1976 NCAA Division I football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1976 Nebraska Pittsburgh Two human polls comprised the 1976 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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 (Final) Aug 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 Nebraska (25) Michigan (10) Arizona State (7) Ohio State (3) Oklahoma (6) Alabama (3) Texas (3) USC (2) Pittsburgh (1) Penn State Notre Dame Maryland Arkansas Texas A&M California Georgia UCLA Florida Kansas Miami (OH) Michigan (1–0) (28) u Ohio State (1–0) (18) u Pittsburgh (1–0) (9) u Oklahoma (1–0) (4) u UCLA (1–0) (2) u Missouri (1–0) npr Penn State (1–0) u Nebraska (0–0–1) d Georgia (1–0) u Maryland (1–0) u Texas A&M (1–0) u Arkansas (1–0) u Kansas (2–0) u Alabama (0–1) d Boston College (1–0) npr LSU (0–0–1) npr North Carolina (2–0) npr Arizona State (0–1) d Texas (0–1) d Ole Miss (1–1) npr California Florida Miami (OH) Notre Dame USC Michigan (2–0) (47) Ohio State (2–0) (3) Pittsburgh (2–0) (7) Oklahoma (2–0) (3) UCLA (2–0) Nebraska (1–0–1) u Georgia (2–0) u Maryland (2–0) u Texas A&M (2–0) u Kansas (3–0) u Penn State (1–1) d Arkansas (2–0) Alabama (1–1) u Illinois (2–0) npr LSU (1–0–1) u North Carolina (3–0) u Ole Miss (2–1) u Boston College (1–0) d USC (1–1) npr Texas Tech (2–0) npr Arizona State Missouri Texas Michigan (3–0) (56) Pittsburgh (3–0) (2) u Oklahoma (3–0) (2) u UCLA (3–0) u Nebraska (2–0–1) u Georgia (3–0) u Maryland (3–0) u Ohio State (2–1) d Kansas (3–0) u Alabama (2–1) u LSU (2–0–1) u Missouri (2–1) npr USC (2–1) u North Carolina (4–0) u Boston College (2–0) u Ole Miss (3–1) u Texas Tech (2–0) u Notre Dame (2–1) npr Florida (2–1) npr Penn State (1–2) d Arkansas Illinois Texas A&M Michigan (4–0) (52) Pittsburgh (4–0) (3) Oklahoma (4–0) (3) Georgia (4–0) (2) u UCLA (3–0–1) d Nebraska (3–0–1) d Maryland (4–0) Kansas (4–0) u Missouri (3–1) u Ohio State (2–1–1) d USC (3–1) u Florida (3–1) u Boston College (3–0) u Notre Dame (3–1) u Texas Tech (2–0) u Texas (2–1) npr Texas A&M (3–1) npr Arkansas (3–1) npr North Carolina (4–1) d LSU (2–1–1) d Alabama Ole Miss Penn State Michigan (5–0) (57) Pittsburgh (5–0) (3) Nebraska (4–0–1) u UCLA (4–0–1) u Maryland (5–0) u Oklahoma (4–0–1) d Missouri (4–1) u USC (4–1) u Ohio State (3–1–1) u Texas Tech (3–0) u Georgia (4–1) d Florida (3–1) Texas (2–1–1) u Notre Dame (3–1) Kansas (4–1) d LSU (3–1–1) т tu Ole Miss (4–2) т npr Arkansas (3–1) Houston (3–1) npr Alabama (3–2) npr Boston College North Carolina Texas A&M Michigan (6–0) (58) Pittsburgh (6–0) (4) Nebraska (5–0–1) UCLA (5–0–1) Oklahoma (5–0–1) u Maryland (6–0) d USC (4–1) u Texas Tech (4–0) u Ohio State (4–1–1) Georgia (5–1) u Florida (4–1) u Notre Dame (4–1) u Texas (2–1–1) Houston (4–1) u Arkansas (3–1) u Iowa State (5–1) npr Missouri (4–2) d Alabama (4–2) u South Carolina (5–2) npr East Carolina (6–0) т Mississippi State (5–1) т npr Kansas LSU Ole Miss Michigan (7–0) (53) Pittsburgh (7–0) (6) UCLA (6–0–1) u USC (5–1) u Maryland (7–0) u Texas Tech (5–0) (1) u Georgia (6–1) u Ohio State (5–1–1) u Nebraska (5–1–1) d Missouri (5–2) u Notre Dame (5–1) u Florida (5–1) d Oklahoma (5–1–1) d Arkansas (4–1) u Texas (3–1–1) d Oklahoma State (4–2) npr Alabama (5–2) u Mississippi State (6–1) u Colorado (5–2) npr Cincinnati (5–1) npr East Carolina Houston Iowa State South Carolina Michigan (8–0) (57) Pittsburgh (8–0) (5) UCLA (7–0–1) USC (6–1) Texas Tech (6–0) u Maryland (8–0) d Georgia (7–1) Ohio State (6–1–1) Nebraska (6–1–1) Florida (6–1) u Notre Dame (6–1) Arkansas (5–1) u Oklahoma State (5–2) u Colorado (6–2) u Alabama (6–2) u Missouri (5–3) d Oklahoma (5–2–1) d Texas A&M (6–2) npr Houston (5–2) npr Texas (3–2–1) d Cincinnati Mississippi State Pittsburgh (9–0) (49) u UCLA (8–0–1) (7) u USC (7–1) (2) u Michigan (8–1) (2) d Texas Tech (7–0) (1) Maryland (9–0) (2) Georgia (8–1) Ohio State (7–1–1) Nebraska (7–1–1) Alabama (7–2) u Missouri (6–3) u Houston (6–2) u Arkansas (5–1–1) d Oklahoma (6–2–1) u Florida (6–2) d Texas A&M (6–2) u Oklahoma State (5–3) d Notre Dame (6–2) d Colorado (6–3) d South Carolina (6–3) npr Texas Pittsburgh (10–0) (44) UCLA (9–0–1) (13) USC (8–1) (1) Michigan (9–1) (2) Texas Tech (8–0) (1) Georgia (9–1) т tu Maryland (10–0) т Ohio State (8–1–1) Houston (6–2) u Oklahoma (7–2–1) u Texas A&M (7–2) (1) u Nebraska (7–2–1) d Notre Dame (7–2) u Iowa State (8–2) npr Colorado (7–3) u Oklahoma State (6–3) u Penn State (7–3) npr Alabama (7–3) d Missouri (6–4) т td Rutgers (10–0) т npr Arkansas Florida South Carolina Pittsburgh (10–0) (39) Michigan (10–1) (13) u USC (9–1) (7) Georgia (9–1) (1) u Maryland (11–0) (2) u UCLA (9–1–1) d Houston (7–2) u Oklahoma (7–2–1) u Texas Tech (8–1) d Nebraska (7–2–1) u Texas A&M (8–2) Ohio State (8–2–1) d Notre Dame (8–2) Colorado (8–3) т tu Oklahoma State (7–3) т u Penn State (7–3) u Rutgers (10–0) u Alabama (7–3) Mississippi State (9–2) т tnpr North Carolina (9–2) т npr Iowa State Missouri Pittsburgh (11–0) (45) Michigan (10–1) (8) USC (10–1) (3) Maryland (11–0) (2) u Georgia (10–1) d Houston (8–2) u UCLA (9–1–1) d Oklahoma (8–2–1) Texas Tech (9–1) Texas A&M (9–2) u Ohio State (8–2–1) u Colorado (8–3) u Nebraska (7–3–1) d Oklahoma State (8–3) Notre Dame (8–3) d Alabama (8–3) u Rutgers (11–0) Baylor (7–2–1) npr North Carolina (9–2) Mississippi State (9–2) т Penn State (7–4) т d Pittsburgh (12–0) (59) nc USC (11–1) (3) u Michigan (10–2) d Houston (10–2) u Oklahoma (9–2–1) u Ohio State (9–2–1) u Texas A&M (10–2) u Maryland (11–1) d Nebraska (9–3–1) u Georgia (10–2) d Alabama (9–3) u Notre Dame (9–3) u Texas Tech (10–2) d Oklahoma State (9–3) UCLA (9–2–1) d Colorado (8–4) d Rutgers (11–0) Kentucky (8–4) npr Iowa State (8–3) npr Mississippi State (9–2) Baylor North Carolina Penn State Coaches Poll 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Sep 13 Sep 20 Sep 27UPI Poll September 28, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13471775 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal August 6, 2022 Oct 4UPI Poll October 6, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/402341830 Wisconsin State Journal August 6, 2022 Oct 11UPI Poll October 12, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/227853127 Daily World August 6, 2022 Oct 18UPI Poll October 19, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/31244660 Denton Record-Chronicle August 6, 2022 Oct 25UPI Poll October 26, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/303535338 Orlando Sentinel August 6, 2022 Nov 1UPI Poll November 2, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/405538920 Dayton Daily News August 6, 2022Less than 20 teams received votes in this poll. Nov 8UPI Poll November 9, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/405554595 Dayton Daily News August 6, 2022 Nov 15UPI Poll November 16, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/492872271 The Record August 6, 2022 Nov 22UPI Poll November 23, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13531363 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal August 6, 2022 Nov 29UPI Poll November 30, 1976 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/569112323 Daily Times-Advocate August 6, 2022 Jan 4 (Final) Ohio State (1–0) Michigan (1–0) UCLA (1–0) Pittsburgh (1–0) Oklahoma (1–0) Missouri (1–0) Penn State (1–0) Nebraska (0–0–1) Georgia (1-0) Texas A&M (1–0) Maryland (1–0) Arkansas (1–0) Alabama (0–1) LSU (0–0–1) Boston College (1–0) Kansas (2–0) т t North Carolina (2-0) т t Texas Tech (1–0) т USC (0–1) Oklahoma State (1–0) Michigan (2–0) u Ohio State (2–0) d Pittsburgh (2–0) u UCLA (2–0) d Oklahoma (2–0) Nebraska (1–0–1) u Georgia (2–0) u Maryland (2–0) u Texas A&M (2–0) u Penn State (1–1) d Arkansas (2–0) u Kansas (3–0) u Alabama (1–1) Illinois (2–0) npr LSU (1–0–1) т td USC (1–1) т u Boston College (1–0) d North Carolina (3–0) d Florida (1–1) т tnpr Texas Tech (1–0) т d Missouri Oklahoma State Michigan (3–0) UCLA (3–0) u Pittsburgh (3–0) Oklahoma (3–0) u Nebraska (2–0–1) u Georgia (3–0) u Maryland (3–0) u Ohio State (2–1) d Alabama (2–1) u Missouri (2–1) npr Kansas (3–0) u USC (2–1) u LSU (2–0–1) u North Carolina (4–0) u Notre Dame (2–1) npr Boston College (2–0) u Florida (2–1) u Houston (2–1) npr Tulsa (3–1) npr Texas (1–1) npr Texas A&M Penn State Arkansas Illinois Texas Tech Michigan (4–0) Pittsburgh (4–0) u Oklahoma (4–0) u Georgia (4–0) u Nebraska (3–0–1) UCLA (3–0–1) d Maryland (4–0) Kansas (4–0) u Missouri (3–1) u USC (3–1) u Ohio State (2–1–1) d Notre Dame (3–1) u Florida (3–1) u Texas (2–1) u Arkansas (3–1) npr Texas A&M (3–1) npr Boston College (3–0) d Texas Tech (2–0) npr Houston (2–1) d Tulsa (4–1) d Alabama LSU North Carolina Michigan (5–0) Pittsburgh (5–0) Nebraska (4–0–1) u UCLA (4–0–1) u Oklahoma (4–0–1) d Maryland (5–0) u Missouri (4–1) u USC (4–1) u Ohio State (3–1–1) u Texas Tech (3–0) u Georgia (4–1) d Florida (3–1) u Notre Dame (3–1) d Texas (2–1–1) Houston (3–1) u Arkansas (3–1) d Tulsa (4–1) u Kansas (4–1) d Oklahoma State (3–1) npr Ole Miss (4–2) npr Texas A&M Boston College Michigan (6–0) Pittsburgh (6–0) Nebraska (5–0–1) UCLA (5–0–1) Oklahoma (5–0–1) USC (4–1) u Maryland (6–0) d Ohio State (4–1–1) u Texas Tech (4–0) u Georgia (5–1) u Florida (4–1) u Notre Dame (4–1) u Texas (2–1–1) u Houston (4–1) u Arkansas (3–1) u Missouri (4–2) d Cincinnati (6–0) npr Iowa State (5–1) npr Colorado (4–2) npr Alabama (4–2) npr Tulsa Kansas Oklahoma State Ole Miss Michigan (7–0) Pittsburgh (7–0) UCLA (6–0–1) u USC (5–1) u Maryland (7–0) u Texas Tech (5–0) u Georgia (6–1) u Ohio State (5–1–1) Nebraska (5–1–1) d Missouri (5–2) u Notre Dame (5–1) u Florida (5–1) d Oklahoma (5–1–1) d Arkansas (4–1) u Oklahoma State (4–2) npr Colorado (5–2) u Texas (3–1–1) d Alabama (5–2) т tu Boston College (5–1) т tnpr Cincinnati (6–0) т d Houston Iowa State Michigan (8–0) Pittsburgh (8–0) UCLA (7–0–1) USC (6–1) Texas Tech (6–0) u Maryland (8–0) d Ohio State (6–1–1) u Georgia (7–1) d Nebraska (6–1–1) Florida (6–1) u Notre Dame (6–1–1) Oklahoma State (5–2) u Colorado (6–2) u Arkansas (5–1) Alabama (6–2) u Tulsa (5–2) npr Houston (5–2) npr Missouri Oklahoma Texas Boston College Cincinnati Pittsburgh (9–0) u UCLA (8–0–1) u USC (7–1) u Michigan (8–1) d Texas Tech (7–0) Georgia (8–1) u Maryland (9–0) d Ohio State (7–1–1) d Nebraska (7–1–1) Missouri (6–3) npr Houston (6–2) u Alabama (7–2) u Tulsa (6–2) u Oklahoma (6–2–1) npr Florida (6–2) d Iowa State (7–2) т tnpr Arkansas (6–1–1) т d Baylor (4–2–1) npr Notre Dame (6–2) т td BYU (7–2) т Wyoming (7–2) т npr Oklahoma State Colorado Pittsburgh (10–0) UCLA (9–0–1) USC (8–1) Michigan (9–1) Texas Tech (8–0) Georgia (9–1) Maryland (10–0) Ohio State (8–1–1) Oklahoma (7–2–1) u Iowa State (8–2) u Nebraska (7–2–1) d Texas A&M (7–2) npr Houston (6–2) d Notre Dame (7–2) u Tulsa (7–2) d Colorado (7–3) npr Oklahoma State (6–3) npr Rutgers (10–0) npr BYU (8–2) т t Wyoming (8–2) т Missouri Alabama Florida Arkansas Baylor Pittsburgh (10–0) USC (9–1) u Michigan (10–1) u Georgia (9–1) u Maryland (11–0) u UCLA (9–1–1) d Houston (7–2) u Nebraska (7–2–1) u Ohio State (8–2–1) d Texas Tech (8–1) d Notre Dame (8–2) u Texas A&M (8–2) Oklahoma (7–2–1) d Oklahoma State (7–3) u Colorado (8–3) u Rutgers (10–0) т tu BYU (9–2) т u Baylor (6–2–1) npr Florida (7–3) npr Penn State (7–3) npr Iowa State Tulsa Wyoming Pittsburgh (11–0) Michigan (10–1) u USC (10–1) d Georgia (10–1) Maryland (11–0) UCLA (9–1–1) Houston (8–2) Texas Tech (9–1) u Oklahoma (8–2–1) u Ohio State (8–2–1) т td Texas A&M (9–2) т u Colorado (8–3) u Notre Dame (8–3) d Oklahoma State (8–3) Rutgers (11–0) т tu Alabama (8–3) т npr BYU (9–2) т td Baylor (7–2–1) т u Nebraska (7–3–1) d Florida (8–3) d Penn State Pittsburgh (12–0) (39) nc USC (11–1) (3) u Michigan (10–2) d Houston (10–2) u Ohio State (9–2–1) u Oklahoma (9–2–1) u Nebraska (8–3–1) u Texas A&M (10–2) u Alabama (9–3) u Georgia (10–2) d Maryland (11–1) d Notre Dame (9–3) u Texas Tech (10–2) d Oklahoma State (9–3) UCLA (9–2–1) d Colorado (8–4) d Rutgers (11–0) d Iowa State (8–3) npr Baylor (7–3–1) т td Kentucky (8–4) т npr BYU Florida MacCambridge Michael 2005 ESPN College Football Encyclopedia ESPN Books 1316–1317 1-4013-3703-1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eq1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4022%2C905442 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon UPI UPI poll January 4, 1977 3C Note: N References * Category:College football rankings