1972 NCAA University Division football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1972 Nebraska USC Two human polls comprised the 1972 NCAA University Division 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 Sep 11 Sep 18 Sep 25 Oct 2 Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 30 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 20 Nov 27 Dec 4 Jan Nebraska (28) Colorado (13) Ohio State (4) Arkansas (2) Penn State Oklahoma (2) Alabama USC Washington (1) Michigan LSU Arizona State Notre Dame Texas Tennessee Ole Miss Georgia Purdue Florida State Stanford USC (1–0) (13) u Colorado (1–0) (12) Ohio State (0–0) (5) Oklahoma (0–0) (12) u Alabama (1–0) u Penn State (0–0) (1) d Tennessee (1–0) (1) u UCLA (1–0) npr LSU (0–0) u Nebraska (0–1) (1) d Michigan (0–0) d Washington (1–0) (1) d Arizona State (1–0) d Notre Dame (0–0) d Texas (0–0) d Georgia (0–0) u Arkansas (0–1) d Purdue (0–0) Ole Miss (0–0) d Florida State (1–0) d Stanford USC (2–0) (28) Oklahoma (1–0) (11) u Colorado (2–0) (7) d Ohio State (1–0) (2) d Tennessee (2–0) (2) u UCLA (2–0) u Alabama (1–0) d LSU (1–0) u Nebraska (1–1) u Arizona State (2–0) u Penn State (0–1) d Michigan (1–0) d Notre Dame (0–0) u Texas (0–0) u Washington (2–0) d Georgia (1–0) Florida State (2–0) u Michigan State (1–0) npr Stanford (1–0) npr Ole Miss (1–0) d Arkansas Purdue USC (3–0) (28) Oklahoma (2–0) (14) Colorado (3–0) (5) Tennessee (3–0) (1) u Ohio State (1–0) (1) d Alabama (2–0) u Nebraska (2–1) u Michigan (2–0) (1) u LSU (2–0) d Notre Dame (1–0) u Arizona State (3–0) d Texas (1–0) u Penn State (1–1) d Washington (3–0) u UCLA (2–1) d Florida State (3–0) u Ole Miss (2–0) u Tulane (2–0) npr Stanford (2–0) West Virginia (3–0) npr Georgia Michigan State USC (4–0) (36) Oklahoma (3–0) (13) Ohio State (2–0) u Alabama (3–0) u Michigan (3–0) (1) u Nebraska (3–1) u Notre Dame (2–0) u LSU (3–0) u Texas (2–0) u Tennessee (3–1) d Washington (4–0) u Colorado (3–1) d Florida State (4–0) u UCLA (3–1) u Stanford (3–0) u Penn State (2–1) d Auburn (3–0) npr Ole Miss (3–0) d Air Force (3–0) npr Iowa State (3–0) npr Arizona State Tulane West Virginia USC (5–0) (34) Oklahoma (3–0) (15) Alabama (4–0) u Ohio State (3–0) (1) d Michigan (4–0) Nebraska (3–1) Notre Dame (3–0) LSU (4–0) Auburn (4–0) u Texas (3–0) d Tennessee (4–1) d Washington (5–0) d Colorado (4–1) d UCLA (4–1) Penn State (3–1) u Air Force (4–0) u Stanford (3–1) d Iowa State (3–0) u Oklahoma State (3–1) npr Arkansas (3–1) npr Florida State Ole Miss USC (6–0) (28) Oklahoma (4–0) (20) Alabama (5–0) Ohio State (4–0) (1) Nebraska (4–1) u Michigan (5–0) (1) d LSU (5–0) u Notre Dame (4–0) d Colorado (5–1) u Tennessee (4–1) u UCLA (5–1) u Penn State (4–1) u Stanford (4–1) u Auburn (4–1) т td Texas (3–1) т d Air Force (5–0) Arkansas (4–1) u Washington (5–1) d Arizona State (4–1) npr Iowa State (3–1) d Oklahoma State USC (7–0) (44) Alabama (6–0) (2) u Nebraska (5–1) (2) u Ohio State (5–0) (1) Michigan (6–0) (1) u LSU (6–0) u Colorado (6–1) u Oklahoma (4–1) d UCLA (6–1) u Texas (4–1) u Penn State (5–1) u Auburn (5–1) u Notre Dame (4–1) d Tennessee (4–2) d Iowa State (4–1) u Arizona State (5–1) u Florida State (6–1) npr Arkansas (4–2) т td SMU (4–1) т tnpr West Virginia (5–2) т npr Air Force Stanford Washington USC (8–0) (41) Alabama (7–0) (3) Nebraska (6–1) (4) Michigan (7–0) (1) u Ohio State (6–0) (1) d LSU (6–0) Oklahoma (5–1) u UCLA (7–1) u Texas (5–1) u Penn State (6–1) u Auburn (6–1) u Notre Dame (5–1) u Tennessee (4–2) u Iowa State (5–1) u Colorado (6–2) d Missouri (4–3) npr Louisville (6–0) npr Texas Tech (6–1) npr Air Force (6–1) npr Arkansas (5–2) d Arizona State Florida State SMU West Virginia USC (9–0) (40) Alabama (8–0) (3) Nebraska (7–1) (5) Michigan (8–0) (1) Ohio State (7–0) (1) LSU (7–0) Oklahoma (6–1) UCLA (8–1) Texas (6–1) Penn State (7–1) Auburn (7–1) Notre Dame (6–1) Tennessee (5–2) Missouri (5–3) u Texas Tech (7–1) u Colorado (6–3) d Iowa State (5–2) d North Carolina (6–1) npr Arizona State (6–2) npr Stanford (5–3) т Yale (5–1) т npr Air Force Arkansas Louisville USC (9–0) (42) Alabama (9–0) (5) Michigan (9–0) (3) u Oklahoma (7–1) u Nebraska (7–1–1) d Penn State (8–1) u Texas (7–1) u LSU (7–1) d Ohio State (7–1) d Notre Dame (7–1) u Auburn (7–1) Iowa State (5–2–1) u Tennessee (6–2) UCLA (8–2) d Colorado (7–3) u North Carolina (7–1) u Washington (8–2) npr Arizona State (7–2) u Missouri (5–4) d Washington State (6–4) npr Stanford Texas Tech Yale USC (10–0) (44) Alabama (10–0) (5) Michigan (10–0) (1) Oklahoma (8–1) Nebraska (8–1–1) Penn State (9–1) Texas (8–1) LSU (8–1) Ohio State (8–1) Auburn (8–1) u Notre Dame (8–1) d Tennessee (7–2) u Colorado (8–3) u UCLA (8–3) North Carolina (8–1) u Missouri (6–4) u Iowa State (5–3–1) d Arizona State (8–2) Washington State (7–4) u Texas Tech (8–2) npr Washington USC (10–0) (46) Alabama (10–0) (4) Oklahoma (9–1) u Ohio State (9–1) u Penn State (10–1) u Texas (9–1) u Michigan (10–1) d Nebraska (8–2–1) d Auburn (8–1) u Notre Dame (8–1) u LSU (8–1–1) d Tennessee (8–2) Colorado (8–3) North Carolina (9–1) u UCLA (8–3) d Arizona State (9–2) u Louisville (9–1) npr West Virginia (8–3) npr Washington State (7–4) Oklahoma State (6–4) npr Iowa State Missouri Texas Tech USC (11–0) (50) Oklahoma (10–1) u Ohio State (9–1) u Alabama (10–1) d Penn State (10–1) Auburn (9–1) u Texas (9–1) d Michigan (10–1) d Nebraska (8–2–1) d LSU (9–1–1) u Tennessee (9–2) u Notre Dame (8–2) d Colorado (8–3) UCLA (8–3) u Arizona State (9–2) u North Carolina (9–1) d Louisville (9–1) West Virginia (8–3) Washington State (7–4) Purdue (6–5) npr Oklahoma State USC (12–0) (50) nc Oklahoma (11–1) Texas (10–1) u Nebraska (9–2–1) u Auburn (10–1) u Michigan (10–1) u Alabama (10–2) d Tennessee (10–2) u Ohio State (9–2) d Penn State (10–2) d LSU (9–2–1) d North Carolina (11–1) u Arizona State (10–2) u Notre Dame (8–3) d UCLA (8–3) d Colorado (8–4) d NC State (8–3–1) npr Louisville (9–1) d Washington State (7–4) Georgia Tech (7–4–1) npr Purdue West Virginia UPI Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 (Final) Sep 6https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47973888/1972-preseason-poll-upi/ Nebraska favorite to repeat as champ September 6, 1972 Santa Fe New Mexican April 4, 2020 B2 Sep 12https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47974192/1972-week-1-polls/ NU Drops in Football Polls September 12, 1972 Lincoln Journal April 4, 2020 19 Sep 19https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47975014/upi-1972-wk-2/ Nebraska Advances in AP-UPI Polls September 19, 1972 Lincoln Journal April 4, 2020 21 Sep 26https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47975934/1972-upi-poll-wk-3/ FSU Jumps To 13th In UPI Poll September 26, 1972 Orlando Sentinel April 4, 2020 2C Oct 3https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47976507/1972-upi-poll-wk-4/ Seminoles Climb in Football Polls October 3, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 18 Oct 10https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47977273/1972-upi-wk-5-poll/ USC Leads UPI, Too October 10, 1972 The Times April 4, 2020 1C Oct 17https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47977921/1972-upi-poll-wk-6/ Trojans Remain No. 1 in Ratings October 17, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 7Less than 20 teams received votes in this poll. Oct 24https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47981037/1972-upi-poll-wk-7/ FSU Slips Back Into Top Twenty October 24, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 6 Oct 31https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47982043/1972-upi-poll-wk-8/ USC Keeps Hold On No. 1 Place In Both Polls October 31, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 16 Nov 7https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47982928/1972-upi-wk-9-poll/ Huskers Climb in UPI Ratings November 7, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 16 Nov 14https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47984475/1972-upi-poll-wk-10-no-typos/ Huskers rop to Fifth November 14, 1972 Lincoln Journal April 4, 2020 21 Nov 21https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47984719/1972-upi-poll-wk-11/ Trojans Retain Runaway Lead November 21, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 8 Nov 28https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47985304/1972-upi-poll-wk-12/ USC, 'Bama Still Top Polls November 28, 1972 Tallahassee Democrat April 4, 2020 18 Dec 5https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47986046/1972-upi-poll-wk-13/ UPI Football Poll December 5, 1972 Hartford Courant April 4, 2020 55 Nebraska (26) Colorado (4) Oklahoma (2) Ohio State (2) Arkansas (1) Penn State Alabama USC Washington Michigan LSU Arizona State Notre Dame Tennessee Texas Purdue Georgia Michigan State Iowa State Illinois т West Virginia т Oklahoma (0–0) (11) u USC (1–0) (11) u Colorado (1–0) (6) d Ohio State (0–0) (4) Alabama (1–0) (2) u Tennessee (1–0) u Penn State (0–0) d LSU (0–0) u Nebraska (0–1) d Michigan (0–0) UCLA (1–0) npr Arizona State (0–0) Texas (0–0) u Notre Dame (0–0) d Washington (1–0) d Florida State (1–0) npr Iowa State (0–0) т tu Georgia (0–0) т d Purdue (0–0) d Auburn (0–0) npr Arkansas Michigan State Illinois West Virginia USC (2–0) (14) u Oklahoma (1–0) (13) d Colorado (2–0) (4) Tennessee (2–0) u Ohio State (1–0) (2) d Alabama (1–0) (1) d UCLA (2–0) (1) u Nebraska (1–1) u LSU (1–0) d Arizona State (1–0) u Michigan (1–0) d Michigan State (1–0) npr Notre Dame (0–0) т tu Penn State (0–1) т d Texas (0–0) d Florida State (2–0) Washington (2–0) d Iowa State (1–0) d Georgia (1–0) d Arkansas (0–1) npr Auburn Purdue USC (3–0) (20) Oklahoma (2–0) (12) Colorado (3–0) (1) Tennessee (3–0) Alabama (2–0) (1) u Ohio State (1–0) (1) d Nebraska (2–1) u Michigan (2–0) u LSU (2–0) Notre Dame (1–0) u Arizona State (2–0) d Washington (3–0) u Florida State (3–0) u Texas (1–0) u Iowa State (2–0) u Penn State (1–1) d Air Force (2–0) т tnpr West Virginia (3–0) т npr UCLA (2–1) d Mississippi (2–0) npr Arkansas Georgia Michigan State USC (4–0) (22) Oklahoma (3–0) (11) Alabama (4–0) (1) u Ohio State (2–0) (1) u Nebraska (3–1) u Michigan (3–0) u LSU (3–0) u Notre Dame (2–0) u Washington (4–0) u Texas (2–0) u Florida State (4–0) u Tennessee (3–1) d UCLA (3–1) u Auburn (3–0) npr Air Force (3–0) u Colorado (3–1) d Iowa State (3–0) d Stanford (3–0) npr Penn State (2–1) d Arizona State (2–1) d Mississippi West Virginia USC (5–0) (21) Oklahoma (3–0) (13) Alabama (5–0) (1) Ohio State (3–0) Nebraska (3–1) Michigan (4–0) Notre Dame (3–0) u LSU (4–0) d Auburn (4–0) u Washington (5–0) d Texas (3–0) d Tennessee (4–1) UCLA (4–1) Iowa State (3–0) u Air Force (4–0) Colorado (4–1) Penn State (3–1) u Arizona State (3–1) u Oklahoma State (3–1) npr Stanford (3–1) d Florida State USC (6–0) (22) Oklahoma (4–0) (12) Alabama (5–0) (1) Nebraska (4–1) u Ohio State (4–0) d Michigan (5–0) LSU (5–0) u Notre Dame (4–0) d UCLA (5–1) u Colorado (5–1) u Tennessee (4–1) u Stanford (4–1) u Penn State (4–1) u Air Force (5–0) u Auburn (4–1) d Arizona State (4–1) u Iowa State Oklahoma State Texas Washington USC (7–0) (32) Alabama (5–0) (2) u Ohio State (5–0) u Nebraska (5–1) (1) Michigan (6–0) u LSU (6–0) u Colorado (6–1) u Oklahoma (4–1) d UCLA (6–1) Penn State (5–1) u Texas (4–1) npr Auburn (5–1) u Arizona State (5–1) u Iowa State (4–1) npr Notre Dame (4–1) d Tennessee (4–2) d SMU (4–1) npr Florida State (6–1) npr Air Force Stanford USC (8–0) (31) Alabama (7–0) (2) Nebraska (6–1) (2) u Ohio State (6–0) d Michigan (7–0) Oklahoma (5–1) u LSU (6–0) d UCLA (7–1) u Texas (5–1) u Auburn (6–1) u Penn State (6–1) d Notre Dame (5–1) u Iowa State (5–1) u Colorado (6–2) d Air Force (6–1) npr Tennessee (4–2) т t Texas Tech (6–1) т npr Stanford (5–2) npr Arizona State Florida State SMU USC (9–0) (27) Nebraska (7–1) (6) u Alabama (8–0) (2) d Ohio State (7–0) Michigan (8–0) LSU (7–0) u Oklahoma (6–1) d UCLA (8–1) Texas (6–1) Auburn (7–1) Penn State (7–1) Notre Dame (6–1) Tennessee (5–2) u Iowa State (5–2) d Texas Tech (7–1) u North Carolina (6–1) т tnpr Colorado (6–3) т d Air Force Stanford USC (9–0) (31) Alabama (9–0) (3) Michigan (9–0) u Oklahoma (7–1) u Nebraska (7–1–1) (1) d Texas (6–1) u LSU (7–1) d Penn State (8–1) u Ohio State (7–1) d Auburn (7–1) Notre Dame (7–1) u Iowa State (5–2–1) u Tennessee (5–2) UCLA (8–2) d Colorado (7–3) u Washington (8–2) npr North Carolina (7–1) d Arizona State (7–2) т tnpr Utah State (6–3) т npr Texas Tech USC (10–0) (31) Alabama (10–0) (3) Michigan (10–0) Oklahoma (8–1) Nebraska (8–1–1) (1) Texas (7–1) Penn State (9–1) u Ohio State (8–1) u LSU (8–1) d Auburn (8–1) Notre Dame (8–1) Tennessee (6–2) u Colorado (8–3) u Arizona State (8–2) u Utah State (7–3) u North Carolina (8–1) т tu Missouri (6–4) т npr Iowa State (5–3–1) d UCLA Washington USC (10–0) (31) Alabama (10–0) (3) Oklahoma (9–1) u Ohio State (9–1) u Texas (9–1) u Michigan (10–1) d Penn State (10–1) Nebraska (8–2–1) d Auburn (8–1) u Notre Dame (8–1) u Tennessee (8–2) u LSU (8–2–1) d Colorado (8–3) Arizona State (9–2) Utah State (8–3) т t Washington State (7–4) т npr UCLA (8–3) т tnpr North Carolina (9–1) т Missouri (6–4) d Iowa State USC (11–0) (35) nc Oklahoma (10–1) u Ohio State (9–1) u Alabama (10–1) d Texas (9–1) Michigan (10–1) Auburn (9–1) u Penn State (10–1) d Nebraska (8–2–1) d LSU (9–1–1) u Tennessee (9–2) Notre Dame (8–2) d Arizona State (9–2) u Colorado (8–3) т td North Carolina (9–1) т u Louisville (9–1) npr UCLA (8–3) т td Washington State (7–4) т td Utah State (8–3) т d San Diego State (10-1) npr Missouri The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BgorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4pkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6463%2C3157826 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania UPI UPI board unanimous on Trojans December 5, 1972 23 USC was a unanimous selection, with all 35 first-place votes.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2VNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3504%2C6173965 Bend Bulletin Oregon UPI USC claims 3rd national title in 10 years December 5, 1972 12 Ranking Team Conference Bowl 1 USC Pac-8 Won Rose, 42–17 2 Oklahoma Big Eight Won Sugar, 14–0 3 Ohio State Big Ten Lost Rose, 17–42 4 Alabama SEC Lost Cotton, 13–17 5 Texas Southwest Won Cotton, 17–13 6 Michigan Big Ten none 7 Auburn SEC Won Gator, 24–3 8 Penn State Independent Lost Sugar, 0–14 9 Nebraska Big Eight Won Orange, 40–6 10 LSU SEC Lost Bluebonnet, 17–24 11 Tennessee SEC Won Bluebonnet, 24–17 12 Notre Dame Independent Lost Orange, 6–40 13 Arizona State WAC Won Fiesta, 49–3514 Colorado Big Eight Lost Gator, 3–24 North Carolina ACC Won Sun, 32–28 16 Louisville MVCnone17 UCLA Pac-8 Washington State Pac-8 Utah State Independent 20 San Diego State PCAA Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac-8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl. Notes N References * Category:College football rankings