1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1986 Oklahoma Penn State Two human polls comprised the 1986 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Legend   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 AP Poll November 2025 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) Aug 24August 24, 1986 No. 1 College Ranking Goes to Oklahoma https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/157840360/ Albuquerque Journal December 18, 2016 Sep 9 Sep 16 Sep 23 Sep 30 Oct 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 25 Dec 2 Jan 3January 4, 1987 Final AP Top 20 http://newsok.com/article/2171051 The Oklahoman December 18, 2016 Oklahoma (44) Michigan (6) Miami (FL) (1) UCLA (3) Alabama Penn State (3) Texas A&M (1) Nebraska (1) Ohio State Tennessee Florida State Baylor Florida Auburn LSU Georgia т t Washington т BYU Arkansas Michigan State Oklahoma (1–0) (55) Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) u Michigan (0–0) (1) d Alabama (2–0) u Penn State (1–0) (1) u Nebraska (1–0) (1) u Texas A&M (0–0) Tennessee (1–0) u Auburn (1–0) u Ohio State (0–1) d BYU (1–0) u Baylor (1–0) Florida (1–1) LSU (0–0) u Florida State (1–1) d UCLA (0–1) d Washington (0–0) d Arkansas (0–0) u Georgia (0–0) d Michigan State (0–0) Oklahoma (1–0) (55) Miami (FL) (3–0) (1) Michigan (1–0) Alabama (3–0) (1) Penn State (1–0) (1) Nebraska (1–0) (1) Washington (1–0) (1) u LSU (1–0) u Baylor (2–0) u Auburn (1–0) d BYU (2–0) Arkansas (1–0) u Florida (1–1) Georgia (1–0) u Florida State (1–1) Texas A&M (0–1) d Arizona (2–0) npr Arizona State (1–0) npr UCLA (0–1) d Notre Dame (0–1) npr Michigan State Ohio State Tennessee Oklahoma (2–0) (55) Miami (FL) (3–0) (1) Alabama (4–0) u Nebraska (2–0) (1) u Michigan (2–0) d Washington (2–0) (1) u Penn State (2–0) (1) d Auburn (2–0) u Arkansas (2–0) u Arizona (3–0) u Arizona State (2–0) u USC (2–0) npr Maryland (3–0) npr Texas A&M (1–1) u Iowa (2–0) npr UCLA (1–1) u Baylor (2–1) d LSU (1–1) d Michigan State (1–1) npr Florida State (1–1–1) d BYU Florida Georgia Notre Dame Miami (FL) (4–0) (56) u Alabama (4–0) (1) u Nebraska (3–0) u Michigan (3–0) u Penn State (3–0) (1) u Oklahoma (2–1) d Auburn (3–0) u Arkansas (3–0) u USC (3–0) u Arizona (4–0) Iowa (3–0) u Washington (2–1) d Baylor (3–1) u Texas A&M (2–1) UCLA (2–1) u Arizona State (2–0–1) d Michigan State (2–1) u LSU (1–1) Fresno State (3–0) npr NC State (3–0–1) npr Maryland Florida State Miami (FL) (5–0) (55) Alabama (5–0) (2) Nebraska (4–0) Michigan (4–0) Penn State (4–0) (1) Oklahoma (3–1) Auburn (4–0) Arkansas (4–0) USC (4–0) Iowa (4–0) u Arizona (4–0) d Washington (3–1) Baylor (4–1) Texas A&M (3–1) Arizona State (3–0–1) u LSU (2–1) u NC State (3–0–1) u Stanford (4–0) npr Mississippi State (4–1) npr Clemson (3–1) npr Fresno State Michigan State UCLA Miami (FL) (6–0) (56) Alabama (6–0) (2) Nebraska (5–0) Michigan (5–0) Oklahoma (4–1) u Penn State (5–0) (1) d Auburn (5–0) Iowa (5–0) u Washington (4–1) u Arizona State (4–0–1) u Texas A&M (4–1) u LSU (3–1) u Mississippi State (5–1) u Arkansas (4–1) d USC (4–1) d Arizona (4–1) d Clemson (4–1) u North Carolina (4–0–1) npr UCLA (3–2) npr Baylor (4–2) т SMU (4–1) т background-color:#FFE6E6 npr NC State Stanford Miami (FL) (7–0) (55) Alabama (7–0) (3) Nebraska (6–0) Michigan (6–0) Oklahoma (5–1) Penn State (6–0) (1) Auburn (6–0) Washington (5–1) u Arizona State (5–0–1) u Texas A&M (5–1) u Iowa (5–1) d LSU (4–1) Mississippi State (6–1) Arkansas (5–1) Arizona (5–1) u Clemson (5–1) u UCLA (4–2) u SMU (5–1) u Stanford (5–1) npr NC State (4–1–1) npr Baylor North Carolina USC Miami (FL) (7–0) (55) Penn State (7–0) (4) u Michigan (7–0) (1) u Oklahoma (6–1) u Auburn (7–0) u Washington (6–1) u Arizona State (6–0–1) u Alabama (7–1) d Nebraska (6–1) d Texas A&M (6–1) Iowa (6–1) LSU (5–1) Arkansas (6–1) u Arizona (6–1) u UCLA (5–2) u NC State (5–1–1) u Ohio State (6–2) npr USC (5–2) npr Mississippi State (6–2) d Florida State (4–2–1) npr Clemson SMU Stanford Miami (FL) (8–0) (53) Penn State (8–0) (4) Michigan (8–0) (1) Oklahoma (7–1) Arizona State (7–0–1) u Alabama (8–1) (1) u Nebraska (7–1) u Texas A&M (7–1) u Auburn (7–1) d Arkansas (7–1) u Ohio State (7–2) u UCLA (6–2) u Washington (6–2) d USC (6–2) u NC State (6–1–1) u Iowa (6–2) d Arizona (6–2) d LSU (5–2) d Georgia (6–2) npr Clemson (6–2) npr Florida State Mississippi State Miami (FL) (9–0) (57) Michigan (9–0) (1) u Penn State (9–0) (1) d Oklahoma (8–1) Arizona State (8–0–1) (1) Nebraska (8–1) (1) u Texas A&M (7–1) u Auburn (8–1) u Ohio State (8–2) u Washington (7–2) u Alabama (8–2) d LSU (6–2) u USC (6–2) Arizona (7–2) u Clemson (7–2) u Stanford (7–2) npr Arkansas (7–2) d Baylor (6–3) npr UCLA (6–3) d Ole Miss (6–2–1) npr Georgia Iowa NC State Miami (FL) (10–0) (56) Penn State (10–0) (3) u Oklahoma (9–1) u Arizona State (9–0–1) (1) u Nebraska (9–1) u Michigan (9–1) d Ohio State (9–2) u LSU (7–2) u Alabama (9–2) u USC (7–2) u Arkansas (8–2) u Washington (7–2–1) d Texas A&M (7–2) d Arizona (7–2) Auburn (8–2) d Stanford (7–2) Baylor (7–3) u UCLA (6–3–1) u Clemson (7–2–1) d Georgia (7–3) npr Ole Miss Miami (FL) (10–0) (54) Penn State (11–0) (4) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) u LSU (8–2) u Nebraska (9–2) d Alabama (9–2) u Arizona State (9–1–1) d Arkansas (9–2) u Texas A&M (8–2) u Ohio State (9–3) d Arizona (8–2) u Washington (8–2–1) d Auburn (8–2) u UCLA (7–3–1) u Baylor (8–3) u USC (7–3) d Georgia (7–3) u NC State (8–2–1) npr Iowa (8–3) npr Clemson Stanford Miami (FL) (11–0) (53) Penn State (11–0) (5) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) LSU (9–2) Nebraska (9–2) Arizona State (9–1–1) u Texas A&M (9–2) u Arkansas (9–2) Auburn (9–2) u Ohio State (9–3) Washington (8–2–1) u Alabama (9–3) d Baylor (8–3) u UCLA (7–3–1) Arizona (8–3) d Georgia (8–3) u NC State (8–2–1) u Iowa (8–3) u Stanford (8–3) npr USC Penn State (12–0) (54) nc Miami (FL) (11–1) d Oklahoma (11–1) (3) u Arizona State (10–1–1) u Nebraska (10–2) u Auburn (10–2) u Ohio State (10–3) u Michigan (11–2) d Alabama (10–3) u LSU (9–3) d Arizona (9–3) u Baylor (9–3) u Texas A&M (9–3) d UCLA (8–3–1) u Arkansas (9–3) d Iowa (9–3) u Clemson (8–2–2) npr Washington (8–3–1) d Boston College (9–3) npr Virginia Tech (9–2–1) npr Georgia NC State Stanford Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) Aug 19August 19, 1986 Coaches Think Oklahoma Is Top College Football Team https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16616034/ Logansport Pharos-Tribune December 18, 2016 Sep 9September 23, 1986 The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141072776/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 16, 2017 Sep 16September 16, 1986 Washington, LSU Climb Ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36307888/ The Daily News (Huntingdon, PA) October 16, 2017 Sep 23September 23, 1986 UPI Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139608667/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 16, 2017 Sep 30September 30, 1986 The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139153056/ The Republic (Columbus, IN) October 16, 2017 Oct 7October 7, 1986 Tide Rolls Closer to Miami in UPI Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14107447/ Tyrone Daily Herald October 16, 2017 Oct 14October 14, 1986 Two killer losses to Iowa still sting Schembechler https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99163173/ Detroit Free Press October 16, 2017 Oct 21October 21, 1986 Penn State Still Fifth https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/36308818/ The Daily News (Huntingdon, PA) December 18, 2016 Oct 28October 28, 1986 'Canes, Wolverines, Lions Ranked 1–2–3 in UPI Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14113966/ Tyrone Daily Herald October 17, 2017 Nov 4November 4, 1986 Lions Vault Past Michigan Into UPl's No. 2 Rating Slot https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14116198/ Tyrone Daily Herald October 17, 2017 Nov 11 Nov 18November 18, 1986 Lions Move To 2nd As Expected; Showdown With Miami Closer https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14120074/ Tyrone Daily Herald October 17, 2017 Nov 25November 25, 1986 Miami, Penn State, Okla., Michigan Head UPI Rankings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14121871/ Tyrone Daily Herald October 17, 2017 Dec 2December 3, 1986 The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99421045/ Detroit Free-Press October 17, 2017 Jan 3January 4, 1987 Penn State Voted National Champion https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14398138/ Logansport Pharos-Tribune December 18, 2016 Oklahoma (36) Michigan (1) Texas A&M (5) UCLA (2) Penn State (2) Alabama (1) Miami (FL) (3) Nebraska Ohio State Tennessee Florida State Baylor Auburn Arkansas Georgia BYU т t Washington т Iowa LSU Maryland Oklahoma (1–0) (44) Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) u Michigan (0–0) (1) d Alabama (2–0) (1) u Penn State (1–0) (2) Nebraska (1–0) u Texas A&M (0–0) d Tennessee (1–0) u BYU (1–0) u Baylor (1–0) u Auburn (1–0) u Ohio State (0–1) d Washington (0–0) u Georgia (0–0) u Arkansas (0–0) d Arizona (1–0) npr LSU (0–0) u Maryland (1–0) u UCLA (0–1) d Iowa (0–0) d Florida State Oklahoma (1–0) (43) Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) Michigan (1–0) (1) Alabama (3–0) Nebraska (1–0) u Penn State (1–0) (2) d Washington (1–0) u LSU (1–0) u Baylor (2–0) u Georgia (1–0) u Auburn (1–0) Arkansas (1–0) u BYU (2–0) d Iowa (1–0) u Arizona (2–0) u Maryland (2–0) u Arizona State (1–0) npr Florida State (1–1) npr Texas A&M (0–1) d USC (1–0) npr UCLA Oklahoma (2–0) (44) Miami (FL) (3–0) (3) Alabama (4–0) (1) u Michigan (2–0) (1) d Nebraska (2–0) Penn State (2–0) (2) Washington (2–0) Auburn (2–0) u Arkansas (2–0) u Arizona (3–0) u Arizona State (2–0) u USC (2–0) u Iowa (2–0) u Maryland (3–0) u UCLA (1–1) npr Texas A&M (1–1) u Baylor (2–1) d Michigan State (1–1) npr Fresno State (2–0) npr Florida State (1–1–1) d LSU Georgia BYU Miami (FL) (4–0) (44) u Alabama (1) u Nebraska (3–0) u Michigan (3–0) Penn State (3–0) (1) u Oklahoma (2–1) d Auburn (3–0) u USC (3–0) u Arkansas (3–0) Arizona (4–0) Iowa (3–0) u Baylor (3–1) u Washington (2–1) d Arizona State (2–0–1) d Texas A&M (2–1) u Michigan State (2–1) u UCLA (2–1) d Fresno State (3–0) u NC State (3–0–1) npr Stanford (3–0) npr Maryland Florida State Miami (FL) (5–0) (47) Alabama (5–0) Michigan (4–0) u Penn State (4–0) u Nebraska (4–0) d Oklahoma (3–1) Auburn (4–0) USC (4–0) Arizona (4–0) u Arkansas (4–0) d Iowa (4–0) Washington (3–1) u Arizona State (3–0–1) u Baylor (4–1) d Texas A&M (3–1) Clemson (3–1) npr Georgia (3–1) npr NC State (3–0–1) u Indiana (4–0) npr North Carolina (3–0–1) npr Michigan State UCLA Fresno State Stanford Miami (FL) (6–0) (47) Alabama (6–0) (3) Nebraska (5–0) u Michigan (5–0) d Penn State (5–0) d Oklahoma (4–1) Auburn (5–0) Iowa (5–0) u Washington (4–1) u Arizona State (4–0–1) u Texas A&M (4–1) u LSU (3–1) npr Arkansas (4–1) d Arizona (4–1) d Mississippi State (5–1) npr USC (4–1) d Clemson (4–1) d North Carolina (4–0–1) u UCLA (3–2) npr Baylor (4–2) d Georgia NC State Indiana Miami (FL) (7–0) (47) Alabama (7–0) (3) Nebraska (6–0) Michigan (6–0) Penn State (6–0) Oklahoma (5–1) Auburn (6–0) Washington (5–1) u Arizona State (5–0–1) u Texas A&M (5–1) u LSU (4–1) u Iowa (5–1) d Arkansas (5–1) Mississippi State (6–1) u Arizona (5–1) d Clemson (5–1) u UCLA (4–2) т tu Stanford (5–1) т npr NC State (4–1–1) npr Baylor (4–3) т North Carolina (4–1–1) т background-color:#FFFFFF d USC Miami (FL) (7–0) (47) Michigan (7–0) (1) u Penn State (7–0) (2) u Oklahoma (6–1) u Auburn (7–0) u Washington (6–1) u Arizona State (6–0–1) u Alabama (7–1) d Nebraska (6–1) d Texas A&M (6–1) LSU (5–1) Iowa (6–1) Arkansas (6–1) Arizona (6–1) u UCLA (5–2) u NC State (5–1–1) u Ohio State (6–2) т tnpr Baylor (5–3) т u USC (5–2) т tnpr Florida State (4–2–1) т npr Mississippi State Clemson Stanford North Carolina Miami (FL) (8–0) (48) Penn State (8–0) (1) u Michigan (8–0) (1) d Oklahoma (7–1) Arizona State (7–0–1) u Alabama (8–1) u Nebraska (7–1) u Texas A&M (7–1) u Arkansas (7–1) u Auburn (7–1) d Ohio State (7–2) u UCLA (6–2) u Washington (6–2) d NC State (6–1–1) u USC (6–2) u Iowa (6–2) d Arizona (6–2) d LSU (5–2) d Baylor (5–3) т td Stanford (6–2) т npr Florida State Miami (FL) (9–0) (47) Michigan (9–0) (1) u Penn State (9–0) (2) d Oklahoma (8–1) Arizona State (8–0–1) Nebraska (8–1) u Texas A&M (8–1) u Auburn (8–1) u Ohio State (8–2) u Washington (7–2) u LSU (6–2) u USC (7–2) u Arizona (7–2) u Stanford (7–2) u Alabama (8–2) d Arkansas (7–2) d Clemson (7–2) npr Baylor (6–3) u UCLA (6–3) d NC State (6–2–1) d Iowa Miami (FL) (10–0) (47) Penn State (10–0) (2) Oklahoma (9–1) u Arizona State (9–0–1) u Nebraska (9–1) u Michigan (9–1) d Ohio State (9–2) u LSU (7–2) u Alabama (9–2) u USC (7–2) u Texas A&M (8–2) d Washington (7–2–1) d Arkansas (8–2) u Auburn (8–2) d Arizona (7–2) d Stanford (7–2) d Baylor (7–3) u Clemson (7–2–1) d NC State (7–2–1) u San Jose State (9–2)Georgia (7–3) npr UCLA Miami (FL) (10–0) (44) Penn State (11–0) (5) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) u Nebraska (9–2) LSU (8–2) u Alabama (9–2) u Arizona State (9–1–1) d Texas A&M (8–2) u Arkansas (9–2) u Arizona (8–2) u Washington (8–2–1) Ohio State (9–3) d Auburn (8–2) Baylor (8–3) u UCLA (7–3–1) npr USC (7–3) d Clemson (7–2–2) NC State (8–2–1) т t Florida State (6–3–1) т San Jose State (9–2) т background-color:#FFFFE6 u Stanford Georgia Miami (FL) (11–0) (41) Penn State (11–0) (5) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) Nebraska (9–2) LSU (9–2) Texas A&M (9–2) u Arizona State (9–1–1) Auburn (9–2) u Arkansas (9–2) Washington (8–2–1) u Ohio State (9–3) u Arizona (8–3) d Alabama (9–3) d UCLA (7–3–1) u Baylor (8–3) d Stanford (8–3) npr Clemson (7–2–2) San Jose State (9–2) Virginia Tech (8–2–1) npr USC NC State Florida State Penn State (12–0) (50) nc Miami (FL) (11–1) d Oklahoma (11–1) u Nebraska (10–2) u Arizona State (10–1–1) u Ohio State (10–3) u Michigan (11–2) d Auburn (10–2) u Alabama (10–3) u Arizona (9–3) u LSU (9–3) d Texas A&M (9–3) d Baylor (9–3) u UCLA (8–3–1) u Iowa (9–3) npr Arkansas (9–3) d Washington (8–3–1) d Boston College (9–3) npr Clemson (8–2–2) d Florida State (7–4–1) npr Stanford San Jose State Virginia Tech References * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings