| Coaches’ Poll – End of Regular Season | ||||
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Alabama | 13-0 | 1470 | 3 |
| 2 | Texas | 13-0 | 1409 | 2 |
| 3 | TCU | 12-0 | 1336 | 4 |
| 4 | Cincinnati | 12-0 | 1280 | 5 |
| 5 | Florida | 12-1 | 1240 | 1 |
| 6 | Boise State | 13-0 | 1216 | 6 |
| 7 | Oregon | 10-2 | 1096 | 8 |
| 8 | Ohio State | 10-2 | 1077 | 7 |
| 9 | Penn State | 10-2 | 950 | 9 |
| 10 | Georgia Tech | 11-2 | 921 | 12 |
| 11 | Iowa | 10-2 | 918 | 10 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | 9-3 | 829 | 11 |
| 13 | LSU | 9-3 | 718 | 14 |
| 14 | Brigham Young | 10-2 | 702 | 13 |
| 15 | Miami (FL) | 9-3 | 611 | 17 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh | 9-3 | 506 | 15 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 9-3 | 429 | 23 |
| 18 | Oklahoma State | 9-3 | 404 | 21 |
| 19 | Nebraska | 9-4 | 391 | 20 |
| 20 | Oregon State | 8-4 | 368 | 16 |
| 21 | Stanford | 8-4 | 253 | 24 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 9-3 | 247 | NR |
| 23 | Arizona | 8-4 | 237 | NR |
| 24 | Utah | 9-3 | 183 | 25 |
| 25 | Houston | 10-3 | 106 | 18 |
