| 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Season | 2012 |
| Bowl season | 2012–13 bowl games |
| Preseason No.1 | |
| End of season champions | Alabama |
| Conference with most teams in final AP poll | SEC (7) |
| NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
← 2011
2013 →
| |
Three human polls and one formula ranking make up the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship title. That title is bestowed by one or more of four different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Two additional polls are released midway through the season; the Harris Interactive Poll is released after the sixth week of the season, and the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings are released after the seventh week. The Harris Poll and Coaches Poll are factors in the BCS standings. At the end of the regular season, on December 2, 2012, the BCS standings determined who would play in the BCS bowl games as well as the 2013 BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2013, at Sun Life StadiuminMiami Gardens, Florida.[1]
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| Selected for BCS National Championship Game | ||
(#–#)
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Win–loss record | |
(Italics)
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Number of first place votes | |
т
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Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
| Preseason Aug 18[2] | Week 1 Sep 4[3] | Week 2 Sep 9[4] | Week 3 Sep 16[5] | Week 4 Sep 23[6] | Week 5 Sep 30[7] | Week 6 Oct 7[8] | Week 7 Oct 14[9] | Week 8 Oct 21[10] | Week 9 Oct 28[11] | Week 10 Nov 4[12] | Week 11 Nov 11[13] | Week 12 Nov 18[14] | Week 13 Nov 25[15] | Week 14 Dec 2[16] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8[17] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | USC (25) | Alabama (1–0) (45) | Alabama (2–0) (48) | Alabama (3–0) (58) | Alabama (4–0) (59) | Alabama (5–0) (60) | Alabama (5–0) (60) | Alabama (6–0) (60) | Alabama (7–0) (59) | Alabama (8–0) (60) | Alabama (9–0) (60) | Oregon (10–0) (45) | Notre Dame (11–0) (60) | Notre Dame (12–0) (60) | Notre Dame (12–0) (60) | Alabama (13–1) (59) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (17) | USC (1–0) (11) | USC (2–0) (8) | LSU (3–0) (2) | Oregon (4–0) | Oregon (5–0) | Oregon (6–0) | Oregon (6–0) | Oregon (7–0) | Oregon (8–0) | Oregon (9–0) | Kansas State (10–0) (14) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | Oregon (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | LSU (16) | LSU (1–0) (4) | LSU (2–0) (4) | Oregon (3–0) | LSU (4–0) (1) | Florida State (5–0) | South Carolina (6–0) | Florida (6–0) | Florida (7–0) (1) | Kansas State (8–0) | Kansas State (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) (1) | Georgia (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Ohio State (12–0) | Ohio State (12–0) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (1) | Oregon (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | LSU (5–0) | Florida (5–0) | Kansas State (6–0) | Kansas State (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Alabama (9–1) | Ohio State (11–0) | Ohio State (12–0) | Florida (11–1) | Notre Dame (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Oregon | Oklahoma (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) т | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) т | Georgia (9–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Georgia т (12–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Georgia | Florida State (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) т | Oklahoma (2–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | Kansas State (5–0) | LSU (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | Ohio State (9–0) | Ohio State (10–0) т | Ohio State (10–0) | Florida (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | Texas A&M т (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida State | Georgia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Ohio State (7–0) | Oregon State (6–0) | Georgia (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | Stanford (12–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Michigan (1) | Arkansas (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Ohio State (6–0) | Oregon State (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | Stanford (10–2) | Stanford (11–2) | South Carolina (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | South Carolina | South Carolina (1–0) т | West Virginia (1–0) | Stanford (3–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | LSU (5–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | Ohio State (8–0) | Florida State (8–1) | LSU (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | LSU (10–2) | LSU (10–2) | Florida (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Arkansas | West Virginia (1–0) т | Michigan State (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Florida (4–0) | Oregon State (4–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | USC (6–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Florida State (12–2) | 10. |
| 11. | West Virginia | Michigan State (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Florida (4–0) | Texas (4–0) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Florida State (7–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | Louisville (9–0) | Clemson (9–1) | Stanford (9–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | Clemson (11–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin | Clemson (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | Texas (3–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Louisville (8–0) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | Clemson (10–1) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Kansas State (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Michigan State | Wisconsin (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | USC (2–1) | USC (3–1) | USC (3–1) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Mississippi State (7–0) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oregon State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | South Carolina (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Florida State (11–2) | Louisville (11–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Clemson | Ohio State (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Florida (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Oregon State (3–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Clemson (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | Clemson (10–2) | LSU (10–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Texas | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Kansas State (3–0) | TCU (3–0) | Clemson (4–1) т | Texas (4–1) | Mississippi State (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Stanford (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Oregon State (7–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Oregon State (9–3) | Oklahoma (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Virginia Tech | Nebraska (1–0) | TCU (1–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | TCU (4–0) т | Clemson (5–1) | Louisville (6–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Oregon State (8–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Northern Illinois (12–1) | Utah State (11–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Nebraska | Texas (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | TCU (2–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Stanford (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | Mississippi State (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | UCLA (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | UCLA (9–3) | UCLA (9–4) | Northwestern (10–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Ohio State | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Oregon State (2–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Louisville (5–0) | Texas Tech (5–1) | Rutgers (7–0) | USC (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | Texas (8–2) | Kent State (11–1) | Utah State (10–2) | Boise State (11–2) | 18. |
| 19. | Oklahoma State | Michigan (0–1) | Louisville (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Louisville (4–0) | Louisville (5–0) | Mississippi State (5–0) | Rutgers (6–0) | Stanford (5–2) | Boise State (7–1) | Louisiana Tech (8–1) т | Louisiana Tech (9–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Northern Illinois (11–1) | Michigan (8–4) | Texas (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | TCU | TCU (0–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Louisville (3–0) | Michigan State (3–1) | Mississippi State (4–0) | Rutgers (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Texas Tech (6–2) | Texas (7–2) т | Louisville (9–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Utah State (10–2) | Boise State (10–2) | Oregon State (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Stanford | Kansas State (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | Michigan State (2–1) | Mississippi State (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Boise State (6–1) | Nebraska (6–2) | USC (6–3) | USC (7–3) | Rutgers (9–1) | Michigan (8–4) | Northwestern (9–3) | San Jose State (11–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Kansas State | Notre Dame (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Arizona (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Rutgers (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Louisiana Tech (7–1) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Rutgers (8–1) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Louisville (10–2) | Northern Illinois (12–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Florida | Louisville (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Rutgers (4–0) | Washington (3–1) | Louisiana Tech (5–0) | Michigan (4–2) | Ohio (7–0) | West Virginia (5–2) | Toledo (8–1) | Michigan (7–3) т | Kent State (10–1) | Texas (8–3) | Nebraska (10–3) | Vanderbilt (9–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Boise State | Florida (1–0) | Arizona (2–0) | Boise State (1–1) | Boise State (2–1) | Northwestern (5–0) | Boise State (4–1) | Boise State (5–1) | Louisiana Tech (6–1) | Arizona (5–3) | Rutgers (7–1) | Texas Tech (7–3) т | Northern Illinois (10–1) | Oklahoma State (7–4) | San Jose State (10–2) | Michigan (8–5) | 24. |
| 25. | Louisville | Stanford (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Baylor (3–0) | UCLA (4–1) | Michigan (3–2) | Ohio (7–0) | West Virginia (5–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Texas Tech (6–3) | Kent State (9–1) |
| Boise State (9–2) | Kent State (11–2) | Nebraska (10–4) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 18[2] | Week 1 Sep 4[3] | Week 2 Sep 9[4] | Week 3 Sep 16[5] | Week 4 Sep 23[6] | Week 5 Sep 30[7] | Week 6 Oct 7[8] | Week 7 Oct 14[9] | Week 8 Oct 21[10] | Week 9 Oct 28[11] | Week 10 Nov 4[12] | Week 11 Nov 11[13] | Week 12 Nov 18[14] | Week 13 Nov 25[15] | Week 14 Dec 2[16] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8[17] | ||
