| 1966 NCAA University Division football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1966 |
| Bowl season | 1966–67 bowl games |
| Preseason #1 | |
| End of season champions | Notre Dame |
Two human polls comprised the 1966 NCAA University Division 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.
| 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 |
The final AP Poll was released in early December, at the end of the 1966 regular season. [1] In the previous season, the final poll was released in January for the first time, after the bowl games, but not in 1966 or 1967.
The AP Poll ranked only the top ten teams from 1962 through 1967.
| Preseason Aug [2] | Week 1 Sep 19 [3] | Week 2 Sep 26 [4] | Week 3 Oct 3 [5] | Week 4 Oct 10 [6] | Week 5 Oct 17 [7] | Week 6 Oct 24 [8] | Week 7 Oct 31 [9] | Week 8 Nov 7 [10] | Week 9 Nov 14 [11] | Week 10 Nov 21 [12] | Week 11 Nov 28 [13] | Week 12 (Final) Dec 5 [14] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama (15) | Michigan State (1–0) (12) | Michigan State (2–0) (22) | Michigan State (3–0) (20) | Michigan State (4–0) (18) | Notre Dame (4–0) (31) | Notre Dame (5–0) (32) | Notre Dame (6–0) (39) | Notre Dame (7–0) (32) | Notre Dame (8–0) (35) | Notre Dame (8–0–1) (37) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) (40) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) (41) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan State (12) | UCLA (1–0) (13) | UCLA (2–0) (11) | UCLA (3–0) (7) | Notre Dame (3–0) (15) | Michigan State (5–0) (10) | Michigan State (6–0) (5) | Michigan State (7–0) (6) | Michigan State (8–0) (10) | Michigan State (9–0) (6) | Michigan State (9–0–1) (27) | Michigan State (9–0–1) (10) | Michigan State (9–0–1) (8) | 2. |
| 3. | Nebraska (2) | Alabama (0–0) (10) | Alabama (1–0) (2) | Notre Dame (2–0) (8) | Alabama (3–0) (4) | UCLA (5–0) (3) | UCLA (6–0) (2) | UCLA (7–0) (3) | Alabama (7–0) | Alabama (8–0) (1) | Alabama (8–0) (8) | Alabama (9–0) (7) | Alabama (10–0) (7) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA (6) | Nebraska (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) (2) | Alabama (2–0) (3) | UCLA (4–0) (2) | Alabama (4–0) (2) | Alabama (5–0) (1) | Alabama (6–0) (1) | Nebraska (8–0) | Nebraska (9–0) | Nebraska (9–0) (1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (9–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Arkansas | USC (1–0) (2) | USC (2–0) (1) | Arkansas (3–0) (2) | USC (4–0) (1) | USC (5–0) (1) | USC (6–0) (1) | Georgia Tech (7–0) | Georgia Tech (8–0) | Georgia Tech (9–0) | Georgia Tech (9–0) | UCLA (9–1) | UCLA (9–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Arkansas (1–0) (1) | Nebraska (2–0) | USC (3–0) (1) | Nebraska (4–0) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Georgia Tech (6–0) | Nebraska (7–0) | Arkansas (7–1) (1) | Arkansas (8–1) (1) | UCLA (9–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Syracuse | Purdue (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–0) | Georgia Tech (4–0) | Nebraska (5–0) | Florida (6–0) | Florida (7–0) | USC (7–1) | USC (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Purdue (8–2) | Purdue (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Purdue | Notre Dame (0–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Florida (4–0) | Florida (5–0) | Nebraska (6–0) | Arkansas (6–1) | UCLA (7–1) | UCLA (8–1) | Purdue (8–2) | Georgia Tech (9–1) | Georgia Tech (9–1) | 8. |
| 9. | USC | Michigan (1–0) (1) | Georgia Tech (2–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Purdue (3–1) | Purdue (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Miami (FL) (7–2–1) | Miami (FL) (7–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Tennessee | Baylor (1–0) (1) | Tennessee (1–0) | Florida (3–0) | Baylor (3–1) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Wyoming (6–0) | Tennessee (4–2) | Tennessee (5–2) | Purdue (7–2) | USC (7–2) | SMU (8–2) | SMU (8–2) | 10. |
| Preseason Aug [15] | Week 1 Sep 19 [16] | Week 2 Sep 26 [17] | Week 3 Oct 3 [18] | Week 4 Oct 10 [19] | Week 5 Oct 17 [20] | Week 6 Oct 24 [21] | Week 7 Oct 31 [22] | Week 8 Nov 7 [23] | Week 9 Nov 14 [24] | Week 10 Nov 21 [25] | Week 11 Nov 28 [26] | Week 12 (Final) Dec 5 [27] | ||
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The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in late November. [28] [29]
Notre Dame received twenty of the 35 first-place votes; Michigan State received ten, Alabama four, and UCLA one. [30]
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | Independent | none |
| 2 | Michigan State | Big Ten | |
| 3 | Alabama | SEC | Won Sugar, 34–7 |
| 4 | Georgia | SEC | Won Cotton, 24–9 |
| 5 | UCLA | AAWU (Pac-8) | none |
| 6 | Purdue | Big Ten | Won Rose, 14–13 |
| 7 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Lost Sugar, 7–34 |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | Independent | Lost Orange, 12–27 |
| 9 | SMU | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 9–24 |
| 10 | Miami (FL) | Independent | Won Liberty, 14–7 |
| 11 | Florida | SEC | Won Orange, 27–12 |
| 12 | Mississippi | SEC | Lost Bluebonnet, 0–19 |
| 13 | Arkansas | Southwest | none |
| 14 | Tennessee | SEC | Won Gator, 18–12 |
| 15 | Wyoming | WAC | Won Sun, 28–20 |
| 16 | Syracuse | Independent | Lost Gator, 12–18 |
| 17 | Houston | Independent | none |
| 18 | USC | AAWU (Pac-8) | Lost Rose, 13–14 |
| 19 | Oregon State | AAWU (Pac-8) | none |
| 20 | Virginia Tech | Independent | Lost Liberty, 7–14 |
During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A. The NCAA did recognize a national champion based upon the final results of "wire service" polls. The "writers' poll" by Associated Press (AP) was the most popular, followed by the "coaches' poll" by United Press International) (UPI). Prior to 1965, both services issued their final polls at the close of the regular season, but before teams competed in bowl games. For the 1965 season, the AP took its final poll after the postseason games, an arrangement made permanent in 1968. The Associated Press presented the "AP Trophy" to the winner.
The 1967 NCAA University Division football season was the last one in which college football's champion was crowned before the bowl games. During the 20th century, the NCAA had no playoff for the major college football teams in the University Division, later known as Division I-A and now as the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
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Two human polls comprised the 1955 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1956 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1957 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1958 NCAA University Division 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.
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Two human polls comprised the 1960 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1961 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1962 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1963 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1964 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1965 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1967 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1968 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1970 NCAA University Division 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1973 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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.
Two human polls comprised the 1974 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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.