) | Tennessee (9–0) (37) | Tennessee (10–0) (42) | Tennessee (11–0) (41) | Tennessee (12–0) (70) | Tennessee (13–0) (70) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida State (22) | Florida State (1–0) (22) | Florida (2–0) (9) | Nebraska (3–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–0) (7) | Nebraska (5–0) (1) | UCLA (4–0) (1) | UCLA (5–0) (1) | UCLA (6–0) (1) | Tennessee (7–0) (3) | Kansas State (9–0) (19) | Kansas State (10–0) (29) | Kansas State (11–0) (24) | Kansas State (11–0) (24) | Florida State (11–1) | Ohio State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida (5) | Florida (1–0) (4) | Nebraska (3–0) (1) | UCLA (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (3–0) (2) | UCLA (3–0) (1) | Tennessee (5–0) (3) | Tennessee (5–0) (3) | Tennessee (6–0) (3) | UCLA (7–0) (1) | UCLA (8–0) (4) | UCLA (9–0) (4) | UCLA (10–0) (4) | UCLA (10–0) (3) | Ohio State (10–1) | Florida State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (2–0) (2) | UCLA (1–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) (2) | UCLA (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (4–0) | Kansas State (5–0) (2) | Kansas State (6–0) (2) | Kansas State (7–0) (2) | Kansas State (8–0) (3) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | Arizona (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Michigan (4) | Kansas State (1–0) (2) | Kansas State (2–0) (2) | Kansas State (3–0) (2) | Kansas State (4–0) (2) | Kansas State (4–0) (2) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida State (9–1) (1) | Florida State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Arizona (11–1) | Florida (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Kansas State (2) | UCLA (0–0) (1) | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | Florida (4–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Arizona (11–1) | UCLA (10–1) | Wisconsin (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | UCLA (1) | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Virginia (5–0) | Nebraska (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Tulane (12–0) | 7. |
| 8. | Arizona State (2) | Tennessee (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Florida (3–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Wisconsin (8–0) | Wisconsin (9–0) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Texas A&M (11–2) | UCLA (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | LSU | Penn State (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Virginia (5–0) | Wisconsin (6–0) | Wisconsin (7–0) | Wisconsin (8–0) | Penn State (6–1) | Arizona (9–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Tulane (11–0) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Georgia Tech (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Notre Dame (1–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Florida State (2–1) | Virginia (4–0) | Arizona (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Arizona (8–1) | Arkansas (8–0) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Tulane (11–0) | Kansas State (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | West Virginia | Washington (1–0) | Florida State (1–1) | Virginia (3–0) | Syracuse (2–1) | LSU (3–1) | Oregon (5–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Arkansas (7–0) | Nebraska (8–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Tulane (10–0) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Texas A&M (11–3) | 11. |
| 12. | North Carolina | Virginia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Syracuse (2–1) | Georgia (3–0) | Wisconsin (5–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Tulane (9–0) | Georgia (8–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Michigan (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Penn State | Michigan (0–1) | Syracuse (1–1) | Georgia (3–0) | Wisconsin (4–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | West Virginia (4–1) | Arizona (7–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Missouri (7–2) | Wisconsin (9–1) | Arkansas (8–2) | Nebraska (9–3) | Virginia (9–2) | Air Force (12–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas A&M | Arizona State (0–1) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Arizona (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) | Virginia Tech (5–0) | Arizona (6–1) | Arkansas (6–0) | Nebraska (7–2) | Tulane (8–0) | Georgia (7–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Virginia (9–2) | Nebraska (9–3) | Georgia (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Colorado State | Georgia (1–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Colorado (4–0) | Oregon (4–0) | West Virginia (4–1) | Arkansas (6–0) | Virginia (6–1) | Syracuse (5–2) т | Michigan (7–2) | Oregon (8–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Virginia | Colorado (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | West Virginia (2–1) | West Virginia (3–1) | Arizona (5–1) | Virginia (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Tulane (7–0) т | Virginia Tech (7–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Air Force (11–1) | Arkansas (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Syracuse | Wisconsin (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Oregon (4–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Arkansas (5–0) | Colorado (6–1) | Syracuse (4–2) | Virginia Tech (7–1) т | Georgia (6–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Georgia Tech (8–2) | Air Force (10–1) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Penn State (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Washington | Texas A&M (0–1) | USC (2–0) | USC (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Missouri (5–2) | Missouri (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Air Force (10–1) | Syracuse (8–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Virginia (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Georgia | Syracuse (0–1) | West Virginia (0–1) | West Virginia (1–1) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | USC (4–1) | Colorado (5–1) | Missouri (5–1) | Tulane (6–0) | Georgia (6–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | Georgia (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Nebraska (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Wisconsin | West Virginia (0–1) | NC State (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Washington (2–1) | Arkansas (4–0) | Missouri (4–1) | Georgia Tech (5–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Texas (6–2) | Oregon (7–2) | Air Force (9–1) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | Texas (8–3) | Texas (8–3) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Southern Miss | Arizona (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | USC (3–1) | Missouri (3–1) | LSU (3–2) | Syracuse (4–2) | West Virginia (4–2) | Oregon (6–2) | Virginia (7–2) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | Syracuse (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Missouri (8–4) | 21. |
| 22. | Notre Dame | USC (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Tulane (5–0) | Michigan (5–2) | Michigan (6–2) | Georgia Tech (6–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Oregon (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Michigan State | Texas (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Air Force (3–0) т | Missouri (2–1) т | NC State (3–1) | Syracuse (3–2) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Georgia Tech (6–2) | Air Force (8–1) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Penn State (7–3) | Mississippi State (8–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Virginia Tech (9–3) | 23. |
| 24. | Arizona | Oregon (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) т | Notre Dame (2–1) т | Syracuse (2–2) | Tulane (4–0) | Mississippi State (5–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Syracuse (6–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Purdue (9–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Auburn | Missouri (1–0) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Missouri (2–1) | Michigan (2–2) | Tulane (4–0) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Air Force (7–1) | Wyoming (8–1) | Texas (7–3) | Mississippi State (7–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Syracuse (8–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 16 | Week 1 Sep 7 | Week 2 Sep 14 | Week 3 Sep 21 | Week 4 Sep 28 | Week 5 Oct 5 | Week 6 Oct 12 | Week 7 Oct 19 | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 Dec 7 | Week 15 (Final) Final | |
| | | Dropped: AuburnColorado StateMichigan StateNorth CarolinaSouthern Miss | Dropped: Arizona StateMichiganTexas | Dropped: Mississippi StateNC State | Dropped: Air ForceAlabama | Dropped: MichiganWashington | Dropped: NC StateUSC | Dropped: LSU | Dropped: Mississippi StateTexas Tech | Dropped: ColoradoWest Virginia | Dropped: Syracuse | Dropped: Wyoming | Dropped: Texas | Dropped: Miami (FL) | Dropped: Virginia Tech | Dropped: OregonMississippi State | |

## Coaches poll

| | Preseason Aug 7 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 14 | Week 3 Sep 21 | Week 4 Sep 28 | Week 5 Oct 5 | Week 6 Oct 12 | Week 7 Oct 19 | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 Dec 7 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 6 | |
| 1. | Ohio State (31) | Ohio State (1–0) (38) | Ohio State (2–0) (52) | Ohio State (3–0) (53) | Ohio State (3–0) (45) | Ohio State (4–0) (54) | Ohio State (5–0) (59) | Ohio State (6–0) (58) | Ohio State (7–0) (55) | Ohio State (8–0) (54) | Kansas State (9–0) (30) т | Kansas State (10–0) (36½) | Kansas State (11–0) (31½) | Kansas State (11–0) (30½) | Tennessee (12–0) (60) | Tennessee (13–0) (62) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida State (10) | Florida State (1–0) (12) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–0) (7) | Nebraska (4–0) (15) | Nebraska (5–0) (6) | UCLA (4–0) (1) | UCLA (5–0) (1) | UCLA (6–0) (1) | Kansas State (8–0) (5) | Tennessee (8–0) (25) т | Tennessee (9–0) (18½) | Tennessee (10–0) (22½) | Tennessee (11–0) (24½) | Florida State (11–1) (1) | Ohio State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Nebraska (12) | Nebraska (2–0) (8) | Nebraska (3–0) (7) | Kansas State (3–0) (1) | Kansas State (4–0) (1) | UCLA (3–0) (1) | Kansas State (5–0) (2) | Kansas State (6–0) (3) | Kansas State (7–0) (5) | Tennessee (7–0) (2) | UCLA (8–0) (7) | UCLA (9–0) (7) | UCLA (10–0) (7) | UCLA (10–0) | Ohio State (10–1) (1) | Florida State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida (1) | Florida (1–0) (2) | Kansas State (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) | UCLA (2–0) (1) | Kansas State (4–0) (1) | Tennessee (5–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Tennessee (6–0) (1) | UCLA (7–0) (1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | Arizona (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Michigan (4) | Kansas State (1–0) (1) | UCLA (1–0) (1) | UCLA (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (3–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) (1) | Ohio State (10–1) (1) | UCLA (10–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Kansas State (1) | UCLA (0–0) (1) | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | Florida (4–1) | Virginia (5–0) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Wisconsin (9–0) | Ohio State (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Arizona (11–1) | Arizona (11–1) | Florida (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | UCLA (3) | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Wisconsin (8–0) | Ohio State (8–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Tulane (12–0) | 7. |
| 8. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Washington (2–0) | Florida (3–1) | Virginia (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) | Wisconsin (7–0) | Wisconsin (8–0) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | UCLA (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Arizona State | Penn State (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | Florida (2–1) | Virginia (4–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Wisconsin (6–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Arkansas (8–0) | Arkansas (8–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Tulane (11–0) | Texas A&M (11–2) | Kansas State (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Washington (1–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Virginia (3–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Wisconsin (5–0) | Virginia Tech (5–0) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Arkansas (7–0) | Arizona (9–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Tulane (11–0) | Air Force (12–1) | 10. |
| 11. | North Carolina | Notre Dame (1–0) | Florida State (1–1) | Florida State (2–1) | Syracuse (2–1) | Arizona (5–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Arizona (8–1) | Nebraska (8–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Tulane (10–0) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Georgia Tech (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | West Virginia | Virginia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (3–0) | LSU (3–1) | Oregon (5–0) | Arkansas (6–0) | Arkansas (6–0) | Virginia (7–1) | Virginia Tech (7–1) | Wisconsin (9–1) | Georgia (8–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Michigan (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Penn State | Georgia (1–0) | Syracuse (1–1) | Syracuse (2–1) | Wisconsin (4–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | West Virginia (4–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Tulane (9–0) | Arkansas (8–2) | Air Force (10–1) | Air Force (11–1) | Texas A&M (11–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Syracuse | Michigan (0–1) | Wisconsin (2–0) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Arizona (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Virginia (6–1) | Virginia Tech (7–1) | Tulane (8–0) | Penn State (7–2) | Air Force (10–1) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Georgia (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Texas A&M | Arizona State (0–1) | Colorado (2–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Colorado (4–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | West Virginia (4–1) | Virginia (5–1) | Arizona (7–1) | Nebraska (7–2) | Missouri (7–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Michigan (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Penn State (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Colorado State | Colorado (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Oregon (4–0) | Arkansas (5–0) | Arizona (6–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Tulane (7–0) | Michigan (7–2) | Oregon (8–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Nebraska (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Washington | Wisconsin (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | USC (3–0) | Oregon (4–0) т | West Virginia (3–1) | Arizona (5–1) | Colorado (6–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Syracuse (5–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Air Force (9–1) | Nebraska (8–3) | Nebraska (9–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Arkansas (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Georgia | Syracuse (0–1) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | West Virginia (2–1) т | Texas A&M (4–1) | Colorado (5–1) | Missouri (5–1) | Tulane (6–0) | Georgia (6–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Georgia Tech (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Virginia (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Virginia | Texas A&M (0–1) | Missouri (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Texas A&M (2–2) | Arkansas (4–0) | Missouri (4–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Syracuse (4–2) | Missouri (6–2) | Oregon (7–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–2) | Georgia (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Virginia Tech (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Wisconsin | West Virginia (0–1) | West Virginia (0–1) | West Virginia (1–1) | Washington (2–1) | USC (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | West Virginia (4–2) | Oregon (6–2) | Air Force (8–1) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | Penn State (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Nebraska (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Southern Miss | Arizona (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Missouri (2–1) | Missouri (3–1) | LSU (3–2) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Missouri (5–2) | Air Force (7–1) | Texas (7–2) | Georgia Tech (7–2) | Penn State (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Auburn | Texas (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (2–0) | USC (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Syracuse (3–2) | Syracuse (4–2) | Michigan (5–2) | Michigan (6–2) | Virginia (7–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Syracuse (7–3) | Mississippi State (8–3) | Texas (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Michigan State | USC (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Air Force (3–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | NC State (3–1) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Tulane (5–0) | Air Force (6–1) | Texas (6–2) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Oregon (8–3) | Texas (8–3) | Mississippi State (8–4) | Purdue (9–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Notre Dame | North Carolina (0–1) | NC State (2–0) | Missouri (2–1) | Arkansas (3–0) | Syracuse (2–2) | Tulane (4–0) | Mississippi State (5–1) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Syracuse (6–3) | Mississippi State (7–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Virginia Tech (8–3) | Syracuse (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Arizona | Missouri (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Kentucky (3–0) | Tulane (3–0) | Tulane (4–0) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Colorado (6–2) | Syracuse (5–3) тWyoming (8–1) т | Kentucky (7–3) | Missouri (7–4) | West Virginia (8–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Missouri (8–4) | 25. |
| | Preseason Aug 7 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 14 | Week 3 Sep 21 | Week 4 Sep 28 | Week 5 Oct 5 | Week 6 Oct 12 | Week 7 Oct 19 | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 Dec 7 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 6 | |
| | | Dropped: Colorado StateSouthern MissAuburnMichigan State | Dropped: MichiganArizona StateTexasNorth Carolina | Dropped: NC StateNotre Dame | Dropped: AlabamaAir ForceKentucky | Dropped: Washington | Dropped: USCNC State | Dropped: LSU | Dropped: Mississippi StateTexas Tech | Dropped: West Virginia | Dropped: Colorado | Dropped: TexasWyoming | Dropped: Kentucky | Dropped: Miami (FL)Missouri | None | Dropped: OregonMississippi StateWest Virginia | |

## BCS standings

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) determined the two teams that competed in the BCS National Championship Game, the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.
Each week, the BCS standings ranked the top 15 teams, or down to the lowest-ranked Automatic Qualifying conference leader.
| | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| 1. | UCLA (6–0) | Ohio State (8–0) | Tennessee (8–0) | Tennessee (9–0) | Tennessee (10–0) | Tennessee (11–0) | Tennessee (12–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Ohio State (7–0) | Tennessee (7–0) | UCLA (8–0) | UCLA (9–0) | UCLA (10–0) | UCLA (10–0) | Florida State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Tennessee (6–0) | UCLA (7–0) | Kansas State (9–0) | Kansas State (10–0) | Kansas State (11–0) | Kansas State (11–0) | Kansas State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Kansas State (7–0) | Kansas State (8–0) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida State (7–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | UCLA (10–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Nebraska (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Arizona (11–1) | Texas A&M (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida (6–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Arkansas (8–0) | Ohio State (9–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Arizona (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas A&M (7–1) | Wisconsin (8–0) | Ohio State (8–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Florida (9–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Florida (9–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Wisconsin (8–0) | Penn State (6–1) | Wisconsin (9–0) | Arkansas (8–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Penn State (5–1) | Arizona (8–1) | Arizona (9–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Wisconsin (10–1) | Tulane (11–0) | Tulane (11–0) | 10. |
| 11. | Oregon (6–1) | Arkansas (7–0) | Nebraska (8–2) | Oregon (8–2) | Tulane (10–0) | Nebraska (9–3) | Nebraska (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Arkansas (6–0) | Nebraska (7–2) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Michigan (7–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Virginia (9–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Georgia (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Missouri (7–2) | Wisconsin (9–1) | Arkansas (8–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | Arkansas (9–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Arizona (7–1) | Texas (6–2) | Oregon (7–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Virginia (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Virginia (6–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Texas (7–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Notre Dame (5–1) | Tulane (7–0) | Tulane (8–0) | Tulane (9–0) | Air Force (10–1) | — | — | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia Tech (5–2) | Syracuse (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | — | — | 17. |
| 18. | Missouri (5–2) | — | Penn State (6–2) | Air Force (9–1) | Oregon (8–3) | — | — | 18. |
| 19. | Tulane (6–0) | — | Michigan (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Georgia Tech (8–2) | — | — | 19. |
| 20. | Syracuse (4–2) | — | Virginia Tech (7–1) | USC (7–3) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | — | — | 20. |
| 21. | — | — | — | Virginia (8–2) | — | — | — | 21. |
| 22. | — | — | — | Georgia Tech (7–2) | — | — | — | 22. |
| 23. | — | — | — | Texas (7–3) | — | — | — | 23. |
| 24. | — | — | — | Miami (FL) (6–2) | — | — | — | 24. |
| | Week 8 Oct 26 | Week 9 Nov 2 | Week 10 Nov 9 | Week 11 Nov 16 | Week 12 Nov 23 | Week 13 Nov 30 | Week 14 (Final) Dec 7 | |
| | | Dropped: OregonGeorgiaGeorgia TechMissouri | Dropped: VirginiaSyracuse | Dropped: Virginia Tech | Dropped: Penn StateMissouriUSCTexas | Dropped: Notre DameMichiganGeorgiaAir ForceOregonMiami (FL) | None | |
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