| 1973 NCAA Division I football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1973 |
| Bowl season | 1973–74 bowl games |
| Preseason #1 | |
| End of season champions | Notre Dame (AP) Alabama (Coaches) |
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.
| 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 |
| Preseason Aug [1] | Week 1 Sep 10 [2] | Week 2 Sep 17 [3] | Week 3 Sep 24 [4] | Week 4 Oct 1 [5] | Week 5 Oct 8 [6] | Week 6 Oct 15 [7] | Week 7 Oct 22 [8] | Week 8 Oct 29 [9] | Week 9 Nov 5 [10] | Week 10 Nov 12 [11] | Week 11 Nov 19 [12] | Week 12 Nov 26 [13] | Week 13 Dec 3 [14] | Week 14 (Final) Jan [15] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | USC (55) | USC (0–0) (49) | USC (1–0) (38) | USC (2–0) (36) | Ohio State (2–0) (35) | Ohio State (3–0) (41) | Ohio State (4–0) (39) | Ohio State (5–0) (35) | Ohio State (6–0) (36) | Ohio State (7–0) (35) | Ohio State (8–0) (35) | Ohio State (9–0) (34) | Alabama (10–0) (36) | Alabama (11–0) (34) | Notre Dame (11–0) (33) | 1. |
| 2. | Ohio State (2) | Nebraska (1–0) (8) | Nebraska (1–0) (8) | Nebraska (2–0) (12) | Nebraska (3–0) (10) | Nebraska (4–0) (9) | Alabama (5–0) (6) | Alabama (6–0) (12) | Alabama (7–0) (12) | Alabama (8–0) (14) | Alabama (8–0) (13) | Alabama (9–0) (16) | Oklahoma (9–0–1) (20) | Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16) | Ohio State (10–0–1) (11) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas (1) | Ohio State (0–0) (2) | Ohio State (1–0) (11) | Ohio State (1–0) (8) | Alabama (3–0) (6) | Alabama (4–0) (6) | Oklahoma (3–0–1) (8) | Oklahoma (4–0–1) (8) | Oklahoma (5–0–1) (9) | Oklahoma (6–0–1) (7) | Oklahoma (7–0–1) (10) | Oklahoma (8–0–1) (9) | Ohio State (9–0–1) (2) | Notre Dame (10–0) (2) | Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16) | 3. |
| 4. | Nebraska (2) | Texas (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) (2) | Michigan (2–0) (1) | USC (2–0–1) (3.5) | USC (3–0–1) (1) | Michigan (5–0) (1) | Michigan (6–0) (1) | Michigan (7–0) (1) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Michigan (9–0) (1) | Michigan (10–0) (1) | Michigan (10–0–1) (1) | Ohio State (9–0–1) (2) | Alabama (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Michigan (2) | Michigan (0–0) (1) | Michigan (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) (1) | Michigan (3–0) (2) | Michigan (4–0) (1) | Penn State (5–0) (4) | Penn State (6–0) (4) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) (1) | Notre Dame (8–0) (1) | Notre Dame (8–0) (1) | Notre Dame (9–0) (2) | Michigan (10–0–1) (1) | Penn State (12–0) | 5. |
| 6. | Alabama | Alabama (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | Penn State (2–0) (2) | Oklahoma (1–0–1) (1.5) | Oklahoma (2–0–1) | USC (4–0–1) | USC (5–0–1) | Penn State (7–0) (4) | Penn State (8–0) (4) | Penn State (9–0) (1) | Penn State (10–0) (1) | Penn State (11–0) (2) | Penn State (11–0) (3) | Michigan (10–0–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State (1) | Penn State (0–0) (1) | Penn State (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Penn State (3–0) (3) | Penn State (4–0) (3) | Missouri (5–0) (1) | Missouri (6–0) (1) | LSU (7–0) | LSU (8–0) | LSU (8–0) | LSU (9–0) | USC (9–1–1) | USC (9–1–1) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Arizona State (7–0) | USC (6–1–1) | UCLA (8–1) | UCLA (9–1) | LSU (9–1) | Texas (8–2) | USC (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | LSU (5–0) | LSU (6–0) | USC (5–1–1) | UCLA (7–1) | USC (7–1–1) | USC (8–1–1) | Texas (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Arizona State (11–1) т | 9. |
| 10. | UCLA | Colorado (0–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | LSU (3–0) | LSU (4–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Missouri (7–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Arizona State (10–1) | Houston (11–1) т | 10. |
| 11. | Colorado т | Oklahoma (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Oklahoma State (3–0) | Arizona State (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Arizona State (6–0) | Tennessee (6–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Texas (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Arizona State (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Oklahoma т | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Oklahoma State (2–0) | Arizona State (3–0) | Missouri (4–0) | Arizona State (5–0) | Houston (6–0) | Missouri (6–1) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | UCLA (9–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Auburn | Arizona State (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Texas (1–1) | Texas (2–1) | UCLA (4–1) | UCLA (5–1) | Nebraska (5–1–1) | Texas (5–2) | Arizona State (8–1) | Arizona State (9–1) | Nebraska (8–2–1) | LSU (9–2) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Arizona State | Florida (0–0) | NC State (2–0) | Texas (0–1) | Houston (3–0) | Houston (4–0) | Houston (5–0) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tulane (6–0) | Arizona State (7–1) | Missouri (7–2) | Houston (8–1) | Houston (9–1) | Houston (10–1) | Texas (8–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Florida | LSU (0–0) | Florida (1–0) | Houston (2–0) | Missouri (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | Miami (FL) (3–1) | Tulane (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Houston (7–1) | Houston (8–1) | Miami (OH) (10–0) | Miami (OH) (10–0) | Miami (OH) (10–0) | Miami (OH) (11–0) | 15. |
| 16. | LSU | UCLA (0–1) | Houston (1–0) | Florida (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Miami (FL) (2–1) | Colorado (4–1) | Miami (OH) (6–0) | Miami (OH) (7–0) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | NC State (7–3) | NC State (8–3) | NC State (8–3) | NC State (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | NC State | NC State (2–0) | Oklahoma State (1–0) | UCLA (1–1) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Colorado (3–1) | Tulane (4–0) | Kansas (4–2) | Colorado (5–2) | Miami (OH) (8–0) | Miami (OH) (9–0) | Tulane (8–1) | Kansas (7–3–1) | Tulane (9–2) | Missouri (8–4) | 17. |
| 18. | Houston | Houston (0–0) | UCLA (0–1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Tulane (3–0) | Kansas (4–1) | Texas Tech (5–1) | Houston (6–1) | Kansas (5–2–1) | Kansas (6–2–1) | Oklahoma State (5–2–2) | Maryland (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | Kansas (7–4–1) | 18. |
| 19. | North Carolina | North Carolina (0–0) | Colorado (0–1) | NC State (2–1) | SMU (3–0) | Kansas (3–1) | Arizona (5–0) | Texas (3–2) | Auburn (5–2) т | Kent State (7–1) | Arizona (8–1) | Missouri (7–3) | Tennessee (7–3) | Kansas (7–3–1) | Tennessee (8–4) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas Tech | Texas Tech (0–0) |
| Missouri (2–0) | West Virginia (3–0) | Miami (OH) (4–0) | Miami (OH) (5–0) | Richmond (6–0) | Texas (4–2) т | Pittsburgh (5–2–1) | NC State (6–3) |
| Missouri (7–4) | Tennessee (8–3) |
| 20. |
| Preseason Aug [16] | Week 1 Sep 10 [17] | Week 2 Sep 17 [18] | Week 3 Sep 24 [19] | Week 4 Oct 1 [20] | Week 5 Oct 8 [21] | Week 6 Oct 15 [22] | Week 7 Oct 22 [23] | Week 8 Oct 29 [24] | Week 9 Nov 5 [25] | Week 10 Nov 12 [26] | Week 11 Nov 19 [27] | Week 12 Nov 26 [28] | Week 13 Dec 3 [29] | Week 14 (Final) Jan [30] | ||
| None | Dropped:
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This was the last season in which the final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December. [31]
Alabama received 21 of the 34 first-place votes; Oklahoma received nine, Ohio State two, Notre Dame one, and Michigan one.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | SEC | Lost Sugar, 23–24 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | none |
| 3 | Ohio State | Big Ten | Won Rose, 42–21 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | Independent | Won Sugar, 24–23 |
| 5 | Penn State | Independent | Won Orange, 16–9 |
| 6 | Michigan | Big Ten | none |
| 7 | USC | Pac-8 | Lost Rose, 21–42 |
| 8 | Texas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 3–19 |
| 9 | UCLA | Pac-8 | none |
| 10 | Arizona State | WAC | Won Fiesta, 28–7 |
| 11 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Won Cotton, 19–3 |
| Texas Tech | Southwest | Won Gator, 28–19 | |
| 13 | Houston | Independent | Won Bluebonnet, 47–7 |
| 14 | LSU | SEC | Lost Orange, 9–16 |
| 15 | Kansas | Big Eight | Lost Liberty, 18–31 |
| Tulane | Independent | Lost Bluebonnet, 7–47 | |
| 17 | Miami (OH) | Mid-American | Won Tangerine, 16–7 |
| 18 | Maryland | ACC | Lost Peach, 16–17 |
| 19 | San Diego State | PCAA | none |
| Florida | SEC | Lost Tangerine, 7–16 | |
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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.
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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 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.
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 1969 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 1971 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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