1987 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1987 Oklahoma Miami (FL) Two human polls comprised the 1987 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 thumb|upright=1.2|President Ronald Reagan holds up a University of Miami jersey presented to him by Miami Hurricanes head coach Jimmy Johnson and the 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team after winning the 1987 NCAA Division I-A national championship.   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 15 (Final) Aug 28August 28, 1983 The Top Twenty teams in the preseason Associated Press major college football poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140820829/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch January 2, 2017 Sep 8 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov 3 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 24 Dec 1 Dec 8 Jan 3January 3, 1988 The Final AP Top Twenty https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/197186012/ Battle Creek Enquirer January 2, 2017 Oklahoma (55) Nebraska (3) UCLA (1) Ohio State Auburn LSU Michigan Florida State Clemson Miami (FL) Penn State (1) Arkansas Washington Arizona State Texas A&M Iowa Tennessee Notre Dame USC Florida тGeorgia т Oklahoma (1–0) (54) Nebraska (1–0) (3) UCLA (1–0) (1) Auburn (1–0) u Ohio State (0–0) d LSU (1–0) Miami (FL) (1–0) u Florida State (1–0) Michigan (0–0) d Clemson (1–0) d Penn State (1–0) Washington (1–0) u Arkansas (0–0) d Tennessee (2–0) u Arizona State (0–0) d Notre Dame (0–0) u Michigan State (1–0) npr Pittsburgh (1–0) npr Alabama (1–0) npr Georgia (1–0) Texas A&M Iowa USC Florida Oklahoma (2–0) (54) Nebraska (2–0) (6) Auburn (2–0) u LSU (2–0) u Ohio State (1–0) Miami (FL) (1–0) u Florida State (2–0) u Clemson (2–0) u Notre Dame (1–0) u Washington (2–0) u Alabama (2–0) u Arkansas (1–0) u UCLA (1–1) d Tennessee (3–0) Arizona State (1–0) Pittsburgh (2–0) u Michigan State (1–0) Georgia (2–0) u Michigan (0–1) d Penn State (1–1) d Oklahoma (2–0) (53) Nebraska (2–0) (7) Auburn (2–0) LSU (3–0) Miami (FL) (1–0) u Florida State (3–0) u Ohio State (2–0) d Notre Dame (2–0) u Clemson (3–0) d Arkansas (2–0) u Tennessee (3–0) u Arizona State (2–0) u UCLA (2–1) Michigan (1–1) u Penn State (2–1) u Texas A&M (1–1) npr Alabama (2–1) d Washington (2–1) d Iowa (2–1) npr Georgia (2–1) d Pittsburgh Michigan State Oklahoma (3–0) (44) Nebraska (3–0) (12) Miami (FL) (2–0) (4) u Florida State (4–0) u Notre Dame (3–0) u Auburn (2–0–1) d LSU (3–0–1) d Clemson (4–0) u Ohio State (2–0–1) d Tennessee (3–0–1) u UCLA (3–1) u Michigan (2–1) u Arizona State (2–1) d Penn State (3–1) u Texas A&M (2–1) u Washington (3–1) u Alabama (3–1) т t Iowa (3–1) т u Florida (3–1) npr Georgia (3–1) Arkansas Oklahoma (4–0) (46) Nebraska (4–0) (8) Miami (FL) (3–0) (6) Notre Dame (3–0) u Auburn (3–0–1) u Florida State (4–1) d LSU (4–0–1) Clemson (4–0) Ohio State (3–0–1) Tennessee (4–0–1) UCLA (4–1) Michigan (3–1) Arizona State (3–1) Penn State (4–1) Alabama (4–1) u Georgia (4–1) u Syracuse (5–0) npr Florida (3–2) u Oklahoma State (4–0) npr Arkansas (3–1) npr Texas A&M Washington Iowa Oklahoma (5–0) (47) Nebraska (5–0) (7) Miami (FL) (4–0) (6) Florida State (5–1) u Auburn (4–0–1) LSU (5–0–1) u Clemson (5–0) u Tennessee (4–0–1) u UCLA (4–1) u Penn State (5–1) u Notre Dame (3–1) d Oklahoma State (5–0) u Syracuse (5–0) u Florida (4–2) u Arkansas (4–1) u Oregon (4–1) npr Ohio State (3–1–1) d Georgia (4–2) d Michigan State (3–2) npr Indiana (4–1) npr Michigan Arizona State Alabama Oklahoma (6–0) (42) Nebraska (6–0) (12) Miami (FL) (4–0) (6) Florida State (6–1) LSU (6–0–1) u Auburn (5–0–1) d Clemson (6–0) UCLA (5–1) u Syracuse (6–0) u Notre Dame (4–1) u Florida (5–2) u Georgia (5–2) u Tennessee (4–1–1) d Michigan State (4–2) u Indiana (5–1) u Ohio State (4–1–1) u Alabama (5–2) npr Penn State (5–2) d Oklahoma State (5–1) d Michigan (4–2) npr Arkansas Oregon Oklahoma (7–0) (40) Nebraska (7–0) (13) Miami (FL) (5–0) (7) Florida State (6–1) LSU (6–0–1) Auburn (6–0–1) UCLA (6–1) u Syracuse (7–0) u Notre Dame (5–1) u Florida (5–2) u Indiana (6–1) u Georgia (6–2) Tennessee (5–1–1) Clemson (6–1) d Ohio State (5–1–1) u Alabama (5–2) u Oklahoma State (6–1) u Penn State (5–2) South Carolina (5–2) npr Michigan State (4–2–1) npr Michigan Oklahoma (8–0) (38) Nebraska (8–0) (15) Miami (FL) (6–0) (7) Florida State (7–1) LSU (7–0–1) Auburn (7–0–1) UCLA (7–1) Syracuse (8–0) Notre Dame (6–1) Clemson (7–1) tu Georgia (6–2) u Oklahoma State (7–1) u Alabama (6–2) tu South Carolina (6–2) u Michigan State (5–2–1) u Penn State (6–2) Florida (5–3) d Indiana (6–2) d Tennessee (5–2–1) d Texas A&M (6–2) npr Ohio State Oklahoma (9–0) (36) Nebraska (9–0) (15) Miami (FL) (7–0) (9) Florida State (8–1) UCLA (8–1) u Syracuse (9–0) u Notre Dame (7–1) u Georgia (7–2) u Clemson (8–1) u LSU (7–1–1) d Alabama (7–2) u Auburn (7–1–1) d Michigan State (6–2–1) u South Carolina (6–2) d Penn State (7–2) u Indiana (7–2) u Oklahoma State (7–2) d Tennessee (6–2–1) u Texas A&M (6–2) u Arkansas (7–2) npr Florida Nebraska (9–0) (32) u Oklahoma (10–0) (20) d Miami (FL) (8–0) (8) Florida State (9–1) UCLA (9–1) Syracuse (10–0) Notre Dame (8–1) Clemson (9–1) u LSU (8–1–1) u Auburn (8–1–1) u Michigan State (7–2–1) u South Carolina (7–2) u Oklahoma State (8–2) u Georgia (7–3) d Tennessee (7–2–1) u Texas A&M (7–2) u Alabama (7–3) d Iowa (8–3) npr Pittsburgh (7–3) npr Indiana (7–3) d Penn State Arkansas Oklahoma (11–0) (54) u Miami (FL) (9–0) (4) u Florida State (9–1) u Syracuse (11–0) (1) u Nebraska (9–1) d LSU (9–1–1) u Auburn (8–1–1) u South Carolina (8–2) u Michigan State (8–2–1) u Notre Dame (8–2) d UCLA (9–2) d Oklahoma State (9–2) u Clemson (9–2) d Georgia (7–3) Texas A&M (8–2) u Tennessee (8–2–1) d USC (8–3) npr Alabama (7–3) d Iowa (9–3) d Pittsburgh (8–3) d Indiana Oklahoma (11–0) (48) Miami (FL) (10–0) (6) Florida State (10–1) Syracuse (11–0) (1) Nebraska (10–1) Auburn (9–1–1) u LSU (9–1–1) d South Carolina (8–2) Michigan State (8–2–1) UCLA (9–2) u Oklahoma State (9–2) u Notre Dame (8–3) d Clemson (9–2) Georgia (8–3) Texas A&M (9–2) Tennessee (9–2–1) USC (8–3) Iowa (9–3) u Pittsburgh (8–3) u Penn State (8–3) npr Alabama Oklahoma (11–0) (47) Miami (FL) (11–0) (9) Florida State (10–1) Syracuse (11–0) (1) Nebraska (10–1) Auburn (9–1–1) LSU (9–1–1) Michigan State (8–2–1) u South Carolina (8–3) d UCLA (9–2) Oklahoma State (9–2) Notre Dame (8–3) Texas A&M (9–2) u Clemson (9–2) d Georgia (8–3) d USC (8–3) u Tennessee (9–2–1) d Iowa (9–3) Pittsburgh (8–3) Penn State (8–3) Miami (FL) (12–0) (57) nc Florida State (11–1) u Oklahoma (11–1) d Syracuse (11–0–1) LSU (10–1–1) u Nebraska (10–2) d Auburn (9–1–2) d Michigan State (9–2–1) UCLA (10–2) u Texas A&M (10–2) u Oklahoma State (10–2) Clemson (10–2) u Georgia (9–3) u Tennessee (10–2–1) u South Carolina (8–4) d Iowa (10–3) u Notre Dame (8–4) d USC (8–4) d Michigan (8–4) npr Arizona State (7–4–1) npr Pittsburgh Penn State Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (Final) Aug 30August 30, 1987 War between the state – Coaches' UPI https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/176211520/ Florida Today (Cocoa, FL) January 3, 2017 Sep 8September 8, 1987 Michigan drops to 8th in UPI Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99910859/ Detroit Free Press January 3, 2017 Sep 15September 15, 1987 The United Press International Board of Coaches' Top 20 college football ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147475603/ The Republic (Columbus, IN) January 3, 2017 Sep 22September 22, 1987 Syracuse Cracks Top 20 List; Okla. Secure In No. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17110585/ Tyrone Daily Herald (Tyrone, PA) January 3, 2017 Sep 29September 29, 1987 Miami, Florida St., Irish move up https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99709397/ Detroit Free Press January 3, 2017 Oct 6October 6, 1987 Unbeatens Secure Top 4 Spots in UPI Ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14006150/ Tyrone Daily Herald (Tyrone, PA) January 3, 2017 Oct 13October 14, 1987 UPI Coaches Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106893686/ Indianapolis Star January 28, 2017 Oct 20October 21, 1987 UPI COACHES TOP 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121051630/ Arizona Republic January 28, 2017 Oct 27October 27, 1987 Four Perfect Teams Head UPI Grid Rankings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14008114/ Tyrone Daily Herald (Tyrone, PA) January 5, 2017 Nov 3November 4, 1987 UPI COACHES TOP 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121090047/ Arizona Republic January 28, 2017 Nov 10November 10, 1987 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99925110/ Detroit Free Press January 28, 2017 Nov 17November 18, 1987 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99783168/ Detroit Free Press January 28, 2017 Nov 24November 24, 1987 MSU 8th; six on Big Ten teams https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99936808/ Detroit Free Press January 5, 2017 Dec 1December 1, 1987 Okla., Miami Stay On Course https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14368934/ Tyrone Daily Herald (Tyrone, PA) January 5, 2017 Dec 8December 8, 1987 UPI COACHES TOP 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/122102702/ Arizona Republic January 5, 2017 Jan 3January 4, 1988 Miami, Florida State finish 1–2 in polls; MSU stays eighth https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99763554/ Detroit Free-Press January 3, 2017 Oklahoma Nebraska Ohio State UCLA Auburn Michigan Penn State Arizona State Miami (FL) Texas A&M т t LSU т Arkansas Clemson Florida State Washington Notre Dame Tennessee Iowa Alabama Florida Oklahoma (1–0) (44) Nebraska (1–0) (1) UCLA (1–0) (1) u Auburn (1–0) u Ohio State (0–0) (1) d LSU (1–0) (1) u Miami (FL) (1–0) (1) u Michigan (0–0) d Penn State (1–0) (1) d Clemson (1–0) u Florida State (1–0) u Arkansas (0–0) Washington (1–0) u Arizona State (0–0) d Tennessee (2–0) u Notre Dame (0–0) Alabama (1–0) u Pittsburgh (1–0) npr North Carolina (1–0) npr USC (0–0) npr Texas A&M Iowa Florida Oklahoma (2–0) (45) Nebraska (2–0) (5) Auburn (2–0) u Ohio State (1–0) u LSU (2–0) u Miami (FL) (1–0) u Florida State (2–0) u Clemson (2–0) u Notre Dame (1–0) u Alabama (2–0) u Arkansas (1–0) u Washington (2–0) u Tennessee (3–0) u Arizona State (1–0) т t UCLA (1–1) т d Pittsburgh (2–0) u Georgia (2–0) npr Michigan State (1–0) npr Boston College (2–0) npr Penn State (1–1) d Michigan North Carolina USC Oklahoma (2–0) (45) Nebraska (2–0) (4) Auburn (2–0) LSU (3–0) u Ohio State (2–0) d Notre Dame (2–0) u Miami (FL) (1–0) (1) d Florida State (3–0) d Clemson (3–0) d Arkansas (2–0) u Tennessee (3–0) u Arizona State (2–0) u UCLA (2–1) u Penn State (2–1) u Florida (2–1) npr Michigan (1–1) npr Texas A&M (1–1) npr Syracuse (3–0) npr Georgia (2–1) d Washington (2–1) d Alabama Pittsburgh Michigan State Boston College Oklahoma (3–0) (46) Nebraska (3–0) (3) Miami (FL) (2–0) (1) u Florida State (4–0) u Notre Dame (3–0) u Auburn (2–0–1) d Clemson (4–0) u LSU (3–0–1) d Ohio State (2–0–1) d Tennessee (3–0) u UCLA (3–1) u Penn State (3–1) u Arizona State (2–1) d Michigan (2–1) u Georgia (3–1) u Washington (3–1) u Syracuse (4–0) u Florida (3–1) d Alabama (3–1) npr Oklahoma State (4–0) т Texas A&M (2–1) т background-color:#FFFFE6 d Arkansas Oklahoma (4–0) (45) Nebraska (4–0) (1) Miami (FL) (3–0) (4) Notre Dame (3–0) u Auburn (3–0–1) u LSU (4–0–1) u Clemson (4–0) u Florida State (4–1) d Ohio State (3–0–1) Tennessee (4–0–1) UCLA (4–1) Michigan (3–1) u Arizona State (3–1) Penn State (4–1) d Georgia (4–1) Syracuse (5–0) u Alabama (4–1) u Oklahoma State (4–0) u Florida (3–2) d USC (3–1) npr Washington Texas A&M Oklahoma (5–0) (43) Nebraska (5–0) (2) Miami (FL) (4–0) (5) Auburn (4–0–1) u LSU (5–0–1) u Clemson (5–0) u Florida State (5–1) u Tennessee (4–0–1) u UCLA (4–1) u Penn State (5–1) u Syracuse (5–0) u Oklahoma State (5–0) u Notre Dame (3–1) d Florida (4–2) u Arkansas (4–1) npr Ohio State (3–1–1) d Georgia (4–2) d Oregon (4–1) npr Minnesota (5–0) npr Michigan State (3–2) npr Michigan Arizona State Alabama USC Oklahoma (6–0) (45) Nebraska (6–0) (3) Miami (FL) (4–0) (2) LSU (6–0–1) u Florida State (6–1) u Auburn (5–0–1) d Clemson (6–0) d UCLA (5–1) u Syracuse (6–0) u Notre Dame (4–1) u Florida (5–2) u Indiana (5–1) npr Georgia (5–2) u Ohio State (4–1–1) u Michigan State (4–2) u Tennessee (4–1–1) d Michigan (4–2) npr Alabama (5–2) npr Oklahoma State (5–1) d South Carolina (4–2) npr Penn State Arkansas Oregon Minnesota Oklahoma (7–0) (43) Nebraska (7–0) (6) Miami (FL) (5–0) (1) LSU (6–0–1) Florida State (6–1) Auburn (6–0–1) UCLA (6–1) u Syracuse (7–0) u Notre Dame (5–1) u Indiana (6–1) u Florida (5–2) Clemson (6–1) d Tennessee (5–1–1) u Georgia (6–2) d Ohio State (5–1–1) d Oklahoma State (6–1) u Alabama (5–2) u Michigan State (4–2–1) d South Carolina (5–2) u Arkansas (5–2) npr Michigan Oklahoma (8–0) (43) Nebraska (8–0) (5) Miami (FL) (6–0) (1) Florida State (7–1) u LSU (7–0–1) d Auburn (7–0–1) UCLA (7–1) Syracuse (8–0) (1) Notre Dame (6–1) Clemson (7–1) u Georgia (6–2) u Oklahoma State (7–1) u Michigan State (5–2–1) u South Carolina (6–2) u Alabama (6–2) u Penn State (6–2) npr Indiana (6–2) d Florida (5–3) d Arkansas (6–2) u Tennessee (5–2–1) d Ohio State Oklahoma (9–0) (38) Nebraska (9–0) (10) Miami (FL) (7–0) (1) Florida State (8–1) UCLA (8–1) u Syracuse (9–0) u Notre Dame (7–1) u Georgia (7–2) u Clemson (8–1) u Alabama (7–2) u LSU (7–1–1) d Auburn (7–1–1) d Michigan State (6–2–1) u South Carolina (6–2) Indiana (7–2) u Penn State (7–2) Oklahoma State (7–2) d Arkansas (7–2) u Tennessee (6–2–1) u Texas A&M (6–2) npr Florida Nebraska (9–0) (21) u Oklahoma (10–0) (27) d Miami (FL) (8–0) (1) Florida State (9–1) UCLA (9–1) Syracuse (10–0) (1) Notre Dame (8–1) Clemson (9–1) u Auburn (8–1–1) u LSU (8–1–1) u Michigan State (7–2–1) u South Carolina (7–2) u Oklahoma State (8–2) u Texas A&M (7–2) u Tennessee (7–2–1) u Georgia (7–3) d Pittsburgh (7–3) npr USC (7–3) npr Alabama (7–3) d Iowa (8–3) npr Indiana Penn State Arkansas Oklahoma (11–0) (48) u Miami (FL) (9–0) (2) u Florida State (9–1) u Syracuse (11–0) u Nebraska (9–1) d Auburn (8–1–1) u LSU (9–1–1) u Michigan State (8–2–1) u South Carolina (8–2) u UCLA (9–2) d Notre Dame (8–2) d Oklahoma State (9–2) u Clemson (9–2) d USC (8–3) u Texas A&M (8–2) d Tennessee (8–2–1) d Georgia (7–3) d Penn State (8–3) npr Pittsburgh (8–3) d Indiana (8–3) npr Alabama Iowa Oklahoma (11–0) (41) Miami (FL) (10–0) (5) Florida State (10–1) Syracuse (11–0) Nebraska (10–1) Auburn (9–1–1) LSU (9–1–1) Michigan State (8–2–1) South Carolina (8–2) Oklahoma State (9–2) u UCLA (9–2) d Texas A&M (9–2) u Clemson (9–2) Georgia (8–3) u Notre Dame (8–3) d USC (8–3) d Tennessee (9–2–1) d Pittsburgh (8–3) u Penn State (8–3) d Indiana (8–3) Iowa (9–3) background-color:#FFFFFF npr Oklahoma (11–0) (41) Miami (FL) (11–0) (8) Florida State (10–1) Syracuse (11–0) (1) Nebraska (10–1) Auburn (9–1–1) LSU (9–1–1) Michigan State (8–2–1) South Carolina (8–3) UCLA (9–2) u Oklahoma State (9–2) d Clemson (9–2) u Texas A&M (9–2) d Notre Dame (8–3) u Georgia (8–3) d Tennessee (9–2–1) u USC (8–3) d Pittsburgh (8–3) Penn State (8–3) Indiana (8–3) Iowa Miami (FL) (12–0) (47) nc Florida State (11–1) u Oklahoma (11–1) d Syracuse (11–0–1) LSU (10–1–1) u Nebraska (10–2) d Auburn (9–1–2) d Michigan State (9–2–1) Texas A&M (10–2) u Clemson (10–2) u UCLA (10–2) d Oklahoma State (10–2) d Tennessee (10–2–1) u Georgia (9–3) u South Carolina (8–4) d Iowa (10–3) npr USC (8–4) Michigan (8–4) npr Texas (7–5) npr Indiana (8–4) Notre Dame Pittsburgh Penn State USA Today / CNN Top 25 USA Today / CNN Top 25 Final January 4, 1988Brewington Peter January 4, 1988 Miami comfortable on throne once more https://www.proquest.com/docview/305994260 subscription USA TODAY May 6, 2024 305994260 The Hurricanes, who defeated Oklahoma 20-14 in Friday's Orange Bowl, earned all but one first-place vote and 799 of a possible 800 points to finish No. 1 in the final USA TODAY Cable News Network Top 25 poll. [...] Florida State (11-1) received one first-place vote and was No. 2 in each poll. Miami (FL) (12–0) (799) Florida State (11–1) (1) Oklahoma (11–1) Syracuse (11–0–1) Nebraska (10–2) References 2 * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings