| 1991 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1991 |
| Bowl season | 1991–92 bowl games |
| PreseasonNo. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Miami (FL) (AP) Washington (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) |
| NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
Two human polls comprised the1991National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow anational championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—theAP Poll and theCoaches 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 25[1][2] | Week 1 Sep 3[3] | Week 2 Sep 10[4] | Week 3 Sep 17[5] | Week 4 Sep 24[6] | Week 5 Oct 1[7] | Week 6 Oct 8[8] | Week 7 Oct 15[9] | Week 8 Oct 22[10] | Week 9 Oct 29[11] | Week 10 Nov 5[12] | Week 11 Nov 12[13] | Week 12 Nov 19[14] | Week 13 Nov 26[15] | Week 14 Dec 2[16] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[17][18] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Florida State(49) | Florida State (1–0)(54) | Florida State (2–0)(53) | Florida State (3–0)(47) | Florida State (3–0)(48) | Florida State (4–0)(56) | Florida State (5–0)(58) | Florida State (6–0)(56) | Florida State (7–0)(56) | Florida State (8–0)(53) | Florida State (9–0)(53) | Florida State (10–0)(53) | Miami (FL) (9–0)(46) | Miami (FL) (10–0)(371⁄2) | Miami (FL) (11–0)(37) | Miami (FL) (12–0)(32) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan(5) | Michigan (0–0)(1) | Miami (FL) (1–0)(2) | Miami (FL) (2–0)(8) | Miami (FL) (2–0)(8) | Miami (FL) (3–0)(2) | Miami (FL) (4–0)(1) | Miami (FL) (5–0)(1) | Miami (FL) (6–0)(2) | Miami (FL) (7–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (7–0)(3) т | Miami (FL) (8–0)(3) | Washington (10–0)(14) | Washington (11–0)(221⁄2) | Washington (11–0)(23) | Washington (12–0)(28) | 2. |
| 3. | Miami (FL)(2) | Miami (FL) (1–0)(1) | Michigan (1–0)(1) | Michigan (2–0)(1) | Michigan (2–0)(1) | Washington (3–0)(1) | Washington (4–0)(1) | Washington (5–0)(2) | Washington (6–0)(2) | Washington (7–0)(4) | Washington (8–0)(4) т | Washington (9–0)(4) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington(1) | Washington (0–0)(2) | Washington (1–0)(2) | Washington (1–0)(1) | Washington (2–0)(3) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Florida State (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Florida(1) | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Florida (2–0)(1) | Tennessee (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida State (10–2) | Alabama (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Florida (0–0) | Florida (1–0)(1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | California (8–1) | California (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Michigan (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | California (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (6–1) | California (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Georgia Tech | Clemson (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Baylor (5–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Alabama (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | California (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson(1) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Iowa (8–1) | Iowa (9–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Texas A&M (10–1) | East Carolina (11–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Oklahoma | Houston (1–0)(1) | Houston (1–0)(1) | Iowa (2–0) | Penn State (3–1) т | Syracuse (4–0) | Florida (4–1) | Penn State (5–2) | California (5–1) | California (6–1) | Iowa (7–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (7–2) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Iowa (10–1–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Syracuse (3–0) т | Baylor (4–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | NC State (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Nebraska (9–1–1) | Syracuse (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Houston(1) | Colorado (0–0) | Colorado (1–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Baylor (3–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | NC State (6–0) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Texas A&M (8–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Colorado | Texas (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | California (4–0) | Illinois (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Texas A&M (7–1) | East Carolina (9–1) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Clemson (9–1–1) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas | Nebraska (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Alabama (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Colorado (5–2–1) | East Carolina (8–1) | Clemson (7–1–1) | California (9–2) | California (9–2) | Tennessee (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska | Iowa (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Syracuse (4–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Colorado (5–2) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | Colorado (7–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 15. |
| 16. | USC | USC (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Auburn (3–1) | NC State (5–0) | Baylor (5–1) | Colorado (4–2) | Clemson (4–1–1) | East Carolina (7–1) | Colorado (6–2–1) | Syracuse (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Auburn | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Georgia Tech (1–1) | Colorado (2–1) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Iowa (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Illinois (4–2) | East Carolina (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Stanford (8–3) | Georgia (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Auburn (1–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Syracuse (5–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | Clemson (9–2–1) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Michigan State (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | NC State (4–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | NC State (6–1) | Ohio State (6–2) | Ohio State (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Virginia (8–2–1) | UCLA (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Michigan State | Alabama (0–0) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Colorado (8–3–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Texas A&M | Texas A&M (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Houston (1–1) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Georgia Tech (2–2) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Baylor (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (7–3) | NC State (9–2) | NC State (9–2) | Tulsa (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Alabama | Ohio State (0–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | USC (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Colorado (3–2) | Baylor (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Stanford (6–3) | NC State (8–2) | Tulsa (8–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Stanford (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Ohio State | UCLA (0–0) | Baylor (1–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Ole Miss (5–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–2) | UCLA (5–2) | Georgia (6–2) | BYU (7–3) | Tulsa (7–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Tulsa (9–2) | BYU (8–3–2) | 23. |
| 24. | UCLA | Syracuse (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | California (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | UCLA (2–1) | Auburn (3–2) | Syracuse (4–2) | Georgia (5–2) | Arkansas (5–2) | Virginia (6–2–1) | NC State (7–2) | Georgia (7–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Georgia (8–3) | NC State (9–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Syracuse | BYU (0–1) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Illinois (2–1) | Colorado (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Arizona State (4–1) | Arkansas (5–2) | Fresno State (7–0) | Indiana (5–2–1) | Illinois (6–3) | UCLA (7–3) | Georgia (7–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Air Force (10–3) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 25[1][2] | Week 1 Sep 3[3] | Week 2 Sep 10[4] | Week 3 Sep 17[5] | Week 4 Sep 24[6] | Week 5 Oct 1[7] | Week 6 Oct 8[8] | Week 7 Oct 15[9] | Week 8 Oct 22[10] | Week 9 Oct 29[11] | Week 10 Nov 5[12] | Week 11 Nov 12[13] | Week 12 Nov 19[14] | Week 13 Nov 26[15] | Week 14 Dec 2[16] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[17][18] | ||
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| Preseason Aug 25[19] | Week 1 Sep 2[20] | Week 2 Sep 9[21] | Week 3 Sep 16[22] | Week 4 Sep 23[23] | Week 5 Sep 30[24] | Week 6 Oct 7[25] | Week 7 Oct 14[26] | Week 8 Oct 21[27] | Week 9 Oct 28[28] | Week 10 Nov 4[29] | Week 11 Nov 11[30] | Week 12 Nov 18[31] | Week 13 Nov 25[32] | Week 14 Dec 2[33] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[34] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Florida State(42) | Florida State (1–0)(43) | Florida State (2–0)(51) | Florida State (3–0)(47) | Florida State (3–0)(49) | Florida State (4–0)(55) | Florida State (5–0)(55) | Florida State (6–0)(55) | Florida State (7–0)(53) | Florida State (8–0)(47) | Florida State (9–0)(47) | Florida State (10–0)(47) | Miami (FL) (9–0)(44) | Miami (FL) (10–0)(32) | Washington (11–0)(29) | Washington (12–0)(331⁄2) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL)(3) | Miami (FL) (1–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (1–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (2–0)(6) | Miami (FL) (2–0)(5) | Miami (FL) (3–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (4–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (5–0)(3) | Miami (FL) (6–0)(4) | Miami (FL) (7–0)(4) | Miami (FL) (7–0)(4) | Miami (FL) (8–0)(4) | Washington (10–0)(15) | Washington (11–0)(27) | Miami (FL) (11–0)(30) | Miami (FL) (12–0)(251⁄2) | 2. |
| 3. | Michigan(6) | Michigan (0–0)(6) | Washington (1–0)(2) | Michigan (2–0)(4) | Michigan (2–0)(4) | Washington (3–0)(1) | Washington (4–0)(1) | Washington (5–0)(1) | Washington (6–0)(2) | Washington (7–0)(2) | Washington (8–0)(8) | Washington (9–0)(8) | Michigan (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Penn State (11–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington(3) | Washington (0–0)(3) | Michigan (1–0)(3) | Washington (1–0)(1) | Washington (2–0)(1) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–1) | Florida State (11–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Notre Dame(1) | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Florida (2–0)(1) | Clemson (2–0) | Clemson (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Florida (8–1) | Florida (9–1) | Florida (9–1) | Penn State (10–2) | Alabama (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Georgia Tech(1) | Florida (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Florida (5–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | California (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Florida | Notre Dame (0–0)(1) | Florida (1–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Iowa (8–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Iowa (10–1) | Iowa (10–1) | California (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Penn State | Clemson (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | California (5–0) | Iowa (5–1) | Iowa (6–1) | Iowa (7–1) | California (8–1) | Iowa (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Clemson | Oklahoma (0–0)(2) | Oklahoma (0–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Michigan (2–1) | Penn State (5–1) | NC State (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (6–1) | California (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Alabama (9–1) | Texas A&M (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–1) | East Carolina (11–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Colorado(1) | Colorado (0–0)(1) | Houston (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Baylor (4–0) | Florida (4–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | NC State (6–0) | Penn State (7–2) | Penn State (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–1) | Texas A&M (8–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Iowa (10–1–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Oklahoma(2) | Houston (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Baylor (3–0) | Syracuse (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Iowa (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | California (6–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Nebraska (8–1–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Nebraska (9–1–1) | Syracuse (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Colorado (1–0) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Penn State (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Oklahoma (4–1) | California (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (7–2) | Clemson (8–1–1) | Clemson (9–2) | Notre Dame (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Syracuse (3–0) | Florida (3–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Illinois (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Clemson (7–1–1) | California (9–2) | East Carolina (10–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Houston | Nebraska (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | NC State (5–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Colorado (5–2) | Colorado (5–2–1) | Clemson (6–1–1) | Colorado (7–2–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | California (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska | USC (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Baylor (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Clemson (3–1) | Penn State (5–2) | Colorado (4–2) | Tennessee (4–2) | Clemson (5–1–1) | Colorado (6–2–1) | East Carolina (9–1) | East Carolina (10–1) | Colorado (8–2–1) | Tennessee (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Auburn | Auburn (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | California (4–0) | Baylor (5–1) | Tennessee (4–2) | Clemson (4–1–1) | NC State (7–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2–1) | 16. |
| 17. | USC | Iowa (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Syracuse (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Auburn (3–1) | Iowa (3–1) | Georgia (5–1) | Illinois (4–2) | NC State (6–1) | Syracuse (7–2) | East Carolina (8–1) | Syracuse (8–2) | Syracuse (9–2) | Stanford (8–3) | Clemson (9–2–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Iowa | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Georgia Tech (2–1) | NC State (3–0) | Syracuse (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Syracuse (6–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Ohio State (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | UCLA (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Texas A&M (0–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (1–1) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | California (3–0) | Alabama (4–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Syracuse (5–2) | Oklahoma (5–2) | East Carolina (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Virginia (8–2–1) | Georgia (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Texas A&M | Michigan State (0–0) | Georgia Tech (0–1) | Houston (1–1) | California (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Illinois (3–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | East Carolina (6–1) | Ohio State (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (8–3) | Oklahoma (8–3) | Colorado (8–3–1) | 20. |
| 21. | Ohio State | Alabama (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Illinois (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Clemson (3–1–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Baylor (6–2) | Baylor (7–2) | Virginia (7–2–1) | Stanford (7–3) | NC State (9–2) | NC State (9–2) | Tulsa (10–2) | 21. |
| 22. | Michigan State | Ohio State (0–0) | Syracuse (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–1) | Texas A&M (2–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Colorado (3–2) | Fresno State (6–0) | Georgia (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | NC State (7–2) | NC State (8–2) | UCLA (8–3) | Ohio State (8–3) | Stanford (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Alabama | UCLA (0–0) | Baylor (1–0) | USC (1–1) | NC State (2–0) | Georgia Tech (2–2) | Ole Miss (5–1) | Auburn (4–2) | Baylor (5–2) | Fresno State (7–0) | Georgia (6–2) | BYU (7–2) | Fresno State (9–1) | Ohio State (8–3) | UCLA (8–3) | BYU (8–3–2) | 23. |
| 24. | UCLA | Syracuse (0–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Mississippi State (3–0) | Texas A&M (1–1) | UCLA (2–1) | Auburn (3–2) | Arizona State (4–1) | East Carolina (5–1) | UCLA (5–2) | Indiana (5–2–1) | Stanford (6–3) | BYU (7–3–1) | BYU (8–3–1) | Georgia (8–3) | Air Force (10–3) | 24. |
| 25. | Baylor | Baylor (0–0) | Georgia (2–0) | California (2–0) | Arizona State | Colorado (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Fresno State (5–0) | Pittsburgh (5–2) | Arkansas (5–2) | BYU (6–3) | Fresno State (8–1) | UCLA (7–3) | Fresno State (10–1) | Tulsa (9–2) | NC State (9–3) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 25[19] | Week 1 Sep 2[20] | Week 2 Sep 9[21] | Week 3 Sep 16[22] | Week 4 Sep 23[23] | Week 5 Sep 30[24] | Week 6 Oct 7[25] | Week 7 Oct 14[26] | Week 8 Oct 21[27] | Week 9 Oct 28[28] | Week 10 Nov 4[29] | Week 11 Nov 11[30] | Week 12 Nov 18[31] | Week 13 Nov 25[32] | Week 14 Dec 2[33] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[34] | ||
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TheFootball Writers Association of America awarded theGrantland Rice Trophy to Washington based on the post-bowl voting of a 5-member committee.[35] The Huskies received 3 first-place votes while the Hurricanes got two.[35] The voting members of the FWAA committee were Bob Hammel of theBloomington Herald-Times, Bil Lumpkin of theBirmingham Post-Herald, Bill McGrotha of theTallahassee Democrat, Volney Meece of theDaily Oklahoman, and Thomas O'Toole of theScripps Howard News Service.[35]
| Final January 4[35] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Washington(3) | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL)(2) | 2. |
| Final January 4[35] | ||

In its first year after losing theCoaches' Poll,United Press International polled 104 members of theNational Football Foundation to assemble a Top 25 ranking.[36] Washington was ranked No. 1 in the final UPI-NFF poll, with 71 first-place votes to Miami's 21, and won the NFFMacArthur Bowl national championship trophy.[36]
| Final Jan 3[36] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Washington (12–0)(71) 2279 | 1. |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (12–0)(21) 2224 | 2. |
| 3. | Penn State (11–2) 2055 | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (11–2) 1998 | 4. |
| 5. | Alabama (11–1) 1850 | 5. |
| 6. | Michigan (10–2) 1743 | 6. |
| 7. | Florida (10–2) 1652 | 7. |
| 8. | California (10–2) 1607 | 8. |
| 9. | East Carolina (11–1) 1482 | 9. |
| 10. | Iowa (10–1–1) 1439 | 10. |
| 11. | Syracuse (10–2) 1361 | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame (10–3) 1349 | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M (10–2) 1236 | 13. |
| 14. | Tennessee (9–3) 1059 | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska (9–2–1) 964 | 15. |
| 16. | Oklahoma (9–3) 961 | 16. |
| 17. | Clemson (9–2–1) 681 | 17. |
| 18. | Colorado (8–3–1) 666 | 18. |
| 19. | UCLA (9–3) 655 | 19. |
| 20. | Georgia (9–3) 565 | 20. |
| 21. | Tulsa (10–2) 381 | 21. |
| 22. | Stanford (8–4) 325 | 22. |
| 23. | NC State (9–3) 303 | 23. |
| 24. | BYU (8–3–2) 262 | 24. |
| 25. | Ohio State (8–4) 181 | 25. |
| Final Jan 3[36] | ||
Washington edged Miami for theGrantland Rice Trophy by balloting by the five members of a nationwide committee. The Huskies received three first-place votes and the Hurricanes got two.
As national champion, Washington will receive the MacArthur Bowl, given by the National Football Foundation to its champion since 1959. The UPI NFF ratings panel consists of 104 National Football Foundation members