| Rank | Team | Record | Next Opponent | Prior | |
| 1 |  | Alabama | 13-0, 8-0 | 1 | |
| 2 |  | Ohio State | 11-1, 8-1 | 2 | |
| 3 |  | Clemson | 12-1, 7-1 | 3 | |
| 4 |  | Washington | 12-1, 8-1 | 4 | |
| 5 |  | Oklahoma | 10-2, 9-0 | 6 | |
| 6 |  | Penn State | 11-2, 8-1 | 8 | |
| 7 |  | Michigan | 10-2, 7-2 | 7 | |
| 8 |  | West Virginia | 10-2, 7-2 | 11 | |
| 9 |  | Wisconsin | 10-3, 7-2 | 5 | |
| 10 |  | Western Michigan | 13-0, 8-0 | 10 | |
| 11 |  | USC | 9-3, 7-2 | 12 | |
| 12 |  | Florida State | 9-3, 5-3 | 13 | |
| 13 |  | Louisville | 9-3, 7-1 | 16 | |
| 14 |  | Colorado | 10-3, 8-1 | 9 | |
| 15 |  | Nebraska | 9-3, 6-3 | 18 | |
| 16 |  | LSU | 7-4, 5-3 | 19 | |
| 17 |  | Oklahoma State | 9-3, 7-2 | 14 | |
| 18 |  | Stanford | 9-3, 6-3 | 20 | |
| 19 |  | Auburn | 8-4, 5-3 | 22 | |
| 20 |  | Florida | 8-4, 6-2 | 17 | |
| 21 |  | Virginia Tech | 9-4, 6-2 | 15 | |
| 22 |  | South Florida | 10-2, 7-1 | 23 | |
| 23 |  | Texas A&M | 8-4, 4-4 | 24 | |
| 24 |  | Boise State | 10-2, 6-2 | 25 | |
| 25 |  | Pittsburgh | 9-3, 7-1 | NR | |