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| Preseason Aug 2[18] | Week 1 Sep 4[19] | Week 2 Sep 9[20] | Week 3 Sep 16[21] | Week 4 Sep 23[22] | Week 5 Sep 30[23] | Week 6 Oct 7[24] | Week 7 Oct 14[25] | Week 8 Oct 21[26] | Week 9 Oct 28[27] | Week 10 Nov 4[28] | Week 11 Nov 11[29] | Week 12 Nov 18[30] | Week 13 Nov 25[31] | Week 14 Dec 2[32] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8[33] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | LSU (18) | Alabama (1–0) (37) | Alabama (2–0) (42) | Alabama (3–0) (54) | Alabama (4–0) (57) | Alabama (5–0) (57) | Alabama (5–0) (58) | Alabama (6–0) (59) | Alabama (7–0) (59) | Alabama (8–0) (59) | Alabama (9–0) (59) | Oregon (10–0) (44) | Notre Dame (11–0) (56) | Notre Dame (12–0) (56) | Notre Dame (12–0) (56) | Alabama (13–1) (56) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (20) | USC (1–0) (14) | LSU (2–0) (5) | LSU (3–0) (5) | Oregon (4–0) | Oregon (5–0) | Oregon (6–0) (1) | Oregon (6–0) | Oregon (7–0) | Oregon (8–0) | Oregon (9–0) | Kansas State (10–0) (14) | Alabama (10–1) (2) | Alabama (11–1) (2) | Alabama (12–1) (3) | Oregon (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | USC (19) | LSU (1–0) (7) | USC (2–0) (11) | Oregon (3–0) | LSU (4–0) (1) | LSU (5–0) (1) | South Carolina (6–0) | Kansas State (6–0) | Florida (7–0) | Kansas State (8–0) | Kansas State (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) (1) | Georgia (10–1) (1) | Georgia (11–1) (1) | Oregon (11–1) | Notre Dame (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Oklahoma (1) | Oregon (1–0) (1) | Oregon (2–0) (1) | Florida State (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) (1) | Florida State (5–0) (1) | West Virginia (5–0) | Florida (6–0) | Kansas State (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Georgia (9–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Florida (11–1) | Georgia (12–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Oregon | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | Kansas State (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | Texas A&M (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Georgia | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | LSU (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | LSU (10–2) | Kansas State (11–1) | Stanford (12–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida State (1) | Georgia (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | West Virginia (4–0) | Florida (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | LSU (9–2) | Kansas State (10–1) | LSU (10–2) | South Carolina (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Michigan | West Virginia (1–0) | West Virginia (1–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | LSU (5–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | USC (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | LSU (8–2) | Kansas State (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Stanford (11–2) | Florida State (12–2) | 8. |
| 9. | South Carolina | South Carolina (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Texas (4–0) | USC (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Oregon State (6–0) | Clemson (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (10–1) | Stanford (10–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Clemson (11–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Arkansas | Arkansas (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | Texas (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Oklahoma (3–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Florida State (7–1) | Louisville (8–0) | Louisville (9–0) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | Florida (11–2) | 10. |
| 11. | West Virginia | Michigan State (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Florida (4–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Oregon State (5–0) | Georgia (6–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Kansas State (11–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Wisconsin | Clemson (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Florida (4–0) | USC (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Mississippi State (7–0) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oregon State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | South Carolina (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Florida State (11–2) | LSU (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Michigan State | Wisconsin (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Kansas State (3–0) | USC (3–1) | TCU (4–0) | Clemson (5–1) | Clemson (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Louisville (11–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Clemson | Nebraska (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Florida (3–0) | TCU (3–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Oregon State (4–0) | Louisville (6–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Boise State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Oregon State (9–3) | Boise State (11–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Texas | Texas (1–0) | TCU (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Clemson (4–1) | Texas (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Rutgers (7–0) | Stanford (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | Texas (8–2) | Boise State (9–2) | Boise State (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Nebraska | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | TCU (2–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Louisville (5–0) | Louisville (5–0) | Mississippi State (6–0) | South Carolina (6–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | UCLA (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–3) | Northern Illinois (12–1) | Northwestern (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | TCU | TCU (0–0) | Florida (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Louisville (4–0) | Oregon State (3–0) | Stanford (4–1) | Rutgers (6–0) | Texas Tech (6–1) | USC (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Oregon State (7–2) | Oregon State (8–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Utah State (11–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Stanford | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Louisville (3–0) | Michigan State (3–1) | Stanford (3–1) | Mississippi State (5–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Boise State (6–1) | Mississippi State (7–1) | Louisiana Tech (8–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Northern Illinois (11–1) | Louisville (10–2) | Texas (9–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Oklahoma State | Michigan (0–1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Mississippi State (4–0) | Mississippi State (4–0) | Rutgers (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Stanford (5–2) | West Virginia (5–2) | UCLA (7–2) | Louisiana Tech (9–1) | Rutgers (9–1) | Kent State (11–1) | UCLA (9–4) | Oregon State (9–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Virginia Tech | Kansas State (1–0) | Louisville (2–0) | Michigan State (2–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Cincinnati (4–0) | Texas Tech (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Texas Tech (6–2) | Rutgers (7–1) | Rutgers (8–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | Utah State (10–2) | Vanderbilt (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Kansas State | Stanford (1–0) | Arkansas (1–1) | Arizona (3–0) | Oregon State (2–0) | Rutgers (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | TCU (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Nebraska (6–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | USC (7–3) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Texas (8–3) | Nebraska (10–3) | San Jose State (11–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Boise State | Notre Dame (1–0) | Wisconsin (1–1) | Nebraska (2–1) | Oklahoma State (2–1) | Northwestern (5–0) | Boise State (4–1) | Boise State (5–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | Texas (6–2) | USC (6–3) | Boise State (8–2) | Boise State (9–2) | Utah State (10–2) | Michigan (8–4) | Cincinnati (10–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Florida | Florida (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Wisconsin (3–1) | Cincinnati (3–0) | TCU (4–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Ohio (7–0) | Louisiana Tech (7–1) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Michigan (7–3) | Northern Illinois (10–1) | Louisville (9–2) | Wisconsin (8–5) | Nebraska (10–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Notre Dame | Louisville (1–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Wisconsin (2–1) | Baylor 3–0 | Texas Tech (4–0) | Louisiana Tech (5–0) | Arizona State (5–1) | Texas (5–2) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Boise State (7–2) | Oklahoma State (6–3) | Mississippi State (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | San Jose State (10–2) | Northern Illinois (12–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Auburn | Boise State (0–1) | Arizona (2–0) | Oklahoma State (2–1) |
| Boise State (3–1) | Iowa State 4–1 | Michigan (4–2) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Rutgers (7–1) | Toledo (8–1) | Texas Tech (7–3) | Kent State (10–1) | Rutgers (9–2) | Texas (8–4) | Tulsa (11–3) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 2[18] | Week 1 Sep 4[19] | Week 2 Sep 9[20] | Week 3 Sep 16[21] | Week 4 Sep 23[22] | Week 5 Sep 30[23] | Week 6 Oct 7[24] | Week 7 Oct 14[25] | Week 8 Oct 21[26] | Week 9 Oct 28[27] | Week 10 Nov 4[28] | Week 11 Nov 11[29] | Week 12 Nov 18[30] | Week 13 Nov 25[31] | Week 14 Dec 2[32] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 8[33] | ||
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| Week 6 Oct 7[34] | Week 7 Oct 14[35] | Week 8 Oct 21[36] | Week 9 Oct 28[37] | Week 10 Nov 4[38] | Week 11 Nov 11[39] | Week 12 Nov 18[40] | Week 13 Nov 25[41] | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2[42] | ||
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| 1. | Alabama (5–0) (108) | Alabama (6–0) (110) | Alabama (7–0) (109) | Alabama (8–0) (109) | Alabama (9–0) (108) | Oregon (10–0) (90) | Notre Dame (11–0) (107) | Notre Dame (12–0) (109) | Notre Dame (12–0) (106) | 1. |
| 2. | Oregon (6–0) (5) | Oregon (6–0) (5) | Oregon (7–0) (5) | Oregon (8–0) (5) | Oregon (9–0) (6) | Kansas State (10–0) (23) | Alabama (10–1) (8) | Alabama (11–1) (6) | Alabama (12–1) (9) | 2. |
| 3. | South Carolina (6–0) | Florida (6–0) | Florida (7–0) (1) | Kansas State (8–0) (1) | Kansas State (9–0) (1) | Notre Dame (10–0) (1) | Georgia (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | West Virginia (5–0) | Kansas State (6–0) | Kansas State (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Alabama (9–1) (1) | Oregon (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Florida (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Kansas State (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Georgia (11–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Florida (5–0) | LSU (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Notre Dame (5–0) | South Carolina (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | LSU (10–2) | Stanford (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | LSU (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Oregon State (6–0) | Florida (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | Stanford (10–2) | LSU (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Florida State (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | USC (6–1) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | USC (4–1) | Oregon State (5–0) | Florida State (7–1) | Louisville (7–1) | Louisville (9–0) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Georgia (5–1) | USC (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Oregon State (4–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Mississippi State (7–0) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oregon State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | South Carolina (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Florida State (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Oklahoma (3–1) | Clemson (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Stanford (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | Clemson (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Clemson (5–1) | Mississippi State (6–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Stanford (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Oregon State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Texas (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Rutgers (7–0) | Mississippi State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | Oregon State (8–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Boise State (10–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Stanford (4–1) | Louisville (6–0) | South Carolina (6–2) | USC (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | Oregon State (7–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–3) | Northern Illinois (12–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Mississippi State (5–0) | Rutgers (6–0) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Boise State (7–1) | Texas (7–2) | Louisville (9–1) | Texas (8–2) | Boise State (9–2) | UCLA (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Louisville (5–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Stanford (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | USC (6–3) | USC (7–3) | Louisville (9–1) | Kent State (11–1) | Nebraska (10–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Rutgers (5–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Boise State (6–1) | Texas Tech (6–2) | Louisiana Tech (8–1) | UCLA (8–2) | Rutgers (9–1) | Northern Illinois (11–1) | Louisville (10–2) | 19. |
| 20. | Cincinnati (4–0) | Stanford (4–2) | Michigan (5–2) | West Virginia (5–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Louisiana Tech (9–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Texas (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | TCU (4–1) | Texas Tech (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Nebraska (6–2) | UCLA (7–2) | Rutgers (8–1) | Boise State (9–2) | Northwestern (9–3) | Utah State (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Boise State (4–1) | TCU (5–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | Texas (6–2) | Rutgers (7–1) | Texas Tech (7–3) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Utah State (10–2) | Michigan (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Texas A&M (4–1) | Boise State (5–1) | Ohio (7–0) | Rutgers (7–1) | Boise State (7–2) | Boise State (8–2) | Mississippi State (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | Kent State (11–2) | 23. |
| 24. | Louisiana Tech (5–0) | Arizona State (5–1) | Texas (5–2) | Louisiana Tech (7–1) | Northwestern (7–2) | Michigan (7–3) | Northern Illinois (10–1) | Louisville (9–2) | Texas (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Iowa State (4–1) | Texas (4–2) | TCU (5–2) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Texas Tech (6–3) | Mississippi State (7–3) | Kent State (10–1) | Oklahoma State (7–4) | Wisconsin (8–5) | 25. |
| Week 6 Oct 7[34] | Week 7 Oct 14[35] | Week 8 Oct 21[36] | Week 9 Oct 28[37] | Week 10 Nov 4[38] | Week 11 Nov 11[39] | Week 12 Nov 18[40] | Week 13 Nov 25[41] | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2[42] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Northwestern | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Oklahoma State | |||
| Week 7 Oct 14[43] | Week 8 Oct 21[44] | Week 9 Oct 28[45] | Week 10 Nov 4[46] | Week 11 Nov 11[47] | Week 12 Nov 18[48] | Week 13 Nov 25[49] | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2[50] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (7–0) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Kansas State (10–0) | Notre Dame (11–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | Notre Dame (12–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida (6–0) | Florida (7–0) | Kansas State (8–0) | Kansas State (9–0) | Oregon (10–0) | Alabama (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) | Alabama (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Oregon (6–0) | Kansas State (7–0) | Notre Dame (8–0) | Oregon (9–0) | Notre Dame (10–0) | Georgia (10–1) | Georgia (11–1) | Florida (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Kansas State (6–0) | Oregon (7–0) | Oregon (8–0) | Notre Dame (9–0) | Alabama (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | LSU (6–1) | LSU (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Stanford (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | South Carolina (6–1) | Oregon State (6–0) | Florida (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | LSU (8–2) | LSU (9–2) | LSU (10–2) | Georgia (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Oregon State (6–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Stanford (9–2) | Stanford (10–2) | LSU (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Oklahoma (4–1) | USC (6–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Louisville (9–0) | South Carolina (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | USC (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Louisville (8–0) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | South Carolina (10–2) | South Carolina (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Georgia (5–1) | Mississippi State (7–0) | Oregon State (6–1) | Oregon State (7–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Clemson (10–1) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Mississippi State (6–0) | Florida State (7–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | South Carolina (9–2) | Nebraska (10–2) | Florida State (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | West Virginia (5–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | Clemson (7–1) | Clemson (8–1) | Stanford (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Oregon State (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Florida State (6–1) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Stanford (6–2) | Stanford (7–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Clemson (10–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Rutgers (6–0) | Rutgers (7–0) | Mississippi State (7–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | Oregon State (8–2) | Oregon State (8–3) | Northern Illinois (12–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Louisville (6–0) | Louisville (7–0) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | Oregon State (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | UCLA (9–3) | Nebraska (10–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Texas Tech (5–1) | Stanford (5–2) | USC (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | UCLA (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Kent State (11–1) | UCLA (9–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Texas A&M (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | Texas Tech (6–2) | UCLA (7–2) | USC (7–3) | Rutgers (9–1) | Texas (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Clemson (5–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | Boise State (7–1) | USC (6–3) | Louisville (9–1) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–4) | Boise State (10–2) | 19. |
| 20. | Stanford (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Nebraska (6–2) | Louisiana Tech (8–1) | Louisiana Tech (9–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Boise State (9–2) | Northwestern (9–3) | 20. |
| 21. | Cincinnati (5–0) | Boise State (6–1) | West Virginia (5–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Michigan (7–3) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Northern Illinois (11–1) | Louisville (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Boise State (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Arizona (5–3) | Texas Tech (6–3) | Rutgers (8–1) | Boise State (9–2) | Northwestern (9–3) | Utah State (10–2) | 22. |
| 23. | TCU (5–1) | Texas (5–2) | Texas (6–2) | Rutgers (7–1) | Texas Tech (7–3) | Kent State (10–1) | Oklahoma State (7–4) | Texas (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Iowa State (4–2) | Ohio (7–0) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | Oklahoma State (6–3) | Arizona (7–4) | Utah State (10–2) | San Jose State (10–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Texas (4–2) | Wisconsin (6–2) | Louisiana Tech (7–1) | Toledo (8–1) | Washington (6–4) | Washington (7–4) | San Jose State (10–2) | Kent State (11–2) | 25. |
| Week 7 Oct 14[43] | Week 8 Oct 21[44] | Week 9 Oct 28[45] | Week 10 Nov 4[46] | Week 11 Nov 11[47] | Week 12 Nov 18[48] | Week 13 Nov 25[49] | Week 14 (Final) Dec 2[50] | ||
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| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Oklahoma State | |||
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| Pre-divisional |
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| NCAA University Division |
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| NCAA Division I |
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| NCAA Division I-A/FBS |
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| NCAA Division I-AA/FCS |
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| Small college |
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| NCAA Division II |
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| NCAA Division III |
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| Polls |
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