1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1981 Michigan Clemson Big Ten, Big 8, Pac-10 (3) Two human polls comprised the 1981 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 29 Sep 7 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 26 Nov 2 Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23 Nov 30 Jan 3January 3, 1982 Final AP Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99793090/ Detroit Free Press January 1, 2017 Michigan (38) Oklahoma (7) Notre Dame (7) Alabama (3) USC (5) Nebraska Penn State (1) Pittsburgh Texas Georgia Ohio State (1) North Carolina UCLA Mississippi State Washington BYU Florida Stanford Florida State Arizona State Michigan (0–0) (37) Alabama (1–0) (11) u Oklahoma (0–0) d Notre Dame (0–0) (4) d USC (0–0) (3) Georgia (1–0) (4) u Nebraska (0–0) d Texas (0–0) u Penn State (0–0) d Pittsburgh (1–0) d Ohio State (0–0) UCLA (0–0) u North Carolina (0–0) d Mississippi State (1–0) BYU (1–0) u Miami (FL) (1–0) npr Washington (0–0) d Florida State (1–0) u Stanford (0–0) d Arizona State (0–0) Florida Notre Dame (1–0) (24) u USC (1–0) (12) u Oklahoma (1–0) (12) Georgia (2–0) (12) u Penn State (1–0) (1) u Texas (1–0) (1) u Pittsburgh (1–0) u Ohio State (1–0) u UCLA (1–0) u North Carolina (1–0) u Michigan (0–1) d Alabama (1–1) d BYU (2–0) u Mississippi State (1–0) Washington (1–0) u Miami (FL) (1–0) Nebraska (0–1) d Arizona State (1–0) u Florida State (2–0) d Wisconsin (1–0) npr Stanford USC (2–0) (46) u Oklahoma (1–0) (15) u Penn State (1–0) (2) u Texas (2–0) (1) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u UCLA (2–0) u Michigan (1–1) (1) u Ohio State (2–0) North Carolina (2–0) u Alabama (2–1) u BYU (3–0) u Mississippi State (2–0) u Notre Dame (1–1) d Miami (FL) (2–0) u Nebraska (1–1) u Washington (2–0) d Georgia (2–1) d Arizona State (2–0) Clemson (3–0) npr SMU (3–0) npr Florida State Wisconsin USC (3–0) (57 1 2) Penn State (2–0) (5 1 2) u Texas (3–0) (1) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u Oklahoma (1–1) d North Carolina (3–0) u Ohio State (3–0) u Michigan (2–1) d Mississippi State (3–0) u BYU (4–0) u Alabama (3–1) d Washington (3–0) u Georgia (3–1) u Clemson (3–0) u SMU (4–0) u UCLA (2–1) d Miami (FL) (2–1) d Iowa (2–1) npr Arkansas (3–0) npr Iowa State (3–0) npr Notre Dame Nebraska Arizona State USC (4–0) (58) Penn State (3–0) (6) Texas (3–0) (1) Pittsburgh (3–0) North Carolina (4–0) u Michigan (3–1) u Alabama (4–1) u BYU (5–0) u Clemson (4–0) u Oklahoma (1–1–1) d Georgia (3–1) u Iowa State (3–0–1) u Missouri (4–0) npr SMU (4–0) u Iowa (3–1) u Miami (FL) (3–1) u UCLA (3–1) d Ohio State (3–1) d Mississippi State (3–1) d Florida State (3–1) npr Washington Arkansas Texas (4–0) (35) u Penn State (4–0) (24) Pittsburgh (4–0) (3) u North Carolina (5–0) (4) u Michigan (4–1) u Clemson (5–0) u USC (4–1) d Missouri (5–0) u Georgia (4–1) u SMU (5–0) u Florida State (4–1) u Iowa (4–1) u Miami (FL) (3–1) u Wisconsin (4–1) npr Alabama (4–1–1) d Mississippi State (4–1) u BYU (5–1) d Washington State (5–0) npr Nebraska (3–2) npr Arizona State (4–1) npr Oklahoma Iowa State UCLA Ohio State Penn State (5–0) (36 1 2) u Pittsburgh (5–0) (26 1 2) u North Carolina (6–0) (3) u Clemson (6–0) u USC (5–1) u Iowa (5–1) u Georgia (5–1) u SMU (6–0) u Mississippi State (5–1) u Texas (4–1) d Alabama (5–1–1) u Arkansas (5–1) npr BYU (6–1) u Iowa State (4–1–1) npr Nebraska (4–2) u Washington State (5–0–1) u Arizona State (5–1) u Michigan (4–2) d Missouri (5–1) d Florida State (4–2) d Miami (FL) Wisconsin Penn State (6–0) (45) Pittsburgh (6–0) (19) Clemson (7–0) u USC (6–1) u Georgia (6–1) u Texas (5–1) u Mississippi State (6–1) u Alabama (6–1–1) u North Carolina (6–1) d Arizona State (6–1) u Iowa State (5–1–1) u Nebraska (5–2) u SMU (6–1) d Washington State (6–0–1) u Michigan (5–2) u Iowa (5–2) d Florida State (5–2) u Washington (6–1) npr Oklahoma (3–2–1) npr Arkansas (5–2) d BYU Missouri Pittsburgh (7–0) (49) u Clemson (8–0) (9) u USC (7–1) (7) u Georgia (7–1) u Texas (6–1) u Penn State (6–1) d Alabama (7–1–1) u North Carolina (7–1) u Arizona State (6–1) u SMU (7–1) u Nebraska (6–2) u Michigan (6–2) u Miami (FL) (5–2) npr Florida State (6–2) u Mississippi State (6–2) d Washington (7–1) u Oklahoma (4–2–1) u Ohio State (6–2) npr Arkansas (6–2) u Southern Miss (6–0–1) npr Iowa State Washington State Iowa Pittsburgh (8–0) (53) Clemson (9–0) (7) USC (8–1) (8) Georgia (8–1) Penn State (7–1) u Alabama (7–1–1) u Nebraska (7–2) u SMU (8–1) u Arizona State (7–1) Texas (6–1–1) d Michigan (7–2) u Miami (FL) (6–2) u North Carolina (7–2) d Southern Miss (7–0–1) u Oklahoma (5–2–1) u Arkansas (7–2) u Washington State (7–1–1) u UCLA (6–2–1) npr Hawaii (7–0) npr Florida State (6–3) d Mississippi State Washington Ohio State Pittsburgh (9–0) (63) Clemson (10–0) (5) Georgia (9–1) u Alabama (8–1–1) u Nebraska (8–2) u SMU (9–1) u Michigan (8–2) u Texas (7–1–1) u Southern Miss (8–0–1) u USC (8–2) d Miami (FL) (7–2) u North Carolina (8–2) u Penn State (7–2) d Washington State (8–1–1) u UCLA (7–2–1) u Arkansas (8–2) Washington (8–2) npr BYU (9–2) npr Iowa (7–3) npr Arizona State (7–2) d Oklahoma Hawaii Florida State Pittsburgh (10–0) (60) Clemson (11–0) (5) Georgia (9–1) Alabama (8–1–1) Nebraska (9–2) SMU (10–1) Texas (8–1–1) u USC (9–2) u Miami (FL) (8–2) u North Carolina (9–2) u Penn State (8–2) u Washington (9–2) u Iowa (8–3) u BYU (10–2) u Ohio State (8–3) npr Michigan (8–3) d Southern Miss (8–1–1) d Arizona State (8–2) u UCLA (7–3–1) d Washington State (8–2–1) d Arkansas Clemson (11–0) (63) u Georgia (10–1) (1) u Alabama (9–1–1) u Nebraska (9–2) (1) u SMU (10–1) (1) u Texas (9–1–1) u Penn State (9–2) (1) u USC (9–2) Miami (FL) (9–2) (1) Pittsburgh (10–1) d North Carolina (9–2) d Washington (9–2) Iowa (8–3) BYU (10–2) Ohio State (8–3) Michigan (8–3) Arizona State (9–2) u Southern Miss (9–1–1) d UCLA (7–3–1) Washington State (8–2–1) Clemson (12–0) (47) nc Texas (10–1–1) (1) u Penn State (10–2) (1) u Pittsburgh (11–1) u SMU (10–1) (1) Georgia (10–2) d Alabama (9–2–1) d Miami (FL) (9–2) u North Carolina (10–2) u Washington (10–2) u Nebraska (9–3) d Michigan (9–3) u BYU (11–2) u USC (9–3) d Ohio State (9–3) Arizona State (9–2) u West Virginia (9–3) npr Iowa (8–4) d Missouri (8–4) npr Oklahoma (7–4–1) npr Southern Miss UCLA Washington State Coaches Poll Arizona State, SMU, and Miami (FL) (after a November 3, 1981 ruling) were on probation by the NCAA during the 1981 season; they were therefore ineligible to receive votes in the Coaches Poll. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 (Final) Aug 29August 29, 1981 Michigan ranked No.1 in UPI preseason poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121130685/ Arizona Republic January 1, 2017 Sep 14September 15, 1981 Irish take over top spot in both polls 21 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106351269/ Indianapolis Star January 29, 2017 Sep 21September 23, 1981 Tigers 18th, 19th 33 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/190083853/ The Greenville News (Greenville, SC) January 29, 2017 Sep 28September 29, 1981 Polls rank Iowa among college football's top 20 10 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1981/di1981-09-29.pdf The Daily Iowan January 28, 2017 Oct 5October 6, 1981 The United Press International board of coaches major-college football rankings 32 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139904175/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch January 28, 2017 Oct 12October 13, 1981 Texas Is Number One 8 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14642535/ Logansport Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, IN) January 28, 2017 Oct 19October 20, 1981 Penn State No. 1 7 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/159282591/ The Daily Reporter (Greenfield, IN) January 29, 2017 Oct 26October 27, 1981 Hawks fall to 16th; Lions stay at No. 1 10 http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1981/di1981-10-27.pdf The Daily Iowan January 29, 2017 Nov 2November 3, 1981 Pitt Panthers take hot seat 35 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/2248301/ Ukiah Daily Journal (Ukiah, CA) January 29, 2017 Nov 9 Nov 16November 17, 1981 Pittsburgh retains top ranking 9 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1471105/ The Salina Journal January 28, 2017 Nov 23 Nov 30 Jan 3January 3, 1982 Final UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99793090/ Detroit Free Press January 1, 2017 Michigan (22) Oklahoma (3) Alabama (3) Notre Dame (5) USC (2) Nebraska Penn State (2) Georgia (4) Pittsburgh (1) Texas Ohio State UCLA Florida State North Carolina Mississippi State Florida Washington Houston BYU Baylor Notre Dame (1–0) (11) u USC (1–0) (10) u Oklahoma (1–0) (14) d Georgia (2–0) (7) u Penn State (1–0) u Texas (1–0) u Pittsburgh (1–0) u Ohio State (1–0) u North Carolina (1–0) u UCLA (1–0) u Alabama (1–1) d Michigan (0–1) d BYU (2–0) u Mississippi State (1–0) u Miami (FL) (1–0) npr Florida State (2–0) d Washington (1–0) Purdue (1–0) npr Nebraska (0–1) d Wisconsin (1–0) npr Florida Houston Baylor USC (2–0) (28) u Oklahoma (1–0) (10) u Penn State (1–0) (1) u Texas (2–0) (1) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u Michigan (1–1) u UCLA (2–0) u Ohio State (2–0) North Carolina (2–0) Alabama (2–1) u Notre Dame (1–1) d Nebraska (1–1) u BYU (3–0) Mississippi State (2–0) Miami (FL) (2–0) Georgia (2–1) d Washington (2–0) Clemson (3–0) npr Florida State (2–1) d Arkansas (2–0)West Virginia (2–0) npr Purdue Wisconsin USC (3–0) (39) Penn State (2–0) (2) u Texas (3–0) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u North Carolina (3–0) (1) u Oklahoma (1–1) d Ohio State (3–0) u Michigan (2–1) d Mississippi State (3–0) u Alabama (3–1) BYU (4–0) u Georgia (3–1) u Washington (3–0) u Clemson (3–0) u Miami (FL) (2–1) Arkansas (3–0) u Missouri (3–0) npr UCLA (2–1) d Nebraska (1–2) d Iowa (2–1) npr Notre Dame Florida State West Virginia USC (4–0) (40) Penn State (3–0) (1) Texas (3–0) Pittsburgh (3–0) North Carolina (4–0) Michigan (3–1) u Alabama (4–1) u BYU (5–0) u Georgia (3–1) u Clemson (4–0) u Missouri (4–0) u Oklahoma (1–1–1) d Miami (FL) (3–1) u Iowa State (3–0–1) npr Iowa (3–1) u UCLA (3–1) u Ohio State (3–1) d Nebraska (2–2) u Florida State (3–1) npr Mississippi State (3–1) d Washington Arkansas Texas (4–0) (23) u Penn State (4–0) (19) Pittsburgh (4–0) u North Carolina (5–0) u Michigan (4–1) u USC (4–1) d Clemson (5–0) u Missouri (5–0) u Georgia (4–1) Florida State (4–1) u Miami (FL) (3–1) u Iowa (4–1) u Wisconsin (4–1) npr Alabama (4–1–1) d BYU (5–1) d Mississippi State (4–1) u Iowa State (3–1–1) d Nebraska (3–2) Washington State (5–0) npr Oklahoma (1–2–1) d UCLA Ohio State Penn State (5–0) (36) u Pittsburgh (5–0) (6) u North Carolina (6–0) u USC (5–1) u Clemson (6–0) u Georgia (5–1) u Iowa (5–1) u Texas (4–1) d Alabama (5–1–1) u Mississippi State (5–1) u Nebraska (4–2) u Iowa State (4–1–1) u Arkansas (5–1) npr Washington State (5–0–1) u BYU (6–1) Missouri (5–1) d Oklahoma (2–2–1) u Washington (5–1) npr Michigan (4–2) d Florida State (4–2) d Miami (FL) Wisconsin Penn State (6–0) (40) Pittsburgh (6–0) (2) USC (6–1) u Clemson (7–0) u Georgia (6–1) u Texas (5–1) u Alabama (6–1–1) u Mississippi State (6–1) u Nebraska (5–2) u Iowa State (5–1–1) u North Carolina (6–1) d Washington State (6–0–1) u Oklahoma (3–2–1) u Michigan (5–2) u Washington (6–1) u Iowa (5–2) d Florida State (5–2) u Ohio State (5–2) npr Miami (FL) (4–2) npr Arkansas (5–2) d BYU Missouri Pittsburgh (7–0) (35) u USC (7–1) (4) u Clemson (8–0) (2) u Georgia (7–1) (1) u Texas (6–1) u Penn State (6–1) d Alabama (7–1–1) Nebraska (6–2) u North Carolina (7–1) u Michigan (6–2) u Miami (FL) (5–2) u Washington (7–1) u Oklahoma (4–2–1) Florida State (6–2) u Mississippi State (6–2) d Ohio State (6–2) u Arkansas (6–2) u Southern Miss (6–0–1) npr Washington State (6–1–1) d Iowa State (5–2–1) d Iowa Pittsburgh (8–0) (38) Clemson (9–0) (1) u USC (8–1) (3) d Georgia (8–1) Penn State (7–1) u Alabama (7–1–1) u Nebraska (7–2) u Michigan (7–2) u Texas (6–1–1) d Southern Miss (7–0–1) u Oklahoma (5–2–1) u North Carolina (7–2) d Arkansas (7–2) u UCLA (6–2–1) npr Washington State (7–1–1) u Hawaii (7–0) npr BYU (8–2) npr Iowa (6–3) npr Florida State (6–3) d Minnesota (6–3) npr Miami (FL) Washington Mississippi State Ohio State Iowa State Pittsburgh (9–0) (40) Clemson (10–0) (2) Georgia (9–1) u Alabama (8–1–1) u Nebraska (8–2) u Michigan (8–2) u Texas (7–1–1) u Southern Miss (8–0–1) u USC (8–2) d Arkansas (8–2) u North Carolina (8–2) u Washington State (8–1–1) u UCLA (7–2–1) u Penn State (7–2) d BYU (9–2) u Washington (8–2) npr Iowa (7–3) u Ohio State (7–3) npr West Virginia (8–2) npr Missouri (7–3) npr Oklahoma Hawaii Florida State Minnesota Pittsburgh (10–0) (39) Clemson (11–0) (3) Georgia (9–1) Alabama (8–1–1) Nebraska (9–2) Texas (8–1–1) u USC (9–2) u North Carolina (9–2) u Penn State (8–2) u Washington (9–2) u Iowa (8–3) u BYU (10–2) u Michigan (8–3) d Ohio State (8–3) u Southern Miss (8–1–1) d UCLA (7–3–1) d Arkansas (8–3) d Washington State (8–2–1) d Houston (6–3–1) npr San Jose State (8–2) npr West Virginia Missouri Clemson (11–0) u Georgia (10–1) u Alabama (9–1–1) u Nebraska (9–2) u Texas (9–1–1) u Penn State (9–2) u USC (9–2) Pittsburgh (10–1) d North Carolina (9–2) d Washington (9–2) Iowa (8–3) BYU (10–2) Michigan (8–3) Ohio State (8–3) Southern Miss (9–1–1) UCLA (7–3–1) Arkansas (8–3) Washington State (8–2–1) Houston (7–3–1) San Jose State (9–2) Clemson (12–0) (35) nc Pittsburgh (11–1) u Penn State (10–2) (1) u Texas (10–1–1) (1) u Georgia (10–2) d Alabama (9–2–1) d Washington (10–2) u North Carolina (10–2) u Nebraska (9–3) d Michigan (9–3) u BYU (11–2) u Ohio State (9–3) u USC (9–3) d Oklahoma (7–4–1) npr Iowa (8–4) d Arkansas (8–4) u Mississippi State (8–4) npr West Virginia (9–3) npr Southern Miss (9–2–1) d Missouri (8–4) npr UCLA Washington State Houston San Jose State References 2 * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings