1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

November 2025 August 2023 1976 NCAA 70s logo.svg Michigan Marquette The 1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various other preseason polls. Legend   Increase in ranking   Decrease in ranking   New to rankings from previous week Italics   Number of first place votes (#–#)   Win–loss record 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 15 Final  ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia 978-0-345-51392-2 Random House 2009 836–837 Nov. 29 Dec. 6 Dec. 13 Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Jan. 3 Jan. 10 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Feb. 28 Mar. 7 Mar. 14 Michigan (21) Marquette (6) North Carolina (9) UCLA (2) Indiana (7) Kentucky (2) UNLV Maryland Louisville (1) Arizona 1976 men San Francisco Dons San Francisco (1) Cincinnati 1976 men Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama Notre Dame 1976 men NC State Wolfpack NC State 1976 men Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee 1976 men Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers 1976 men DePaul Blue Demons DePaul UNC Charlotte Missouri Michigan (1–0) Marquette (0–0) UCLA (2–0) u Indiana (1–0) u Kentucky (1–0) u UNLV (1–0) u Louisville (0–0) u Notre Dame (1–0) u North Carolina (1–1) d San Francisco (3–0) u Arizona (1–0) d Cincinnati (0–0) Alabama (1–0) Wake Forest (2–0) npr Tennessee (1–0) u Maryland (0–1) d Southern Illinois (1–0) npr DePaul (0–1) Rutgers (0–0) d UNC Charlotte (1–0) d NC State Missouri Michigan (2–0) Marquette (1–0) UCLA (3–0) Kentucky (2–0) u UNLV (3–0) u San Francisco (4–0) u Notre Dame (3–0) u Cincinnati (3–0) u Arizona (4–0) u Alabama (4–0) u Wake Forest (4–0) u North Carolina (2–1) d Indiana (1–1) d Louisville (1–1) d Tennessee (2–0) Clemson (4–0) npr Maryland (3–1) d Southern Illinois (3–0) d DePaul (2–1) d Syracuse (3–1) npr Rutgers UNC Charlotte Michigan (3–0) Marquette (4–0) Kentucky (4–0) u Notre Dame (5–0) u San Francisco (7–0) u Cincinnati (5–0) u Alabama (4–0) u Arizona (7–0) u UCLA (3–1) d Wake Forest (5–0) u North Carolina (4–1) u UNLV (4–1) d Clemson (4–0) u Maryland (3–1) u Syracuse (6–1) u Indiana (1–2) d Louisville (3–2) d Southern Illinois (5–1) Arkansas (5–0) npr St. John's (5–0) npr Tennessee DePaul Michigan (4–0) Notre Dame (6–0) u San Francisco (10–0) u Cincinnati (7–0) u Alabama (6–0) u Marquette (4–1) d Kentucky (6–1) d UCLA (5–1) u Wake Forest (6–0) u North Carolina (4–1) u Clemson (7–0) u UNLV (6–1) Louisville (4–2) u Arizona (7–1) d Maryland (6–1) d Utah (5–3) npr Syracuse (7–1) d Arkansas (6–0) u 1976 men Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee (5–2) npr 1976 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota (6–0) npr Indiana Southern Illinois St. John's Michigan (5–0) Notre Dame (7–0) San Francisco (12–0) Alabama (6–0) u Cincinnati (7–0) d Kentucky (6–1) u Wake Forest (7–0) u UCLA (7–1) North Carolina (5–1) u Clemson (7–0) u UNLV (8–1) u Marquette (4–2) d Arizona (8–1) u Louisville (5–2) d Minnesota (8–0) u Maryland (7–1) d Arkansas (8–0) u Syracuse (7–1) d Utah (6–3) d 1976 men Auburn Tigers Auburn (5–0) npr Tennessee San Francisco (15–0) u Cincinnati (9–0) u Kentucky (7–1) u Alabama (9–0) Michigan (6–1) d North Carolina (6–1) u UCLA (9–1) u Notre Dame (7–1) d UNLV (10–1) u Wake Forest (9–1) d Arizona (10–1) u Marquette (7–2) Minnesota (9–0) u Louisville (7–2) Maryland (9–1) u Clemson (9–1) d Providence (8–2) npr Arkansas (8–1) d Syracuse (8–2) d 1976 men Memphis State Tigers Memphis State (10–1) npr Utah (9–3) Auburn San Francisco (17–0) Kentucky (9–1) u Cincinnati (10–0) d Alabama (12–0) North Carolina (8–1) u Michigan (9–1) d Wake Forest (11–1) u UNLV (10–1) u Minnesota (10–0) u Arizona (11–1) u Marquette (9–2) u UCLA (11–2) d Louisville (9–2) u Maryland (11–2) u Providence (11–2) u Arkansas (10–1) u Clemson (10–2) d Memphis State (13–1) u Notre Dame (7–3) d 1976 men Oregon Ducks Oregon (11–2) npr Syracuse San Francisco (19–0) Cincinnati (11–0) u Alabama (14–0) u North Carolina (10–1) u Michigan (10–1) u Kentucky (10–2) d UNLV (11–1) u Marquette (10–2) u Wake Forest (12–2) d UCLA (13–2) u Minnesota (11–1) d Louisville (10–2) u Maryland (12–2) u Tennessee (11–2) npr Providence (13–2) Arizona (12–2) d Arkansas (12–1) d Memphis State (14–1) Purdue (10–3) npr Syracuse (13–2) npr Clemson Notre Dame Oregon San Francisco (19–0) Michigan (13–1) u Alabama (14–1) North Carolina (11–2) UNLV (13–1) u Kentucky (12–2) Tennessee (13–2) u UCLA (13–2) u Marquette (13–2) d Wake Forest (14–2) d Louisville (12–2) u Cincinnati (12–2) d Minnesota (12–1) d Providence (15–2) u Arkansas (14–1) u Arizona (14–2) Syracuse (14–2) u Purdue (11–4) u Clemson (13–3) npr Memphis State (16–2) d Maryland San Francisco (21–0) UCLA (15–2) u Kentucky (14–2) u UNLV (13–1) u Wake Forest (16–2) u Marquette (14–2) u Michigan (15–2) d Alabama (15–2) d Louisville (15–2) u Minnesota (15–1) u Tennessee (14–2) d Cincinnati (14–2) North Carolina (11–4) d Arkansas (17–1) u Providence (17–2) d Clemson (15–3) u Syracuse (16–2) Purdue (13–4) Arizona (15–3) d Detroit (16–1) npr Memphis State San Francisco (23–0) UCLA (18–2) Kentucky (16–2) Wake Forest (18–2) u Michigan (17–2) u Louisville (16–2) u Alabama (17–2) u Minnesota (16–1) u Marquette (14–2) d UNLV (15–2) d Tennessee (16–3) Cincinnati (15–3) Arkansas (19–1) u North Carolina (13–4) d Clemson (17–3) u Providence (18–2) d Syracuse (18–2) Arizona (16–3) u Detroit (18–1) u VMI (18–1) npr Purdue San Francisco (25–0) Kentucky (18–2) u UCLA (19–3) d Alabama (19–2) u Michigan (18–3) UNLV (20–2) u Wake Forest (19–3) d Louisville (18–3) d Marquette (16–3) Cincinnati (18–3) u Arkansas (22–1) u Minnesota (18–2) d North Carolina (17–4) u Tennessee (17–4) d Detroit (20–1) u Providence (20–3) Arizona (18–3) u Clemson (18–4) d VMI (21–1) u Syracuse (19–3) d San Francisco (27–0) (50) Kentucky (20–2) (2) Michigan (20–3) u UNLV (22–2) u UCLA (20–4) d Arkansas (24–1) u Tennessee (19–4) u Alabama (19–3) d North Carolina (18–4) u Louisville (19–4) d Wake Forest (20–4) d Providence (22–3) u Minnesota (20–3) d Cincinnati (19–4) d Syracuse (21–3) u Detroit (22–2) d Oregon (17–7) npr Marquette (16–6) d Clemson (19–5) d Utah (19–5) d VMI San Francisco (29–0) Kentucky (22–2) Michigan (21–3) UCLA (22–4) u UNLV (23–2) d North Carolina (22–4) u Arkansas (25–1) d Providence (24–3) u Minnesota (22–3) u Louisville (21–5) Tennessee (20–5) d Alabama (20–4) d Syracuse (23–3) u Cincinnati (22–4) Detroit (24–2) u Wake Forest (20–6) d Arizona (21–4) u Clemson (21–5) u Marquette (18–6) d Utah (20–6) npr Oregon Michigan (24–3) u UCLA (23–4) u San Francisco (29–1) d North Carolina (25–4) u UNLV (25–2) Kentucky (23–3) d Tennessee (21–5) u Arkansas (26–1) d Minnesota (24–3) Syracuse (25–3) u Cincinnati (25–4) u Alabama (22–4) Providence (24–4) d Louisville (21–6) d Notre Dame (20–6) npr Marquette (20–7) u Detroit (24–3) d UNC Charlotte (23–3) npr Utah (21–6) u Arizona (21–5) d Wake Forest Clemson Michigan (25–3) UCLA (24–4) Kentucky (25–3) u UNLV (26–2) u North Carolina (25–4) d Syracuse (26–3) u Marquette (21–7) u San Francisco (29–2) d Wake Forest (23–6) npr Notre Dame (21–6) u Alabama (25–4) u Detroit (25–3) u Minnesota (22–3) d Utah (22–6) u Tennessee (22–6) d Kansas State (23–7) npr UNC Charlotte (24–3) u Arkansas (26–2) d Louisville (21–7) d VMI (26–3) npr Cincinnati Providence Arizona UPI Poll 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final   Dec. 6 Dec. 13 Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Jan. 3 Jan. 10 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Jan. 31 Feb. 7 Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Feb. 28 Mar. 7 Marquette Michigan North Carolina UCLA Indiana Kentucky UNLV Louisville Arizona Cincinnati Maryland 1976 men San Francisco Dons San Francisco 1976 men Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee 1976 men NC State Wolfpack NC State Missouri 1976 men Wichita State Shockers Wichita State Georgetown 1976 men Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers 1976 men Penn Quakers Penn Purdue Michigan (2–0) u Marquette (1–0) d UCLA (3–0) u UNLV (3–0) u Kentucky (2–0) u 1976 men Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama (4–0) npr Arizona (4–0) u San Francisco (4–0) u North Carolina (2–1) d Cincinnati (3–0) Notre Dame (3–0) npr Indiana (1–1) d Tennessee (2–0) Wake Forest (4–0) npr Maryland (3–1) d Louisville (1–1) d Washington (3–0) npr Southern Illinois (3–0) npr 1976 men Oregon Ducks Oregon (2–1) npr Clemson (4–0) npr NC State Missouri Wichita State Georgetown Rutgers Penn Purdue Michigan (3–0) Marquette (4–0) Kentucky (1–0) u Notre Dame (5–0) u San Francisco (7–0) u North Carolina (4–1) u Alabama (4–0) d Arizona (7–0) d Cincinnati (5–0) u UCLA (3–1) d UNLV (4–1) d Wake Forest (5–0) u Maryland (3–1) u Clemson (4–0) u Syracuse (6–1) npr Southern Illinois (5–1) u Purdue (4–2) npr 1976 men Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota (4–0) npr Indiana (1–2) d Oregon (3–1) d Tennessee Louisville Washington Michigan (4–0) Notre Dame (6–0) u San Francisco (10–0) u Alabama (6–0) u Marquette (4–1) d Cincinnati (7–0) u Kentucky (6–1) d UCLA (5–1) u North Carolina (4–1) d Clemson (7–0) u UNLV (6–1) Wake Forest (6–0) Louisville (4–2) npr Arizona (7–1) d Utah (5–3) npr Minnesota (6–0) u Syracuse (7–1) d Oregon (5–1) u Missouri (6–2) npr Georgetown (4–0) npr Maryland Southern Illinois Purdue Indiana Michigan (5–0) Notre Dame (7–0) San Francisco (12–0) Alabama (6–0) Cincinnati (7–0) u North Carolina (5–1) u Kentucky (6–1) UCLA (7–1) UNLV (8–1) u Wake Forest (7–0) u Clemson (7–0) d Minnesota (8–0) u Arizona (8–1) u Marquette (4–2) d Louisville (5–2) d Maryland (7–1) npr Arkansas (8–0) npr Syracuse (7–1) d Iowa (7–0) npr Oregon (5–1) d Utah Missouri Georgetown San Francisco (15–0) u Kentucky (7–1) u Michigan (6–1) d Cincinnati (9–0) u Alabama (9–0) d UCLA (9–1) u North Carolina (6–1) d Notre Dame (7–1) d UNLV (10–1) Arizona (10–1) u Marquette (7–2) u Minnesota (9–0) Wake Forest (9–1) d Providence (8–2) npr Clemson (9–1) d Louisville (7–2) d Missouri (9–2) npr Maryland (9–1) т td Purdue (6–3) т npr Utah (9–3) npr Arkansas Syracuse Iowa Oregon San Francisco (17–0) Cincinnati (10–0) u Kentucky (9–1) d Alabama (12–0) u North Carolina (8–1) u Michigan (9–1) d UNLV (10–1) u Wake Forest (11–1) u Marquette (9–2) u Arizona (11–1) Minnesota (10–0) u UCLA (11–2) d Purdue (8–3) u Louisville (9–2) u Oregon (11–2) npr Arkansas (10–1) npr Tennessee (8–2) npr Providence (11–2) d 1976 men Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross (10–1) т tnpr St. John's (9–2) т npr Notre Dame Clemson Missouri Maryland Utah San Francisco (19–0) North Carolina (10–1) u Cincinnati (11–0) d Alabama (14–0) Michigan (10–1) u UNLV (11–1) u Kentucky (10–2) d Marquette (10–2) u Wake Forest (12–2) d UCLA (13–2) u Tennessee (11–2) u Purdue (10–3) u Minnesota (11–1) d Arizona (12–2) d Arkansas (12–1) u Louisville (10–2) d Providence (13–2) u Maryland (12–2) npr 1976 men Memphis State Tigers Memphis State (14–1) npr Utah (12–3) npr Oregon Holy Cross St. John's San Francisco (19–0) Michigan (13–1) u North Carolina (11–2) d Alabama (14–1) UNLV (13–1) u Tennessee (13–2) u Kentucky (12–2) Marquette (13–2) UCLA (13–2) u Louisville (12–2) u Wake Forest (14–2) d Cincinnati (12–2) d Arizona (14–2) u Minnesota (12–1) d Providence (15–2) u Arkansas (14–1) d Purdue (11–4) d Oregon (12–4) npr 1976 men Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State (16–1) npr Missouri (14–3) npr Maryland Memphis State Utah San Francisco (21–0) UCLA (15–2) u UNLV (13–1) u Marquette (14–2) u Michigan (15–2) d Kentucky (14–2) u Louisville (15–2) u Wake Forest (16–2) u Alabama (15–2) d Tennessee (14–2) d Cincinnati (14–2) u North Carolina (11–4) d Arkansas (17–1) u Purdue (13–4) u Arizona (15–3) d Minnesota (15–1) d Providence (17–2) d Clemson (15–3) npr Missouri (16–3) u Utah (15–4) npr Oregon Indiana State San Francisco (23–0) UCLA (18–2) Louisville (16–2) u Michigan (17–2) u Kentucky (16–2) u Wake Forest (18–2) u Marquette (14–2) d UNLV (15–2) d Alabama (17–2) Tennessee (16–3) Cincinnati (15–3) Arkansas (19–1) т tu North Carolina (13–4) т Minnesota (16–1) tu Arizona (16–3) u Providence (18–2) u Utah (16–4) u Missouri (17–4) u Syracuse (18–2) npr Clemson (17–3) d Purdue San Francisco (25–0) Kentucky (18–2) u UCLA (19–3) d Michigan (18–3) Louisville (18–3) d Marquette (16–3) u UNLV (20–2) u Alabama (19–2) u Wake Forest (19–3) d Arkansas (22–1) u North Carolina (17–4) u Cincinnati (18–3) d Tennessee (17–4) d Arizona (18–3) Minnesota (18–2) d Providence (20–3) Notre Dame (15–5) npr Syracuse (19–3) u Detroit (20–1) npr Clemson (18–4) Utah Missouri San Francisco (27–0) Kentucky (20–2) Michigan (20–3) u UNLV (22–2) u Tennessee (19–4) u UCLA (20–4) d Arkansas (24–1) u North Carolina (18–4) u Wake Forest (20–4) Louisville (19–4) d Alabama (19–3) d Providence (22–3) u Syracuse (21–3) u Utah (19–5) npr 1976 men Creighton Bluejays Creighton (21–3) npr Minnesota (20–3) d Cincinnati (19–4) d Detroit (22–2) u Houston (22–6) т tnpr 1976 men Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Oral Roberts (20–5) т npr Marquette Arizona Notre Dame Clemson San Francisco (29–0) Kentucky (22–2) Michigan (21–3) UCLA (22–4) u North Carolina (22–4) u UNLV (23–2) d Arkansas (25–1) Providence (24–3) u Louisville (21–5) u Tennessee (20–5) d Syracuse (23–3) u Alabama (20–4) d Minnesota (22–3) u Wake Forest (20–6) d Arizona (21–4) npr Indiana State (23–2) npr Detroit (24–2) u Houston (24–6) u Oral Roberts (21–5) Cincinnati (22–4) d Utah Creighton Michigan (24–3) u San Francisco (29–1) d North Carolina (25–4) u UCLA (23–4) Kentucky (23–3) d UNLV (25–2) Arkansas (26–1) Tennessee (21–5) u Syracuse (25–3) u Utah (21–6) npr Kansas State (22–7) npr Cincinnati (25–4) u Louisville (21–6) d Marquette (20–7) npr Providence (24–4) d Indiana State (25–2) Minnesota (22–3) d Alabama (22–4) d Detroit (24–3) d Purdue (19–8) npr Wake Forest Arizona Houston Oral Roberts References Rankings Category:College men's basketball rankings in the United States