1978 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

none August 2023 December 2025 1978 Alabama Alabama (AP)USC (Coaches) Two human polls comprised the 1978 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 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) Preseason 1978 Polls https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1978-polls.html February 20, 2017 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 Final Alabama (31) Arkansas (13) Penn State (5) Oklahoma (1) Notre Dame (9) Michigan Ohio State Texas (1) USC (2) Nebraska Washington UCLA LSU Pittsburgh Kentucky Texas A&M (1) Florida State Clemson North Carolina Iowa State Alabama (1–0) Arkansas (0–0) Oklahoma (1–0) u Michigan (0–0) u Penn State (2–0) d Ohio State (0–0) u Texas (0–0) u USC (1–0) u UCLA (1–0) u Texas A&M (1–0) u Missouri (1–0) npr Nebraska (1–1) d LSU (0–0) Pittsburgh (0–0) Notre Dame (0–1) d Florida State (1–0) u Kentucky (0–0) d Washington (0–1) d Iowa State (1–0) u Maryland (1–0) npr Clemson North Carolina Alabama (2–0) Arkansas (1–0) Oklahoma (2–0) т t Penn State (3–0) т u Michigan (1–0) d Texas (1–0) u USC (2–0) u UCLA (2–0) u Texas A&M (1–0) u LSU (1–0) u Pittsburgh (1–0) u Nebraska (2–1) Florida State (2–0) u Notre Dame (0–1) u Washington (1–1) u Ohio State (0–1) d Missouri (1–1) d Maryland (2–0) u Colorado (2–0) npr Iowa State (2–0) d Kentucky Oklahoma (3–0) u Arkansas (2–0) USC (3–0) u Michigan (2–0) u Penn State (4–0) d Texas (2–0) Alabama (2–1) d Texas A&M (2–0) u Pittsburgh (2–0) u Florida State (3–0) u LSU (2–0) d Nebraska (2–1) Ohio State (1–1) u Missouri (2–1) u Maryland (3–0) u Colorado (3–0) u Iowa State (3–0) u UCLA (2–1) d Georgia (2–0) npr Stanford (2–1) npr Notre Dame Washington Oklahoma (4–0) USC (4–0) u Michigan (3–0) u Arkansas (3–0) d Penn State (5–0) Texas (3–0) Texas A&M (3–0) u Alabama (3–1) d Pittsburgh (3–0) Nebraska (3–1) u LSU (3–0) Maryland (4–0) u Colorado (4–0) u Ohio State (2–1) d Iowa State (4–0) u UCLA (3–1) u Stanford (3–1) u Florida State (3–1) d Auburn (3–0) npr NC State (4–0) npr Missouri Georgia Oklahoma (5–0) USC (4–0) Arkansas (4–0) т tu Penn State (6–0) т u Michigan (4–0) d Texas A&M (4–0) u Alabama (4–1) u Nebraska (4–1) u Pittsburgh (4–0) Maryland (5–0) u LSU (4–0) Texas (3–1) d Colorado (5–0) UCLA (4–1) u Florida State (4–1) u Ohio State (2–1–1) d Houston (3–1) npr Stanford (3–2) d Missouri (3–2) npr Iowa State (4–1) d Auburn NC State Oklahoma (6–0) Penn State (6–0) u Arkansas (4–0) Alabama (5–1) u Nebraska (5–1) u Maryland (6–0) u USC (4–1) d Texas (4–1) u Michigan (4–1) d UCLA (5–1) u Houston (4–1) u Texas A&M (4–1) d Missouri (4–2) u Arizona State (5–1) npr Pittsburgh (4–1) d LSU (4–1) d Navy (5–0) npr Georgia (4–1) npr Purdue (4–1) npr Notre Dame (3–2) npr Colorado Florida State Ohio State Stanford Iowa State Oklahoma (7–0) Penn State (7–0) Alabama (6–1) u Nebraska (6–1) u Maryland (7–0) u USC (5–1) u Texas (5–1) u