# 1987 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1987 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 28 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 15 | Week 3 Sep 22 | Week 4 Sep 29 | Week 5 Oct 6 | Week 6 Oct 13 | Week 7 Oct 20 | Week 8 Oct 27 | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma (55) | Oklahoma (1–0) (54) | Oklahoma (2–0) (54) | Oklahoma (2–0) (53) | Oklahoma (3–0) (44) | Oklahoma (4–0) (46) | Oklahoma (5–0) (47) | Oklahoma (6–0) (42) | Oklahoma (7–0) (40) | Oklahoma (8–0) (38) | Oklahoma (9–0) (36) | Nebraska (9–0) (32) | Oklahoma (11–0) (54) | Oklahoma (11–0) (48) | Oklahoma (11–0) (47) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (57) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska (3) | Nebraska (1–0) (3) | Nebraska (2–0) (6) | Nebraska (2–0) (7) | Nebraska (3–0) (12) | Nebraska (4–0) (8) | Nebraska (5–0) (7) | Nebraska (6–0) (12) | Nebraska (7–0) (13) | Nebraska (8–0) (15) | Nebraska (9–0) (15) | Oklahoma (10–0) (20) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (6) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (9) | Florida State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | UCLA (1) | UCLA (1–0) (1) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (6) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (6) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (6) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (7) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (7) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (9) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (8) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State | Auburn (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Syracuse (11–0) (1) | Syracuse (11–0) (1) | Syracuse (11–0) (1) | Syracuse (11–0–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Auburn | Ohio State (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Auburn (3–0–1) | Auburn (4–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | LSU (7–0–1) | UCLA (8–1) | UCLA (9–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | LSU (10–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | LSU | LSU (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Auburn (2–0–1) | Florida State (4–1) | LSU (5–0–1) | Auburn (5–0–1) | Auburn (6–0–1) | Auburn (7–0–1) | Syracuse (9–0) | Syracuse (10–0) | LSU (9–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Michigan | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | LSU (3–0–1) | LSU (4–0–1) | Clemson (5–0) | Clemson (6–0) | UCLA (6–1) | UCLA (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Auburn (8–1–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Florida State | Florida State (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Tennessee (4–0–1) | UCLA (5–1) | Syracuse (7–0) | Syracuse (8–0) | Georgia (7–2) | Clemson (9–1) | South Carolina (8–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | Michigan State (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Michigan (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Ohio State (2–0–1) | Ohio State (3–0–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Syracuse (6–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Clemson (8–1) | LSU (8–1–1) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | South Carolina (8–3) | UCLA (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Miami (FL) | Clemson (1–0) | Washington (2–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0–1) | Tennessee (4–0–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Florida (5–2) | Clemson (7–1) | LSU (7–1–1) | Auburn (8–1–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Penn State (1) | Penn State (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Florida (5–2) | Indiana (6–1) | Georgia (6–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Michigan State (7–2–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Arkansas | Washington (1–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Georgia (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Auburn (7–1–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Clemson (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Washington | Arkansas (0–0) | UCLA (1–1) | UCLA (2–1) | Arizona State (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | Syracuse (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1–1) | Tennessee (5–1–1) | Alabama (6–2) | Michigan State (6–2–1) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Georgia (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Arizona State | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Penn State (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Florida (4–2) | Michigan State (4–2) | Clemson (6–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | South Carolina (6–2) | Georgia (7–3) | Georgia (7–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Clemson (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Texas A&M | Arizona State (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Indiana (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1–1) | Michigan State (5–2–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Tennessee (7–2–1) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Georgia (8–3) | South Carolina (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Iowa | Notre Dame (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Washington (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1–1) | Alabama (5–2) | Penn State (6–2) | Indiana (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2–1) | Tennessee (9–2–1) | USC (8–3) | Iowa (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Tennessee | Michigan State (1–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) т | Syracuse (5–0) | Ohio State (3–1–1) | Alabama (5–2) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Florida (5–3) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | Alabama (7–3) | USC (8–3) | USC (8–3) | Tennessee (9–2–1) | Notre Dame (8–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Iowa (3–1) т | Florida (3–2) | Georgia (4–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Penn State (5–2) | Indiana (6–2) | Tennessee (6–2–1) | Iowa (8–3) | Alabama (7–3) | Iowa (9–3) | Iowa (9–3) | USC (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | USC | Alabama (1–0) | Michigan (0–1) | Iowa (2–1) | Florida (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Michigan State (3–2) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | South Carolina (5–2) | Tennessee (5–2–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–3) | Iowa (9–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Florida т Georgia т | Georgia (1–0) | Penn State (1–1) | Georgia (2–1) | Georgia (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Indiana (4–1) | Michigan (4–2) | Michigan State (4–2–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Arkansas (7–2) | Indiana (7–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Arizona State (7–4–1) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 28 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 15 | Week 3 Sep 22 | Week 4 Sep 29 | Week 5 Oct 6 | Week 6 Oct 13 | Week 7 Oct 20 | Week 8 Oct 27 | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: Texas A&MIowaUSCFlorida | None | Dropped: PittsburghMichigan State | Dropped: Arkansas | Dropped: Texas A&MWashingtonIowa | Dropped: MichiganArizona StateAlabama | Dropped: ArkansasOregon | Dropped: Michigan | Dropped: Ohio State | Dropped: Florida | Dropped: Penn StateArkansas | Dropped: Indiana | Dropped: Alabama | None | Dropped: PittsburghPenn State | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason Aug 30 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 15 | Week 3 Sep 22 | Week 4 Sep 29 | Week 5 Oct 6 | Week 6 Oct 13 | Week 7 Oct 20 | Week 8 Oct 27 | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| 1. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (1–0) (44) | Oklahoma (2–0) (45) | Oklahoma (2–0) (45) | Oklahoma (3–0) (46) | Oklahoma (4–0) (45) | Oklahoma (5–0) (43) | Oklahoma (6–0) (45) | Oklahoma (7–0) (43) | Oklahoma (8–0) (43) | Oklahoma (9–0) (38) | Nebraska (9–0) (21) | Oklahoma (11–0) (48) | Oklahoma (11–0) (41) | Oklahoma (11–0) (41) | Miami (FL) (12–0) (47) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska | Nebraska (1–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–0) (5) | Nebraska (2–0) (4) | Nebraska (3–0) (3) | Nebraska (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (5–0) (2) | Nebraska (6–0) (3) | Nebraska (7–0) (6) | Nebraska (8–0) (5) | Nebraska (9–0) (10) | Oklahoma (10–0) (27) | Miami (FL) (9–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (10–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (11–0) (8) | Florida State (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Ohio State | UCLA (1–0) (1) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (4) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (6–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (7–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (8–0) (1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA | Auburn (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | LSU (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Auburn (4–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | LSU (6–0–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Syracuse (11–0) | Syracuse (11–0) | Syracuse (11–0) (1) | Syracuse (11–0–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Auburn | Ohio State (0–0) (1) | LSU (2–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Auburn (3–0–1) | LSU (5–0–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (6–1) | LSU (7–0–1) | UCLA (8–1) | UCLA (9–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | Nebraska (10–1) | LSU (10–1–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Michigan | LSU (1–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Auburn (2–0–1) | LSU (4–0–1) | Clemson (5–0) | Auburn (5–0–1) | Auburn (6–0–1) | Auburn (7–0–1) | Syracuse (9–0) | Syracuse (10–0) (1) | Auburn (8–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State | Miami (FL) (1–0) (1) | Florida State (2–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) (1) | Clemson (4–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Clemson (6–0) | UCLA (6–1) | UCLA (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | LSU (9–1–1) | Auburn (9–1–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Arizona State | Michigan (0–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | LSU (3–0–1) | Florida State (4–1) | Tennessee (4–0–1) | UCLA (5–1) | Syracuse (7–0) | Syracuse (8–0) (1) | Georgia (7–2) | Clemson (9–1) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | Michigan State (8–2–1) | Michigan State (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Miami (FL) | Penn State (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Ohio State (2–0–1) | Ohio State (3–0–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Syracuse (6–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Auburn (8–1–1) | South Carolina (8–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas A&M т | Clemson (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Tennessee (4–0–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Alabama (7–2) | LSU (8–1–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU т | Florida State (1–0) | Arkansas (1–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | UCLA (4–1) | Syracuse (5–0) | Florida (5–2) | Florida (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | LSU (7–1–1) | Michigan State (7–2–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | UCLA (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Arkansas | Arkansas (0–0) | Washington (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Michigan (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Indiana (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | Oklahoma State (7–1) | Auburn (7–1–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | Oklahoma State (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Oklahoma State (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Clemson | Washington (1–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Arizona State (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Georgia (5–2) | Tennessee (5–1–1) | Michigan State (5–2–1) | Michigan State (6–2–1) | Oklahoma State (8–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Clemson (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2–1) | 13. |
| 14. | Florida State | Arizona State (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) т | Penn State (2–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Florida (4–2) | Ohio State (4–1–1) | Georgia (6–2) | South Carolina (6–2) | South Carolina (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | USC (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Georgia (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Washington | Tennessee (2–0) | UCLA (1–1) т | Florida (2–1) | Georgia (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Michigan State (4–2) | Ohio State (5–1–1) | Alabama (6–2) | Indiana (7–2) | Tennessee (7–2–1) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | South Carolina (8–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Washington (3–1) | Syracuse (5–0) | Ohio State (3–1–1) | Tennessee (4–1–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Georgia (7–3) | Tennessee (8–2–1) | USC (8–3) | Tennessee (9–2–1) | Iowa (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Tennessee | Alabama (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | Syracuse (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Georgia (4–2) | Michigan (4–2) | Alabama (5–2) | Indiana (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | Pittsburgh (7–3) | Georgia (7–3) | Tennessee (9–2–1) | USC (8–3) | USC (8–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Pittsburgh (1–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Syracuse (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) | Oregon (4–1) | Alabama (5–2) | Michigan State (4–2–1) | Florida (5–3) | Arkansas (7–2) | USC (7–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Alabama | North Carolina (1–0) | Boston College (2–0) | Georgia (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Florida (3–2) | Minnesota (5–0) | Oklahoma State (5–1) | South Carolina (5–2) | Arkansas (6–2) | Tennessee (6–2–1) | Alabama (7–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Penn State (8–3) | Texas (7–5) | 19. |
| 20. | Florida | USC (0–0) | Penn State (1–1) | Washington (2–1) | Oklahoma State (4–0) тTexas A&M (2–1) т | USC (3–1) | Michigan State (3–2) | South Carolina (4–2) | Arkansas (5–2) | Tennessee (5–2–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Iowa (8–3) | Indiana (8–3) | Indiana (8–3)Iowa (9–3) | Indiana (8–3) | Indiana (8–4) | 20. |
| | Preseason Aug 30 | Week 1 Sep 8 | Week 2 Sep 15 | Week 3 Sep 22 | Week 4 Sep 29 | Week 5 Oct 6 | Week 6 Oct 13 | Week 7 Oct 20 | Week 8 Oct 27 | Week 9 Nov 3 | Week 10 Nov 10 | Week 11 Nov 17 | Week 12 Nov 24 | Week 13 Dec 1 | Week 14 Dec 8 | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3 | |
| | | Dropped: Texas A&MIowaFlorida | Dropped: MichiganNorth CarolinaUSC | Dropped: AlabamaPittsburghMichigan StateBoston College | Dropped: Arkansas | Dropped: WashingtonTexas A&M | Dropped: MichiganArizona StateAlabamaUSC | Dropped: Penn StateArkansasOregonMinnesota | Dropped: Michigan | Dropped: Ohio State | Dropped: Florida | Dropped: IndianaPenn StateArkansas | Dropped: AlabamaIowa | None | Dropped: Iowa | Dropped: Notre DamePittsburghPenn State | |

## USA Today / CNN Top 25

| | Final January 4, 1988 | |
| 1. | Miami (FL) (12–0) (799) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida State (11–1) (1) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Syracuse (11–0–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Nebraska (10–2) | 5. |
| | Final January 4, 1988 | |