| Rank | Team | Record | Next Opponent | Prior | |
| 1 |  | Alabama | 7-0, 4-0 | Tennessee | 1 |
| 2 |  | Georgia | 7-0, 4-0 | bye | 4 |
| 3 |  | Penn State | 6-0, 3-0 | Michigan | 3 |
| 4 |  | Wisconsin | 6-0, 3-0 | Maryland | 6 |
| 5 |  | TCU | 6-0, 3-0 | Kansas | 9 |
| 6 |  | Ohio State | 6-1, 4-0 | bye | 7 |
| 7 |  | Clemson | 6-1, 4-1 | bye | 2 |
| 8 |  | Miami (FL) | 5-0, 3-0 | Syracuse | 10 |
| 9 |  | Oklahoma State | 5-1, 2-1 | at Texas | 14 |
| 10 |  | USC | 6-1, 4-1 | at Notre Dame | 12 |
| 11 |  | Michigan | 5-1, 2-1 | at Penn State | 13 |
| 12 |  | Oklahoma | 5-1, 2-1 | at Kansas State | 15 |
| 13 |  | South Florida | 6-0, 3-0 | at Tulane | 16 |
| 14 |  | Auburn | 5-2, 2-1 | at Arkansas | 11 |
| 15 |  | Virginia Tech | 4-1, 1-1 | North Carolina | 17 |
| 16 |  | North Carolina State | 6-1, 4-0 | bye | 19 |
| 17 |  | Notre Dame | 5-1, 0-0 | USC | 20 |
| 18 |  | Stanford | 4-2, 3-1 | Oregon | 25 |
| 19 |  | UCF | 5-0, 3-0 | at Navy | 21 |
| 20 |  | Michigan State | 5-1, 3-0 | Indiana | 23 |
| 21 |  | Washington | 6-1, 3-1 | bye | 5 |
| 22 |  | Washington State | 6-1, 3-1 | Colorado | 8 |
| 23 |  | LSU | 5-2, 2-1 | at Ole Miss | NR |
| 24 |  | West Virginia | 4-2, 2-1 | at Baylor | NR |
| 25 |  | San Diego State | 6-1, 2-1 | Fresno State | 18 |
