1988 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1988 Florida State Notre Dame Two human polls comprised the 1988 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 15 16 (Final) Aug 21In preseason at least, Florida State No. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112970182/ The Tennessean August 21, 1988 January 1, 2017 Aug 30The AP Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/129195088/ The Des Moines Register August 30, 1988 January 1, 2017 Sep 6'Canes Again No. 1: Florida State Rout Puts Miami Atop Ap Poll http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-06/sports/8802210185_1_poll-miami-michigan Sun-Sentinel September 6, 1988 January 1, 2017 January 2, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170102082215/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-09-06/sports/8802210185_1_poll-miami-michigan dead Sep 13The AP Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/132006846/ The Des Moines Register September 13, 1988 January 1, 2017 Sep 20AP Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99802954/ Detroit Free-Press September 20, 1988 January 1, 2017 Sep 27 Oct 4 Oct 11AP MEDIA POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105966601/ Indianapolis Star October 11, 1988 January 1, 2017 Oct 18AP MEDIA POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106130874/ Indianapolis Star October 18, 1988 January 1, 2017 Oct 25 Nov 1 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov 29 Dec 6 Jan 3FINAL AP TOP 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/110592118/ The Courier-Journal January 4, 1989 January 1, 2017 Florida State (44) Nebraska (2) Oklahoma (2) Clemson (3) UCLA (2) USC (3) Auburn Miami (FL) (1) Iowa (1) Texas A&M Michigan (1) Georgia Notre Dame (1) Alabama Michigan State West Virginia Tennessee LSU South Carolina Penn State Florida State (0–0) (41) Nebraska (1–0) (4) Oklahoma (0–0) (1) Clemson (0–0) (3) UCLA (0–0) (2) Miami (FL) (0–0) (1) Auburn (0–0) USC (0–0) (1) Iowa (0–0) Michigan (0–0) u Texas A&M (0–1) d Georgia (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) Alabama (0–0) Michigan State (0–0) West Virginia (0–0) LSU (0–0) u Tennessee (0–0) d South Carolina (0–0) Penn State (0–0) Miami (FL) (1–0) (38) u Nebraska (2–0) (14) Clemson (1–0) (3) u Oklahoma (0–0) (2) d UCLA (1–0) (2) USC (1–0) (1) u Auburn (0–0) Georgia (1–0) u Michigan (0–0) u Florida State (0–1) d LSU (1–0) u West Virginia (1–0) u Notre Dame (0–0) Alabama (0–0) Michigan State (0–0) South Carolina (1–0) u Iowa (0–1) d Penn State (0–0) u Texas (0–0) npr Washington (0–0) npr Texas A&M Tennessee Miami (FL) (1–0) (46) UCLA (2–0) (3) u Clemson (2–0) (4) Oklahoma (1–0) (1) USC (2–0) (1) u Auburn (1–0) u Georgia (2–0) u Notre Dame (1–0) u LSU (1–0) u Florida State (1–1) Nebraska (2–1) d West Virginia (2–0) Alabama (1–0) u South Carolina (2–0) u Michigan (0–1) d Penn State (1–0) u Washington (1–0) u Ohio State (1–0) npr Iowa (1–1) d Oklahoma State (1–0) npr Michigan State Texas Miami (FL) (2–0) (46) UCLA (3–0) (3) Oklahoma (2–0) (3) u Auburn (2–0) (2) u USC (2–0) (1) Georgia (3–0) u LSU (2–0) u Notre Dame (2–0) Florida State (2–1) u Nebraska (2–1) u West Virginia (3–0) u Clemson (2–1) d Alabama (1–0) South Carolina (3–0) Penn State (2–0) u Pittsburgh (2–0) npr Washington (2–0) Oklahoma State (1–0) u Michigan (0–2) d Florida (3–0) npr Ohio State Iowa Miami (FL) (3–0) (55) UCLA (3–0) (3) USC (3–0) (2) u Auburn (3–0) Notre Dame (3–0) u Florida State (3–1) u West Virginia (4–0) u South Carolina (4–0) u Nebraska (3–1) u Oklahoma (2–1) d Clemson (3–1) u Alabama (2–0) u Oklahoma State (2–0) u LSU (2–1) d Georgia (3–1) d Washington (3–0) u Florida (4–0) u Wyoming (4–0) npr Michigan (1–2) Oregon (3–0) npr Penn State Pittsburgh Miami (FL) (4–0) (53) UCLA (4–0) (3) USC (4–0) (2) Auburn (4–0) Notre Dame (4–0) Florida State (4–1) West Virginia (5–0) South Carolina (5–0) Nebraska (4–1) Oklahoma (3–1) Clemson (3–1) Alabama (3–0) Oklahoma State (3–0) Florida (5–0) u Georgia (4–1) Wyoming (5–0) u Michigan (2–2) u Oregon (4–0) u Washington (3–1) d Arkansas (4–0) npr LSU Miami (FL) (4–0) (52) UCLA (5–0) (1) USC (5–0) (3) Notre Dame (5–0) u Florida State (5–1) u West Virginia (6–0) u Nebraska (5–1) u South Carolina (6–0) Oklahoma (4–1) u Oklahoma State (4–0) u Clemson (4–1) Auburn (4–1) d Georgia (5–1) u Wyoming (6–0) u Michigan (3–2) u Washington (4–1) u Arkansas (5–0) u Indiana (4–0–1) npr LSU (3–2) npr Florida (5–1) d Alabama Oregon UCLA (6–0) (33) u Notre Dame (6–0) (22) u USC (6–0) (5) Miami (FL) (4–1) d Nebraska (6–1) u West Virginia (6–0) Florida State (6–1) d Oklahoma (5–1) u Clemson (5–1) u Auburn (5–1) u Georgia (5–1) u Wyoming (7–0) u Arkansas (6–0) u Indiana (5–0–1) u Oklahoma State (4–1) d LSU (4–2) u Washington (4–2) d South Carolina (6–1) d Syracuse (5–1) npr Michigan (3–2–1) d Florida UCLA (7–0) (35) Notre Dame (7–0) (19) USC (6–0) (5) Miami (FL) (5–1) Nebraska (7–1) Florida State (7–1) u West Virginia (7–0) (1) d Oklahoma (6–1) Auburn (6–1) u Wyoming (8–0) u Arkansas (7–0) u Oklahoma State (5–1) u LSU (4–2) u Michigan (4–2–1) u Clemson (5–2) d Syracuse (6–1) u South Carolina (6–1) u Georgia (5–2) d Alabama (5–1) npr Oregon (6–1) npr Indiana Washington Notre Dame (8–0) (44) u USC (7–0) (11) u Miami (FL) (6–1) (1) u West Virginia (8–0) (2) u Florida State (7–1) u UCLA (7–1) d Nebraska (8–1) d Oklahoma (7–1) Auburn (7–1) Wyoming (9–0) Arkansas (8–0) Oklahoma State (6–1) LSU (5–2) Michigan (5–2–1) South Carolina (7–1) u Syracuse (6–1) Clemson (6–2) d Alabama (6–1) u Georgia (6–2) d BYU (7–1) тIndiana (6–1–1) т npr Oregon Notre Dame (9–0) (42) USC (8–0) (15) Miami (FL) (7–1) (1) West Virginia (9–0) (1) Florida State (8–1) UCLA (8–1) Nebraska (9–1) Oklahoma (8–1) Auburn (8–1) Wyoming (10–0) Arkansas (9–0) LSU (6–2) u Michigan (6–2–1) u Oklahoma State (6–2) d Syracuse (7–1) u Clemson (7–2) u Georgia (7–2) u Alabama (6–2) Colorado (7–2) npr Washington State (5–3) npr South Carolina Indiana BYU Notre Dame (9–0) (40) USC (9–0) (18) Miami (FL) (7–1) (1) West Virginia (10–0) Florida State (9–1) UCLA (9–1) Nebraska (10–1) Auburn (9–1) u Oklahoma (9–1) d Arkansas (10–0) u LSU (7–2) u Michigan (7–2–1) u Oklahoma State (7–2) u Syracuse (8–1) u Clemson (8–2) u Wyoming (10–1) d Houston (7–2) npr Alabama (7–2) Washington State (7–3) u Georgia (7–3) d Colorado Notre Dame (10–0) (35) USC (10–0) (22) Miami (FL) (8–1) (1) West Virginia (11–0) (2) Florida State (9–1) Nebraska (11–1) u Auburn (9–1) u Arkansas (10–0) u UCLA (9–2) d Oklahoma (9–2) d Michigan (8–2–1) u Oklahoma State (8–2) u Clemson (9–2) u Houston (8–2) u Wyoming (11–1) u LSU (7–3) d Alabama (7–2) u Washington State (8–3) u Syracuse (8–2) d Georgia (7–3) Notre Dame (11–0) (57) Miami (FL) (9–1) (1) u West Virginia (11–0) (2) u Florida State (10–1) u USC (10–1) d Nebraska (11–1) Auburn (10–1) UCLA (9–2) u Arkansas (10–1) d Oklahoma (9–2) Michigan (8–2–1) Oklahoma State (8–2) Clemson (9–2) Houston (9–2) Wyoming (11–1) LSU (8–3) Washington State (8–3) u Syracuse (8–2) u Georgia (8–3) u Alabama (7–3) d Notre Dame (11–0) (49) Miami (FL) (10–1) (1) West Virginia (11–0) (3) Florida State (10–1) USC (10–1) Nebraska (11–1) Auburn (10–1) Arkansas (10–1) u UCLA (9–2) d Oklahoma (9–2) Michigan (8–2–1) Oklahoma State (9–2) Clemson (9–2) Houston (9–2) Wyoming (11–1) LSU (8–3) Syracuse (9–2) u Washington State (8–3) d Georgia (8–3) Alabama (8–3) Notre Dame (12–0) (58 1 2) nc Miami (FL) (11–1) (1 1 2) Florida State (11–1) u Michigan (9–2–1) u West Virginia (11–1) d UCLA (10–2) u USC (10–2) d Auburn (10–2) d Clemson (10–2) u Nebraska (11–2) d Oklahoma State (10–2) u Arkansas (10–2) d Syracuse (10–2) u Oklahoma (9–3) d Georgia (9–3) u Washington State (9–3) u Alabama (9–3) u Houston (9–3) d LSU (8–4) d Indiana (8–3–1) npr Wyoming Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 (Final) Aug 21Florida St. Voted No. 1 by AP, UPI https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-21-sp-1403-story.html Los Angeles Times August 21, 1988 January 1, 2017 Aug 30 Sep 6Hurricanes Blow To The Top Of UPI Football Ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5459871/ Tyrone Daily Herald September 6, 1988 January 1, 2017 Sep 13UCLA Vaults to No. 2 Ranking https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5489822/ Tyrone Daily Herald September 13, 1988 January 1, 2017 Sep 20UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105949247/ Indianapolis Star 18 September 20, 1988 October 14, 2017 Sep 27UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105957632/ Indianapolis Star 26 September 28, 1988 October 14, 2017 Oct 4UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105955142/ Indianapolis Star 30 October 7, 1988 October 14, 2017 Oct 11UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105966601/ Indianapolis Star October 11, 1988 January 1, 2017 Oct 18UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106130874/ Indianapolis Star October 18, 1988 January 1, 2017 Oct 25Coaches Top 20 college football ratings https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/96605568/ Macon Chronicle-Herald October 25, 1988 January 1, 2017 Nov 1Irish Step Up to No. 1 Spot https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5502349/ Tyrone Daily Herald November 1, 1988 January 1, 2017 Nov 8Top 4 Holds Steady https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/5503834/ Tyrone Daily Herald November 8, 1988 October 14, 2017 Nov 15UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106161364/ Indianapolis Star November 15, 1988 October 14, 2017 Nov 22UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105951134/ Indianapolis Star November 22, 1988 October 14, 2017 Nov 29UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106124284/ Indianapolis Star December 1, 1988 October 14, 2017 Dec 6UPI COACHES POLL https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106134952/ Indianapolis Star December 6, 1988 October 14, 2017 Jan 3Final UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121800324/ The Arizona Republic January 4, 1989 January 1, 2017 Florida State (37) Oklahoma (4) Nebraska Clemson Miami (FL) (4) Texas A&M (1) Auburn USC UCLA (2) Michigan (1) Iowa Notre Dame LSU Georgia Michigan State т t Penn State т Tennessee South Carolina Alabama Texas Florida State (0–0) Oklahoma (0–0) Nebraska (1–0) Clemson (0–0) Miami (FL) (0–0) Texas A&M (0–1) Auburn (0–0) USC (0–0) UCLA (0–0) Michigan (0–0) Iowa (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) LSU (0–0) Georgia (0–0) Michigan State (0–0) Penn State (0–0) Tennessee (0–0) South Carolina (0–0) Alabama (0–0) Texas (0–0) Miami (FL) (1–0) (29) u Nebraska (2–0) (19) u Clemson (1–0) u Oklahoma (0–0) d UCLA (1–0) u USC (1–0) u Auburn (0–0) Georgia (1–0) u LSU (1–0) (1) u Michigan (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) u Florida State (0–1) d West Virginia (1–0) npr Michigan State (0–0) u South Carolina (1–0) u Alabama (0–0) u Penn State (0–0) d Iowa (0–1) d Syracuse (1–0) npr Pittsburgh (1–0) npr Texas A&M Tennessee Texas Miami (FL) (1–0) (37) UCLA (2–0) (13) u Oklahoma (1–0) u Clemson (2–0) d USC (2–0) u Georgia (2–0) u Auburn (1–0) LSU (1–0) u Notre Dame (1–0) u Nebraska (2–1) d West Virginia (2–0) u Florida State (1–1) Penn State (1–0) u Alabama (1–0) u South Carolina (2–0) Michigan (0–1) d Ohio State (1–0) npr Florida (2–0) npr Washington (1–0) npr Pittsburgh (1–0) Michigan State Iowa Syracuse Miami (FL) (2–0) (45) UCLA (3–0) (5) Oklahoma (2–0) USC (2–0) u Auburn (2–0) u LSU (2–0) u Georgia (3–0) d Notre Dame (2–0) u Florida State (2–1) u West Virginia (3–0) u Nebraska (2–1) d Clemson (2–1) d Penn State (2–0) South Carolina (3–0) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u Alabama (1–0) d Washington (2–0) u Florida (3–0) Wyoming (3–0) npr Oklahoma State (1–0) npr Michigan Ohio State Miami (FL) (3–0) (45) UCLA (3–0) (7) USC (3–0) (1) u Auburn (3–0) u Notre Dame (3–0) u West Virginia (4–0) u South Carolina (4–0) u Florida State (3–1) u Nebraska (3–1) u Oklahoma (2–1) d Clemson (3–1) u Alabama (2–0) u LSU (2–1) d Oklahoma State (2–0) u Florida (4–0) u Georgia (3–1) d Washington (3–0) Wyoming (1–0) u Arkansas (3–0) т tnpr Michigan (1–2) т npr Pittsburgh Miami (FL) (4–0) (43) UCLA (4–0) (6) USC (4–0) Auburn (4–0) Notre Dame (4–0) West Virginia (5–0) Florida State (4–1) u South Carolina (5–0) d Nebraska (4–1) Oklahoma (3–1) Florida (5–0) u Clemson (3–1) d Oklahoma State (3–0) u Alabama (3–0) d Georgia (4–1) d Wyoming (5–0) u Arkansas (4–0) u Oregon (4–0) npr Washington (3–1) т td Michigan (2–2) т LSU Miami (FL) (4–0) (44) UCLA (5–0) (5) USC (5–0) Notre Dame (5–0) u West Virginia (6–0) u Florida State (5–1) u South Carolina (6–0) u Nebraska (5–1) u Oklahoma (4–1) u Oklahoma State (4–0) u Clemson (4–1) u Auburn (4–1) d Georgia (5–1) u Wyoming (6–0) u Arkansas (5–0) u Washington (4–1) u Michigan (3–2) u Indiana (4–0–1) npr LSU (3–2) npr Syracuse (4–1) тWashington State (4–1) т npr Florida Alabama Oregon UCLA (6–0) (37) u Notre Dame (6–0) (10) u USC (6–0) (2) Miami (FL) (4–1) d West Virginia (6–0) Nebraska (6–1) u Florida State (6–1) d Oklahoma (5–1) u Auburn (5–1) u Clemson (5–1) u Arkansas (6–0) u Wyoming (7–0) u Georgia (5–1) Indiana (5–0–1) u Oklahoma State (4–1) d Syracuse (5–1) u South Carolina (6–1) d Washington (4–2) d LSU (4–2) Washington State (4–2) Michigan UCLA (7–0) (41) Notre Dame (7–0) (8) USC (6–0) Miami (FL) (5–1) Nebraska (7–1) u West Virginia (7–0) d Florida State (7–1) Oklahoma (6–1) Auburn (6–1) Wyoming (8–0) u Arkansas (7–0) Oklahoma State (5–1) u Syracuse (6–1) u Michigan (4–2–1) npr LSU (5–2) u Alabama (5–2) npr South Carolina (6–1) Clemson (5–2) d Oregon (6–1) npr Georgia (5–2) d Indiana Washington Washington State Notre Dame (8–0) (30) u USC (7–0) (16) u Miami (FL) (6–1) u West Virginia (8–0) (2) u Nebraska (8–1) UCLA (7–1) d Oklahoma (7–1) u Florida State (7–1) (1) d Auburn (7–1) Wyoming (9–0) Arkansas (8–0) Oklahoma State (6–1) Michigan (5–2–1) u Syracuse (6–1) d South Carolina (7–1) u LSU (5–2) т td Alabama (6–1) т Indiana (6–1–1) npr BYU (7–1) npr Clemson (6–2) d Oregon Georgia Notre Dame (9–0) (32) USC (8–0) (14) Miami (FL) (7–1) West Virginia (9–0) (2) Florida State (8–1) (1) u UCLA (8–1) Nebraska (9–1) d Oklahoma (8–1) d Auburn (8–1) Wyoming (10–0) Arkansas (9–0) Michigan (6–2–1) u Syracuse (7–1) u LSU (6–2) u Oklahoma State (6–2) d Clemson (7–2) u Georgia (7–2) npr BYU (7–2) u Alabama (6–2) т td Colorado (7–2) т npr South Carolina Indiana Notre Dame (9–0) (31) USC (9–0) (13) Miami (FL) (7–1) (1) West Virginia (10–0) (2) Florida State (8–1) (1) UCLA (9–1) Nebraska (10–1) Oklahoma (9–1) Auburn (9–1) Arkansas (10–0) u Michigan (7–2–1) u LSU (7–2) u Syracuse (8–1) Oklahoma State (7–2) u Clemson (8–2) u Wyoming (10–1) d Houston (7–2) т tnpr Colorado (7–3) т u BYU (8–2) d Washington State (7–3) npr Georgia Alabama Notre Dame (10–0) (29) USC (10–0) (16) Miami (FL) (8–1) (1) West Virginia (11–0) (2) Florida State (9–1) (1) Nebraska (11–1) u Auburn (9–1) u Arkansas (10–0) u UCLA (9–2) d Michigan (8–2–1) u Oklahoma (9–2) d Oklahoma State (8–2) u Clemson (9–2) u Wyoming (11–1) u Alabama (7–2) npr Houston (8–2) u LSU (7–3) d Washington State (8–3) u Syracuse (8–2) d Colorado (8–3) d BYU Notre Dame (11–0) (42) Miami (FL) (9–1) (2) u West Virginia (11–0) (4) u Florida State (10–1) (1) u Nebraska (11–1) u USC (10–1) d Auburn (10–1) Arkansas (10–1) UCLA (9–2) Oklahoma (9–2) u Michigan (8–2–1) d Oklahoma State (8–2) Clemson (9–2) Wyoming (11–1) Houston (9–2) u Syracuse (8–2) u LSU (8–3) Washington State (8–3) Colorado (8–3) u Georgia (8–3) npr Alabama Notre Dame (11–0) (42) Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) West Virginia (11–0) (3) Florida State (10–1) (1) USC (10–1) u Nebraska (11–1) d Auburn (10–1) Arkansas (10–1) UCLA (9–2) Oklahoma (9–2) Michigan (8–2–1) Oklahoma State (9–2) Clemson (9–2) Houston (9–2) u Wyoming (11–1) d Syracuse (8–2) LSU (8–3) Washington State (8–3) Georgia (8–3) u Colorado (8–3) т Alabama (8–3) т background-color:#FFE6E6 npr Notre Dame (12–0) (42) nc Miami (FL) (11–1) (2) Florida State (11–1) (1) u Michigan (9–2–1) u West Virginia (11–1) d UCLA (10–2) u Auburn (10–2) Clemson (10–2) u USC (10–2) d Nebraska (11–2) d Oklahoma State (10–2) u Syracuse (10–2) u Arkansas (10–2) d Oklahoma (9–3) d Georgia (9–3) u Washington State (9–3) u Alabama (9–3) т tu NC State (8–3–1) т npr Indiana (8–3–1) npr Wyoming (11–2) d Houston LSU Colorado References 2 * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings