1979 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1979 USC Alabama Two human polls comprised the 1979 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 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) Preseason 1979 Polls https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1979-polls.html February 20, 2017 Sep 10 Sep 17 Sep 24 Oct 1 Oct 8 Oct 15 Oct 22 Oct 29 Nov 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 Dec 3 Final USC (47) Alabama (11) Oklahoma (4) Texas (1) Penn State Purdue Michigan Nebraska Notre Dame Michigan State Georgia Missouri Stanford Texas A&M Washington Houston Pittsburgh Arizona State Florida State Arkansas USC (1–0) Alabama (1–0) Oklahoma (0–0) Texas (0–0) Purdue (1–0) u Michigan (1–0) u Penn State (0–0) d Nebraska (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) Michigan State (1–0) Missouri (1–0) u Georgia (0–0) d Houston (1–0) u Washington (1–0) u Ohio State (1–0) npr Pittsburgh (0–0) u Arkansas (0–0) u Florida State (1–0) u NC State (1–0) npr SMU (1–0) npr Stanford Texas A&M Houston Arizona State USC (2–0) Alabama (1–0) Oklahoma (1–0) Texas (0–0) Notre Dame (1–0) u Penn State (1–0) u Nebraska (1–0) u Michigan State (2–0) u Missouri (2–0) u Houston (2–0) u Michigan (1–1) d Washington (2–0) u Pittsburgh (1–0) u Florida State (2–0) u Arkansas (1–0) u Ohio State (2–0) d Purdue (1–1) d SMU (2–0) u NC State (2–0) UCLA (1–1) npr Georgia USC (3–0) Alabama (2–0) Oklahoma (2–0) Texas (1–0) Missouri (3–0) u Nebraska (2–0) u Michigan State (3–0) u Houston (2–0) u Washington (3–0) u Purdue (2–1) u Michigan (2–1) Florida State (3–0) u Arkansas (2–0) u Ohio State (3–0) u Notre Dame (1–1) d NC State (3–0) u UCLA (2–1) u Penn State (1–1) d SMU (3–0) d LSU (2–0) npr Pittsburgh USC (4–0) Alabama (3–0) Oklahoma (3–0) Texas (2–0) Nebraska (3–0) u Houston (3–0) u Washington (4–0) u Ohio State (4–0) u Florida State (4–0) u Notre Dame (2–1) u Michigan (3–1) Purdue (3–1) d Arkansas (3–0) NC State (4–0) u Missouri (3–1) d Michigan State (3–1) d LSU (2–1) u North Carolina (3–0) npr Tennessee (3–0) npr BYU (3–0) npr UCLA Penn State SMU USC (5–0) Alabama (4–0) Oklahoma (4–0) Texas (3–0) Nebraska (4–0) Washington (5–0) u Houston (4–0) d Ohio State (5–0) Florida State (5–0) Notre Dame (3–1) Michigan (4–1) Arkansas (4–0) u LSU (3–1) u North Carolina (4–0) u Missouri (3–1) BYU (4–0) u NC State (4–1) d Auburn (3–1) npr Michigan State (3–2) d Purdue (3–2) d Tennessee Alabama (5–0) u Texas (4–0) u Nebraska (5–0) u USC (5–0–1) d Houston (5–0) u Ohio State (6–0) u Florida State (6–0) u Oklahoma (4–1) d Notre Dame (4–1) u Arkansas (5–0) u Michigan (5–1) Washington (5–1) d BYU (5–0) u Auburn (4–1) u NC State (5–1) u Purdue (4–2) u Pittsburgh (4–1) npr Tennessee (4–1) npr North Carolina (4–1) d Navy (5–0) npr LSU Missouri Michigan State Alabama (6–0) Nebraska (6–0) u USC (6–0–1) u Arkansas (6–0) т tu Ohio State (7–0) т u Houston (6–0) d Oklahoma (5–1) u Florida State (6–0) d Texas (4–1) d Michigan (6–1) u BYU (6–0) u Pittsburgh (5–1) u Auburn (5–1) u Notre Dame (4–2) d North Carolina (5–1) u Purdue (5–2) Navy (6–0) u Wake Forest (6–1) npr Tennessee (4–2) d Washington (5–2) d NC State Alabama (7–0) Nebraska (7–0) USC (7–0–1) Houston (7–0) u Ohio State (8–0) d Florida State (7–0) u Oklahoma (6–1) Texas (5–1) u Arkansas (6–1) d Michigan (7–1) BYU (7–0) Pittsburgh (6–1) Notre Dame (5–2) u Wake Forest (7–1) u Purdue (6–2) u Washington (6–2) u Tennessee (4–2) u North Carolina (5–1–1) d Penn State (5–2) npr Auburn (5–2) d Navy Alabama (8–0) Nebraska (8–0) Ohio State (9–0) u USC (8–0–1) d Houston (8–0) d Oklahoma (7–1) u Florida State (8–0) d Texas (6–1) Arkansas (7–1) Michigan (8–1) BYU (8–0) Pittsburgh (7–1) Notre Dame (6–2) Purdue (7–2) u Washington (7–2) u Auburn (6–2) u Baylor (6–2) npr Clemson (6–2) npr South Carolina (6–2) npr Wake Forest (7–2) d Tennessee North Carolina Penn State Alabama (9–0) Ohio State (10–0) u Nebraska (9–0) d USC (9–0–1) Florida State (9–0) u Texas (7–1) u Oklahoma (8–1) d Arkansas (8–1) u Houston (8–1) d BYU (9–0) u Pittsburgh (8–1) u Purdue (8–2) u Michigan (8–2) d Clemson (7–2) u Auburn (7–2) u Washington (7–3) d Wake Forest (8–2) u Temple (8–1) npr Tennessee (5–3) npr Baylor (6–3) т Tulane (8–2) т background-color:#FFE6E6 npr Notre Dame South Carolina Alabama (10–0) Ohio State (11–0) Nebraska (10–0) USC (9–0–1) Florida State (10–0) Texas (8–1) Arkansas (9–1) u Oklahoma (9–1) d Houston (8–1) BYU (10–0) Pittsburgh (9–1) Purdue (9–2) Clemson (8–2) u Auburn (8–2)т tu Washington (8–3)т u Michigan (8–3) d Baylor (7–3) u Tulane (8–2) u South Carolina (7–3) npr Penn State (7–3) npr Wake Forest Temple Tennessee Alabama (10–0) USC (10–0–1) u Ohio State (11–0) d Florida State (11–0) u Oklahoma (10–1) u Texas (9–1) Nebraska (10–1) d Arkansas (10–1) d BYU (11–0) u Houston (9–1) d Pittsburgh (10–1) Purdue (9–2) Washington (8–3) u Auburn (8–2) Michigan (8–3) u Tulane (9–2) u South Carolina (8–3) u Clemson (8–3) d Penn State (7–4) u Baylor (7–4) d Ohio State (11–0) u Alabama (11–0) d USC (10–0–1) d Florida State (11–0) Oklahoma (10–1) Arkansas (10–1) u Nebraska (10–1) Houston (10–1) u BYU (11–0) Pittsburgh (10–1) u Texas (9–2) d Purdue (9–2) Washington (8–3) Michigan (8–3) u Tulane (9–2) u South Carolina (8–3) u Auburn (8–3) d Clemson (8–3) Baylor (7–4) u Temple (9–2) npr Penn State Alabama (12–0) (46) nc USC (11–0–1) (21) u Oklahoma (11–1) u Ohio State (11–1) d Houston (11–1) u Florida State (11–1) d Pittsburgh (11–1) u Arkansas (10–2) d Nebraska (10–2) d Purdue (10–2) u Washington (9–3) u Texas (9–3) d BYU (11–1) d Baylor (8–4) u North Carolina (8–3–1) npr Auburn (8–3) u Temple (10–2) u Michigan (8–4) d Indiana (8–4) npr Penn State (8–4) npr Tulane South Carolina Clemson Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) August 29, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319487874/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 8September 11, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/185400127/ Longview News-Journal August 18, 2018 Sep 15September 18, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319485211/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 22September 26, 1979 UPI College Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319365682/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 29October 2, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319281745/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 6October 10, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319502129/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 13October 16, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319714954/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 20October 24, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319654216/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 27October 30, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319703291/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 3November 7, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319514340/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 10November 13, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319510498/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 17November 21, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319395236/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 24November 27, 1979 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319347934/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Dec 1December 5, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319732260/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Jan 3January 3, 1980 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/316307613/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 USC (22) Oklahoma (2) Alabama (4) Texas (4) Penn State (1) Michigan Nebraska Purdue (1) Notre Dame Michigan State Houston Missouri Washington Georgia Florida State Pittsburgh Arkansas Ohio State UCLA Texas A&M USC (1–0) (24) Alabama (1–0) (9) u Oklahoma (0–0) (3) d Texas (0–0) (1) Michigan (1–0) u Penn State (0–0) d Purdue (1–0) (1) u Nebraska (0–0) d Houston (1–0) u Michigan State (1–0) Notre Dame (0–0) d Missouri (1–0) Washington (1–0) Georgia (0–0) Pittsburgh (0–0) u Ohio State (1–0) u Arkansas (0–0) Florida State (1–0) d NC State (1–0) npr BYU (1–0) npr UCLA Texas A&M USC (2–0) (33) Alabama (1–0) (5) Oklahoma (1–0) Texas (0–0) (1) Notre Dame (1–0) u Penn State (1–0) Nebraska (1–0) u Michigan State (2–0) u Houston (2–0) Washington (2–0) u Missouri (2–0) u Michigan (1–1) d Pittsburgh (1–0) u Florida State (2–0) u Ohio State (2–0) u Arkansas (1–0) u LSU (1–0) npr UCLA (1–1) npr BYU (2–0) u NC State (2–0) d Purdue Georgia USC (3–0) (32) Alabama (2–0) (4) Oklahoma (2–0) Texas (1–0) (2) Nebraska (2–0) u Michigan State (3–0) u Missouri (3–0) u Houston (2–0) u Washington (3–0) u Florida State (3–0) u Ohio State (3–0) u Purdue (2–1) npr Michigan (2–1) d Arkansas (2–0) u LSU (2–0) u Notre Dame (1–1) d UCLA (2–1) u Penn State (1–1) d NC State (3–0) u North Carolina (2–0) npr Pittsburgh BYU USC (4–0) (27) Alabama (3–0) (11) Oklahoma (3–0) Texas (2–0) (2) Nebraska (3–0) (1) Houston (3–0) u Washington (4–0) u Ohio State (4–0) u Notre Dame (2–1) u Florida State (4–0) Arkansas (3–0) u Michigan (3–1) u Purdue (3–1) d LSU (2–1) u NC State (4–0) u North Carolina (3–0) u Missouri (3–1) d Michigan State (3–1) d Tennessee (3–0) npr BYU (3–0) npr UCLA Penn State USC (5–0) (25) Alabama (4–0) (8) Oklahoma (4–0) Nebraska (4–0) (1) u Texas (3–0) (1) d Houston (4–0) Washington (5–0) Ohio State (5–0) Notre Dame (3–1) Florida State (5–0) Michigan (4–1) u LSU (3–1) u Arkansas (4–0) d North Carolina (4–0) u Missouri (3–1) u BYU (4–0) u Pittsburgh (3–1) npr Navy (4–0) npr NC State (4–1) d Mississippi State (2–2) npr Purdue Michigan State Tennessee Alabama (5–0) (28) u Texas (5–0) (9) u Nebraska (5–0) (4) u USC (5–0–1) d Houston (5–0) u Ohio State (6–0) u Florida State (6–0) u Oklahoma (4–1) d Notre Dame (4–1) Arkansas (5–0) u Michigan (5–1) Washington (5–1) d BYU (4–1) u Pittsburgh (4–1) u Purdue (4–2) npr Navy (5–0) u NC State (5–1) u North Carolina (4–1) d Tennessee (4–1) npr LSU (3–2) d Missouri Mississippi State Alabama (6–0) (36) Nebraska (6–0) (4) u USC (6–0–1) (2) u Houston (6–0) u Arkansas (6–0) u Ohio State (7–0) Florida State (6–0) Texas (4–1) d Oklahoma (5–1) d Michigan (6–1) u BYU (6–0) u Pittsburgh (5–1) u North Carolina (5–1) u Navy (6–0) u Notre Dame (4–2) d Purdue (5–2) d LSU (4–2) u Wake Forest (6–1) npr Penn State (4–2) npr Baylor (5–2) npr Washington NC State Tennessee Alabama (7–0) (33) Nebraska (7–0) (6) Ohio State (8–0) u Houston (7–0) (1) USC (7–0–1) d Florida State (7–0) u Oklahoma (6–1) u Texas (5–1) Arkansas (6–1) d Michigan (7–1) BYU (7–0) Pittsburgh (6–1) Notre Dame (5–2) u Wake Forest (7–1) u Washington (6–2) npr Purdue (6–2) North Carolina (5–1–1) d Baylor (6–2) u Penn State (5–2) LSU (4–3) d Navy Alabama (8–0) (33) Nebraska (8–0) (5) USC (8–0–1) (3) u Houston (8–0) (1) Ohio State (9–0) d Florida State (8–0) Oklahoma (8–1) Texas (6–1) Arkansas (7–1) Michigan (8–1) BYU (8–0) Pittsburgh (7–1) Notre Dame (6–2) Washington (7–2) u Purdue (7–2) u Baylor (6–2) u Clemson (6–2) npr Temple (7–1) npr Wake Forest (7–2) d LSU (5–3) North Carolina Penn State Alabama (9–0) (29) Nebraska (9–0) (3) Ohio State (10–0) (5) u USC (9–0–1) (4) d Florida State (9–0) (1) u Texas (7–1) u Oklahoma (8–1) Houston (8–1) d Arkansas (8–1) BYU (9–0) u Pittsburgh (8–1) u Purdue (8–2) u Michigan (8–2) d Clemson (7–2) u Washington (7–3) d Temple (8–1) u Wake Forest (8–2) u Tennessee (5–3) npr Indiana (7–3) npr Baylor (6–3) d Notre Dame LSU Alabama (10–0) (32) Nebraska (10–0) (2) Ohio State (11–0) (5) USC (9–0–1) (3) Florida State (10–0) Texas (8–1) Oklahoma (9–1) Arkansas (9–1) u Houston (8–1) d BYU (10–0) Pittsburgh (9–1) Purdue (9–2) Clemson (8–2) u Washington (9–2) u Michigan (8–3) d Baylor (7–3) u Tulane (8–2) npr LSU (6–4) npr Indiana (7–4) NC State (7–4) npr Temple Wake Forest Tennessee Alabama (10–0) (25) USC (10–0–1) (4) u Ohio State (11–0) (3) Oklahoma (10–1) u Florida State (11–0) Texas (9–1) Arkansas (10–1) u Nebraska (10–1) d Houston (9–1) BYU (11–0) (1) Pittsburgh (9–1) Purdue (9–2) Washington (9–2) u Michigan (8–3) u Tulane (9–2) u South Carolina (8–3) npr Clemson (8–3) d Baylor (7–4) d Temple (9–2) npr Penn State (7–3) npr LSU Indiana NC State Alabama (11–0) (22) USC (10–0–1) (4) Ohio State (11–0) (3) Florida State (11–0) u Oklahoma (10–1) d Houston (10–1) u Arkansas (10–1) Nebraska (10–1) BYU (11–0) u Pittsburgh (10–1) u Texas (9–2) d Purdue (9–2) Washington (9–2) Michigan (8–3) Tulane (9–2) South Carolina (8–3) Clemson (8–3) Temple (9–2) u Baylor (7–4) d Penn State (7–4) Alabama (12–0) (28) nc USC (11–0–1) (9) Oklahoma (11–1) (1) u Ohio State (11–1) d Houston (11–1) u Pittsburgh (11–1) u Nebraska (10–2) u Florida State (11–1) d Arkansas (10–2) d Purdue (10–2) u Washington (10–2) u BYU (11–1) d Texas (9–3) d North Carolina (8–3–1) npr Baylor (8–4) u Indiana (8–4) npr Temple (10–2) u Penn State (8–4) u Michigan (8–4) d Missouri (7–5) npr Tulane South Carolina Clemson References * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings