| Rank | Team | Record | Next Opponent | Prior | |
| 1 |  | Clemson | 11-1, 7-1 | vs Miami | 2 |
| 2 |  | Oklahoma | 11-1, 7-1 | vs TCU | 3 |
| 3 |  | Auburn | 10-2, 7-1 | vs Georgia | 6 |
| 4 |  | Wisconsin | 12-0, 9-0 | vs Ohio State | 4 |
| 5 |  | Alabama | 11-1, 7-1 | bye | 1 |
| 6 |  | Georgia | 11-1, 7-1 | vs Auburn | 7 |
| 7 |  | Miami (FL) | 10-1, 7-1 | vs Clemson | 5 |
| 8 |  | Ohio State | 10-2, 8-1 | vs Wisconsin | 8 |
| 9 |  | USC | 10-2, 8-1 | vs Stanford | 9 |
| 10 |  | Penn State | 10-2, 7-2 | bye | 10 |
| 11 |  | UCF | 11-0, 8-0 | Memphis | 11 |
| 12 |  | TCU | 10-2, 7-2 | Oklahoma | 12 |
| 13 |  | Stanford | 9-3, 7-2 | vs USC | 14 |
| 14 |  | Washington | 9-2, 6-2 | bye | 15 |
| 15 |  | Memphis | 10-1, 7-1 | at UCF | 17 |
| 16 |  | LSU | 8-3, 5-2 | bye | 19 |
| 17 |  | Michigan State | 9-3, 7-2 | bye | 24 |
| 18 |  | Oklahoma State | 9-3, 6-3 | bye | 20 |
| 19 |  | South Florida | 9-2, 6-2 | bye | 18 |
| 20 |  | Notre Dame | 9-2, 0-0 | bye | 13 |
| 21 |  | Washington State | 9-2, 6-2 | bye | 16 |
| 22 |  | Northwestern | 9-3, 7-2 | bye | 22 |
| 23 |  | Virginia Tech | 9-3, 5-3 | bye | 23 |
| 24 |  | Fresno State | 9-3, 7-1 | vs Boise State | NR |
| 25 |  | Mississippi State | 8-4, 4-4 | bye | 21 |
