| 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Season | 2025 |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
Two human polls and a committee's selections comprise the 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 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 at the FBS level. 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. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is usually released starting midway through the season. The CFP rankings determine who makes the twelve-team playoff that determines the College Football Playoff National Champion.
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| Selected for College Football Playoff | ||
(#–#) | Win–loss record | |
(Italics) | Number of first place votes | |
| Preseason Aug 11 [1] | Week 1 Sep 2 [2] | Week 2 Sep 7 [3] | Week 3 Sep 14 [4] | Week 4 Sep 21 [5] | Week 5 Sep 28 [6] | Week 6 Oct 5 [7] | Week 7 Oct 12 [8] | Week 8 Oct 19 [9] | Week 9 Oct 26 [10] | Week 10 Nov 2 [11] | Week 11 Nov 9 [12] | Week 12 Nov 16 [13] | Week 13 Nov 23 [14] | Week 14 Nov 30 [15] | Week 15 Dec 7 [16] | Week 16 (Final) Jan 20 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Texas (25) | Ohio State (1–0) (55) | Ohio State (2–0) (57) | Ohio State (3–0) (55) | Ohio State (3–0) (52) | Ohio State (4–0) (46) | Ohio State (5–0) (40) | Ohio State (6–0) (50) | Ohio State (7–0) (60) | Ohio State (7–0) (54) | Ohio State (8–0) (54) | Ohio State (9–0) (55) | Ohio State (10–0) (57) | Ohio State (11–0) (58) | Ohio State (12–0) (61) | Indiana (13–0) (66) | 1. | |
| 2. | Penn State (23) | Penn State (1–0) (7) | Penn State (2–0) (5) | Penn State (3–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (7) | Oregon (5–0) (16) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (21) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (13) | Indiana (7–0) (6) | Indiana (8–0) (11) | Indiana (9–0) (11) | Indiana (10–0) (6) | Indiana (11–0) (8) | Indiana (11–0) (7) | Indiana (12–0) (5) | Georgia (12–1) | 2. | |
| 3. | Ohio State (11) | LSU (1–0) (3) | LSU (2–0) (2) | LSU (3–0) (2) | Penn State (3–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (4) | Oregon (5–0) (5) | Indiana (6–0) (3) | Texas A&M (7–0) | Texas A&M (8–0) (1) | Texas A&M (8–0) (1) | Texas A&M (9–0) (4) | Texas A&M (10–0) (1) | Texas A&M (11–0) (1) | Georgia (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | 3. | |
| 4. | Clemson (4) | Georgia (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) | LSU (4–0) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Texas A&M (6–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Texas Tech (12–1) | 4. | |
| 5. | Georgia (1) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Ole Miss (6–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 5. | |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Oregon (1–0) (1) | Georgia (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) (1) | Oregon (4–0) (1) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Ole Miss (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) т | Ole Miss (10–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | 6. | |
| 7. | Oregon (1) | Texas (0–1) | Texas (1–1) | Florida State (2–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) (1) | Penn State (3–1) | Indiana (5–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Georgia Tech (7–0) | Ole Miss (7–1) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) т | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | 7. | |
| 8. | Alabama | Clemson (0–1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Texas (2–1) | Florida State (3–0) | Indiana (5–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Georgia Tech (8–0) | BYU (8–0) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 8. | |
| 9. | LSU | Notre Dame (0–1) | Illinois (2–0) | Illinois (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Texas (3–1) | Texas Tech (5–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 9. | |
| 10. | Miami (FL) | South Carolina (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Texas (3–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | LSU (5–1) | Vanderbilt (6–1) | BYU (8–0) т | Notre Dame (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 10. | |
| 11. | Arizona State | Illinois (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | BYU (7–0) | Miami (FL) (6–1) т | Oklahoma (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (11–1) | Alabama (10–3) | 11. | |
| 12. | Illinois | Arizona State (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Iowa State (4–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Virginia (8–1) | BYU (8–1) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Vanderbilt (9–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | BYU (11–2) | 12. | |
| 13. | South Carolina | Florida (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Ole Miss (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Texas (7–2) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Utah (8–2) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | 13. | |
| 14. | Michigan | Florida State (1–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Iowa State (4–0) | Iowa State (5–0) | Missouri (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Louisville (7–1) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Utah (9–2) | Texas (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | 14. | |
| 15. | Florida | Michigan (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Michigan (4–1) | BYU (6–0) | Missouri (6–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Vanderbilt (7–2) | Utah (7–2) | Georgia Tech (9–1) | Michigan (9–2) | Utah (10–2) | Utah (10–2) | 15. | |
| 16. | SMU | Iowa State (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Georgia Tech (4–0) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Missouri (5–1) | Virginia (6–1) | Louisville (6–1) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | USC (8–2) | Texas (8–3) | Virginia (10–2) | USC (9–3) | 16. | |
| 17. | Kansas State | SMU (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Texas Tech (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Cincinnati (7–1) | Utah (7–2) | USC (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | Virginia (9–2) | USC (9–3) | Tulane (11–2) | 17. | |
| 18. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (1–0) | South Florida (2–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | Florida State (3–1) | BYU (5–0) | Virginia (5–1) | South Florida (6–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Tennessee (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | 18. | |
| 19. | Texas A&M | Texas A&M (1–0) | Alabama (1–1) | Indiana (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Missouri (5–0) | Virginia (5–1) | South Florida (5–1) | Louisville (5–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Missouri (6–2) | Louisville (7–2) | Virginia (9–2) | USC (8–3) | James Madison (11–1) | James Madison (12–1) | 19. | |
| 20. | Indiana | Ole Miss (1–0) | Utah (2–0) | Vanderbilt (3–0) | Missouri (4–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | USC (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Texas (6–2) | USC (6–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Tennessee (7–3) | James Madison (10–1) | North Texas (11–1) | Virginia (10–3) | 20. | |
| 21. | Ole Miss | Alabama (0–1) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | USC (4–0) | Notre Dame (2–2) | Arizona State (4–1) | Texas (4–2) | Cincinnati (6–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Tennessee (6–3) | James Madison (9–1) | North Texas (10–1) | Tulane (10–2) | Arizona (9–3) | 21. | |
| 22. | Iowa State | Tennessee (1–0) | Indiana (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Notre Dame (1–2) | Illinois (4–1) | Iowa State (5–1) | Memphis (6–0) | Texas (5–2) | Houston (7–1) | Memphis (8–1) | Cincinnati (7–2) | North Texas (9–1) | Tulane (9–2) | Arizona (9–3) | Navy (9–2) | 22. | |
| 23. | Texas Tech | Indiana (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Missouri (3–0) | Illinois (3–1) | BYU (4–0) | Memphis (6–0) | Utah (5–1) | Illinois (5–2) | USC (5–2) | Tennessee (6–3) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Navy (9–2) | North Texas (11–2) | 23. | |
| 24. | Tennessee | Texas Tech (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Notre Dame (0–2) | TCU (3–0) | Virginia (4–1) | South Florida (4–1) | Cincinnati (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Utah (6–2) | Washington (6–2) | James Madison (8–1) | Tulane (8–2) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | 24. | |
| 25. | Boise State | Utah (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | USC (3–0) | BYU (3–0) | Arizona State (4–1) | Florida State (3–2) | Nebraska (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Memphis (7–1) | Cincinnati (7–2) | South Florida (7–2) | Houston (8–2) | SMU (8–3) | Missouri (8–4) | Missouri (8–4) | 25. | |
| Preseason Aug 11 [17] | Week 1 Sep 2 [18] | Week 2 Sep 7 [19] | Week 3 Sep 14 [20] | Week 4 Sep 21 [21] | Week 5 Sep 28 [22] | Week 6 Oct 5 [23] | Week 7 Oct 12 [24] | Week 8 Oct 19 [25] | Week 9 Oct 26 [26] | Week 10 Nov 2 [27] | Week 11 Nov 9 [28] | Week 12 Nov 16 [29] | Week 13 Nov 23 [30] | Week 14 Nov 30 [31] | Week 15 Dec 7 [32] | Week 16 (Final) Jan 20 | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Houston (7–2) | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| None | None |
| Preseason Aug 4 [33] | Week 1 Sep 2 [34] | Week 2 Sep 7 [35] | Week 3 Sep 14 [36] | Week 4 Sep 21 [37] | Week 5 Sep 28 [38] | Week 6 Oct 5 [39] | Week 7 Oct 12 [40] | Week 8 Oct 19 [41] | Week 9 Oct 26 [42] | Week 10 Nov 2 [43] | Week 11 Nov 9 [44] | Week 12 Nov 16 [45] | Week 13 Nov 23 [46] | Week 14 Nov 30 [47] | Week 15 Dec 7 [48] | Week 16 (Final) Jan 20 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Texas (28) | Ohio State (1–0) (59) | Ohio State (2–0) (62) | Ohio State (3–0) (62) | Ohio State (3–0) (61) | Ohio State (4–0) (58) | Ohio State (5–0) (59) | Ohio State (6–0) (63) | Ohio State (7–0) (65) | Ohio State (7–0) (62) | Ohio State (8–0) (60) | Ohio State (9–0) (59) | Ohio State (10–0) (61) | Ohio State (11–0) (61) | Ohio State (12–0) (63) | Indiana (13–0) (61) | 1. | |
| 2. | Ohio State (20) | Penn State (1–0) (6) | Penn State (2–0) (4) | Penn State (3–0) (3) | Penn State (3–0) (3) | Oregon (5–0) (6) | Oregon (5–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (2) | Indiana (7–0) | Indiana (8–0) | Indiana (9–0) (1) | Indiana (10–0) | Indiana (11–0) | Indiana (11–0) | Indiana (12–0) | Georgia (12–1) (1) | 2. | |
| 3. | Penn State (14) | Georgia (1–0) (1) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (3) | Indiana (6–0) (1) | Texas A&M (7–0) | Texas A&M (8–0) (2) | Texas A&M (8–0) (3) | Texas A&M (9–0) (4) | Texas A&M (10–0) (2) | Texas A&M (11–0) (2) | Georgia (11–1) | Ohio State (12–1) | 3. | |
| 4. | Georgia (3) | LSU (1–0) (1) | LSU (2–0) (1) | LSU (3–0) (1) | LSU (4–0) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Texas A&M (6–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Texas Tech (12–1) | 4. | |
| 5. | Notre Dame | Oregon (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) | Oregon (4–0) (1) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) (1) | Ole Miss (6–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 5. | |
| 6. | Clemson (2) | Texas (0–1) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (1) | Penn State (3–1) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | 6. | |
| 7. | Oregon | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Texas (1–1) | Texas (2–1) | Texas (3–1) | Texas (3–1) | Indiana (5–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Georgia Tech (7–0) | Georgia Tech (8–0) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Ole Miss (9–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | 7. | |
| 8. | Alabama | Clemson (0–1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Illinois (3–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Ole Miss (7–1) | BYU (8–0) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 8. | |
| 9. | LSU | Notre Dame (0–1) | Illinois (2–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Indiana (5–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Miami (FL) (5–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 9. | |
| 10. | Miami (FL) | Arizona State (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Georgia (3–1) | Texas Tech (5–0) | LSU (5–1) | BYU (7–0) | BYU (8–0) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Texas (7–2) т | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 10. | |
| 11. | Arizona State | South Carolina (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Ole Miss (4–0) | Alabama (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Virginia (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) т | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (11–1) | Alabama (10–3) | 11. | |
| 12. | Illinois | Illinois (1–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Iowa State (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0) | Vanderbilt (6–1) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Georgia Tech (8–1) т | Georgia Tech (9–1) | Vanderbilt (9–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | 12. | |
| 13. | South Carolina | Michigan (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Iowa State (4–0) | Iowa State (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Texas (7–2) | BYU (8–1) т | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | BYU (11–2) | 13. | |
| 14. | Michigan | Ole Miss (1–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Missouri (5–0) | BYU (6–0) | Missouri (6–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Utah (8–2) | Utah (9–2) | Texas (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | 14. | |
| 15. | Ole Miss | Florida (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Louisville (7–1) | Utah (7–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Utah (10–2) | Utah (10–2) | 15. | |
| 16. | SMU | SMU (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Texas Tech (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Missouri (5–1) | Virginia (6–1) | Cincinnati (7–1) | Vanderbilt (7–2) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | USC (8–2) | Texas (8–3) | Virginia (10–2) | USC (9–3) | 16. | |
| 17. | Florida | Tennessee (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Indiana (3–0) | Georgia Tech (4–0) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | Illinois (5–1) | Texas (4–2) | Tennessee (5–2) | Louisville (6–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Virginia (9–2) | USC (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | 17. | |
| 18. | Tennessee | Iowa State (1–0) | Alabama (1–1) | Utah (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Missouri (5–0) | BYU (5–0) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Texas (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | USC (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | Tennessee (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Tulane (11–2) | 18. | |
| 19. | Indiana | Florida State (1–0) | Indiana (2–0) | Georgia Tech (3–0) | Missouri (4–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Texas (3–2) | Virginia (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Texas (6–2) | Utah (7–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | James Madison (11–1) | James Madison (12–1) | 19. | |
| 20. | Kansas State | Alabama (0–1) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Vanderbilt (4–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Vanderbilt (5–1) | Memphis (6–0) | South Florida (6–1) | Missouri (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Tennessee (6–3) | Tennessee (7–3) | USC (8–3) | North Texas (11–1) | Arizona (9–3) | 20. | |
| 21. | Texas A&M т | Indiana (1–0) | Utah (2–0) | Notre Dame (0–2) | Notre Dame (1–2) | Notre Dame (2–2) | Iowa State (5–1) | USC (5–1) | Cincinnati (6–1) | Michigan (6–2) | USC (6–2) | Louisville (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | James Madison (10–1) | Tulane (10–2) | Virginia (10–3) | 21. | |
| 22. | Iowa State т | Texas A&M (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Missouri (3–0) | USC (4–0) | Illinois (4–1) | Penn State (3–2) | Utah (5–1) | Louisville (5–1) | Houston (7–1) | Tennessee (6–3) | Cincinnati (7–2) | James Madison (9–1) | North Texas (10–1) | Arizona (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | 22. | |
| 23. | BYU | Texas Tech (1–0) | South Florida (2–0) | Vanderbilt (3–0) | Illinois (3–1) | BYU (4–0) | Arizona State (4–1) | South Florida (5–1) | Illinois (5–2) | Navy (7–0) | Memphis (8–1) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | North Texas (9–1) | Tulane (9–2) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Tennessee (8–4) | 23. | |
| 24. | Texas Tech | Oklahoma (1–0) | Arizona State (1–1) | South Carolina (2–1) | BYU (3–0) | Arizona State (4–1) | Virginia (5–1) | Cincinnati (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Utah (6–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Missouri (6–3) | Houston (8–2) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Tennessee (8–4) | Houston (9–3) | 24. | |
| 25. | Boise State | BYU (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | TCU (3–0) | Utah (4–1) | Memphis (6–0) | Illinois (5–2) | Arizona State (5–2) | Memphis (7–1) | Cincinnati (7–2) | James Madison (8–1) | Tulane (8–2) | SMU (8–3) | Navy (9–2) | Navy (9–2) | 25. | |
| Preseason Aug 4 [49] | Week 1 Sep 2 [50] | Week 2 Sep 7 [51] | Week 3 Sep 14 [52] | Week 4 Sep 21 [53] | Week 5 Sep 28 [54] | Week 6 Oct 5 [55] | Week 7 Oct 12 [56] | Week 8 Oct 19 [57] | Week 9 Oct 26 [58] | Week 10 Nov 2 [59] | Week 11 Nov 9 [60] | Week 12 Nov 16 [61] | Week 13 Nov 23 [62] | Week 14 Nov 30 [63] | Week 15 Dec 7 [64] | Week 16 (Final) Jan 20 | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| None |
Bold indicates teams whose rankings result in a bid to the College Football Playoff.
The committee did not rank a Group of Six conference in the top 25 in the Week 10 rankings. Instead, as indicated by the second table, the committee indicated the top ranked Group of Six team.
| Week 10 Nov 4 [65] | Week 11 Nov 11 [66] | Week 12 Nov 18 [67] | Week 13 Nov 25 [68] | Week 14 Dec 2 [69] | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 [70] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio State (8–0) | Ohio State (9–0) | Ohio State (10–0) | Ohio State (11–0) | Ohio State (12–0) | Indiana (13–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Indiana (9–0) | Indiana (10–0) | Indiana (11–0) | Indiana (11–0) | Indiana (12–0) | Ohio State (12–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas A&M (8–0) | Texas A&M (9–0) | Texas A&M (10–0) | Texas A&M (11–0) | Georgia (11–1) | Georgia (12–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | Texas Tech (12–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Ole Miss (8–1) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | BYU (8–0) | Ole Miss (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Tech (8–1) | Oregon (8–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Oregon (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | Alabama (10–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Notre Dame (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Texas (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (11–1) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Oklahoma (7–2) | BYU (8–1) | Utah (8–2) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | BYU (11–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Utah (7–2) | Utah (7–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Utah (9–2) | Texas (9–3) | Texas (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Virginia (8–1) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Vanderbilt (9–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Louisville (7–1) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | USC (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Utah (10–2) | Utah (10–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Vanderbilt (7–2) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Georgia Tech (9–1) | Texas (8–3) | USC (9–3) | USC (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia Tech (8–1) | USC (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | USC (8–3) | Virginia (10–2) | Arizona (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Arizona (9–3) | Michigan (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | USC (6–2) | Virginia (8–2) | Virginia (9–2) | Tennessee (8–3) | Michigan (9–3) | Virginia (10–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Iowa (6–2) | Louisville (7–2) | Tennessee (7–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | Tulane (10–2) | Tulane (11–2) | 20. |
| 21. | Michigan (7–2) | Iowa (6–3) | Illinois (7–3) | SMU (8–3) | Houston (9–3) | Houston (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Missouri (6–2) | Pittsburgh (7–2) | Missouri (7–3) | Pittsburgh (8–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | Georgia Tech (9–3) | 22. |
| 23. | Washington (6–2) | Tennessee (6–3) | Houston (8–2) | Georgia Tech (9–2) | Iowa (8–4) | Iowa (8–4) | 23. |
| 24. | Pittsburgh (7–2) | South Florida (7–2) | Tulane (8–2) | Tulane (9–2) | North Texas (11–1) | James Madison (12–1) | 24. |
| 25. | Tennessee (6–3) | Cincinnati (7–2) | Arizona State (7–3) | Arizona (8–3) | James Madison (11–1) | North Texas (11–2) | 25. |
| Week 10 Nov 4 [71] | Week 11 Nov 11 [72] | Week 12 Nov 18 [73] | Week 13 Nov 25 [74] | Week 14 Dec 2 [75] | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 [76] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| None |
| Week 10 Nov 4 [77] | Week 11 Nov 11 | Week 12 Nov 18 | Week 13 Nov 25 | Week 14 Dec 2 | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G6 | Memphis (8–1) | None | None | None | None | None | G6 |
The joint poll of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation is a human poll which the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book designates as being one of the "major selectors" of national championships. The NFF automatically awards its MacArthur Bowl national championship trophy to the winner of the College Football Playoff National Championship.
| Preseason Aug 11 [78] | Week 1 Sep 2 [79] | Week 2 Sep 7 [80] | Week 3 Sep 14 [81] | Week 4 Sep 21 [82] | Week 5 Sep 28 [83] | Week 6 Oct 5 [84] | Week 7 Oct 12 [85] | Week 8 Oct 19 [86] | Week 9 Oct 26 [87] | Week 10 Nov 2 [88] | Week 11 Nov 9 [89] | Week 12 Nov 16 [90] | Week 13 Nov 23 [91] | Week 14 Nov 30 [92] | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 [93] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Texas (27) | Ohio State (1–0) (44) | Ohio State (2–0) (52) | Ohio State (3–0) (48) | Ohio State (3–0) (49) | Ohio State (4–0) (46) | Ohio State (5-0) (42) | Ohio State (6–0) (46) | Ohio State (7–0) (53) | Ohio State (7–0) (48) | Ohio State (8–0) (47) | Ohio State (9–0) (49) | Ohio State (10–0) (51) | Ohio State (11–0) (51) | Ohio State (12–0) (54) | 1. | |
| 2. | Ohio State (11) | Penn State (1–0) (6) | Penn State (2–0) (2) | Penn State (3–0) (3) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | Oregon (5–0) (8) | Oregon (5–0) (5) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (8) | Indiana (7–0) (3) | Indiana (8–0) (6) | Indiana (9–0) (9) | Indiana (10–0) (2) | Indiana (11–0) (1) | Indiana (11–0) (2) | Indiana (12–0) (2) | 2. | |
| 3. | Penn State (11) | LSU (1–0) (3) | LSU (2–0) (1) | LSU (3–0) (2) | Penn State (3–0) (3) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (2) | Miami (FL) (5–0) (9) | Indiana (6–0) (2) | Texas A&M (7–0) | Texas A&M (8–0) (2) | Texas A&M (8–0) | Texas A&M (9–0) (5) | Texas A&M (10–0) (4) | Texas A&M (11–0) (3) | Georgia (11–1) | 3. | |
| 4. | Georgia (2) | Georgia (1–0) (1) | Georgia (2–0) (1) | Georgia (3–0) (1) | LSU (4–0) (1) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Ole Miss (5–0) | Texas A&M (6–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Oregon (11–1) | 4. | |
| 5. | Clemson (3) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Oregon (2–0) | Oregon (3–0) (1) | Miami (FL) (4–0) (1) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Oklahoma (5–0) | Ole Miss (6–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Oregon (10–1) | Texas Tech (11–1) | 5. | |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Oregon (1–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Oregon (4–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Oregon (6–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Oregon (7–1) | Ole Miss (9–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Ole Miss (10–1) | Ole Miss (11–1) | 6. | |
| 7. | Oregon | Texas (0–1) (1) | Texas (1–1) | Florida State (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Georgia Tech (7–0) | Ole Miss (7–1) | Ole Miss (8–1) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Oregon (9–1) | Texas Tech (10–1) | Texas A&M (11–1) | 7. | |
| 8. | Alabama (2) | Clemson (0–1) | Florida State (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Indiana (5–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Ole Miss (6–1) | Georgia Tech (8–0) | BYU (8–0) | Oregon (8–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 8. | |
| 9. | LSU (1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Notre Dame (0–1) | Texas (2–1) | Texas (3–1) | Texas (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Vanderbilt (7–1) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | 9. | |
| 10. | Miami (FL) | Florida State (1–0) | Illinois (2–0) | Illinois (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Indiana (5–0) | Texas Tech (5–0) | LSU (5–1) | Vanderbilt (6–1) | Miami (FL) (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–2) | 10. | |
| 11. | Arizona State | South Carolina (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Indiana (4–0) | Georgia (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | BYU (8–0) | Virginia (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | BYU (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | BYU (11–1) | 11. | |
| 12. | Illinois | Illinois (1–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Iowa State (4–0) | Ole Miss (4–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Georgia Tech (6–0) | BYU (7–0) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Texas (7–2) | BYU (8–1) | Utah (8–2) | Miami (FL) (9–2) | Miami (FL) (10–2) | 12. | |
| 13. | South Carolina | Arizona State (1–0) | Clemson (1–1) | Ole Miss (3–0) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Iowa State (5–0) | Georgia Tech (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Texas Tech (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Georgia Tech (9–1) | Vanderbilt (9–2) | Texas (9–3) | 13. | |
| 14. | Michigan | Michigan (1–0) | Iowa State (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Iowa State (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Missouri (5–0) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Texas Tech (6–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Louisville (7–1) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Vanderbilt (8–2) | Utah (9–2) | Vanderbilt (10–2) | 14. | |
| 15. | Ole Miss | Florida (1–0) | Ole Miss (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Michigan (4–1) | BYU (6–0) | Missouri (6–1) | Louisville (6–1) | Georgia Tech (8–1) | Utah (7–2) | Miami (FL) (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Utah (10–2) | 15. | |
| 16. | Tennessee | Oklahoma (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Utah (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Missouri (5–1) | Louisville (5–1) | Virginia (7–1) | Vanderbilt (7–2) | Miami (FL) (7–2) | USC (8–2) | Texas (8–3) | Virginia (10–2) | 16. | |
| Preseason Aug 11 [94] | Week 1 Sep 2 [95] | Week 2 Sep 7 [96] | Week 3 Sep 14 [97] | Week 4 Sep 21 [98] | Week 5 Sep 28 [99] | Week 6 Oct 5 [100] | Week 7 Oct 12 [101] | Week 8 Oct 19 [102] | Week 9 Oct 26 [103] | Week 10 Nov 2 [104] | Week 11 Nov 9 [105] | Week 12 Nov 16 [106] | Week 13 Nov 23 [107] | Week 14 Nov 30 [108] | Week 15 (Final) Dec 7 [109] | ||
Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| None |