Michigan (5–1) u Arkansas (4–1) d UCLA (6–1) Houston (5–1) Arizona State (5–1) u Missouri (5–2) LSU (5–1) u Pittsburgh (5–1) Georgia (5–1) u Purdue (5–1) u Navy (6–0) d Notre Dame (4–2) u Clemson (5–1) npr Texas A&M Oklahoma (8–0) Penn State (8–0) Alabama (7–1) Nebraska (7–1) Maryland (8–0) USC (6–1) Texas (6–1) Michigan (6–1) UCLA (7–1) u Houston (6–1) u Navy (7–0) u LSU (5–1) u Georgia (6–1) u Purdue (6–1) u Notre Dame (5–2) u Clemson (6–1) u Arkansas (4–2) d Michigan State (4–3) npr Pittsburgh (5–2) d Washington (5–3) npr Arizona State Missouri Oklahoma (9–0) Penn State (9–0) Alabama (8–1) Nebraska (8–1) USC (7–1) u Texas (6–1) u Michigan (7–1) u Houston (7–1) u UCLA (8–1) LSU (6–1) u Georgia (7–1) u Purdue (7–1) u Maryland (8–1) d Notre Dame (6–2) u Clemson (7–1) u Arkansas (5–2) u Michigan State (5–3) u Navy (7–1) d Washington (6–3) u Pittsburgh (6–2) d Penn State (10–0) u Nebraska (9–1) u Alabama (9–1) Oklahoma (9–1) d USC (8–1) Houston (8–1) u Michigan (8–1) Georgia (8–1) u Texas (6–2) d Notre Dame (7–2) u Maryland (9–1) u Clemson (8–1) u Arkansas (6–2) u UCLA (8–2) d Purdue (7–1–1) d Michigan State (6–3) u LSU (6–2) d Pittsburgh (7–2) u Ohio State (6–2–1) npr Georgia Tech (7–2) npr Navy Washington Penn State (10–0) Alabama (9–1) u USC (9–1) u Oklahoma (10–1) Houston (8–1) u Michigan (9–1) u Nebraska (9–2) d Notre Dame (8–2) u Texas (7–2) Clemson (9–1) u Arkansas (7–2) u Georgia (8–1–1) d Maryland (9–2) d Michigan State (7–3) u Pittsburgh (8–2) u Ohio State (7–2–1) u UCLA (8–3) d Purdue (7–2–1) d Missouri (7–4) npr Iowa State (8–3) npr LSU Georgia Tech Penn State (11–0) Alabama (9–1) USC (10–1) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) u Nebraska (9–2) u Clemson (10–1) u Arkansas (8–2) u Houston (8–2) d Notre Dame (8–3) d Georgia (8–1–1) u Michigan State (8–3) u Maryland (9–2) Texas (7–3) d UCLA (8–3) u Pittsburgh (8–3) d Purdue (8–2–1) u Missouri (7–4) u Iowa State (8–3) u Ohio State (7–3–1) d Penn State (11–0) Alabama (10–1) USC (11–1) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) Nebraska (9–2) Clemson (10–1) Arkansas (9–2) Houston (9–2) Notre Dame (8–3) Georgia (9–1–1) Michigan State (8–3) Maryland (9–2) Texas (8–3) UCLA (8–3) Pittsburgh (8–3) Purdue (8–2–1) Missouri (7–4) Iowa State (8–3) Ohio State (7–3–1) Alabama (11–1) (38) nc USC (12–1) (19) u Oklahoma (11–1) (1) u Penn State (11–1) d Michigan (10–2) Clemson (11–1) u Notre Dame (9–3) u Nebraska (9–3) d Texas (9–3) u Houston (9–3) d Arkansas (9–2–1) d Michigan State (8–3) Purdue (9–2–1) u UCLA (8–3–1) u Missouri (8–4) u Georgia (9–2–1) d Stanford (8–4) npr NC State (9–3) npr Texas A&M (8–4) npr Maryland (9–3) d Pittsburgh Iowa State Ohio State Coaches Poll 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 (Final) September 8, 1978 UPI Top 20 Colleges https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319057491/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 9September 12, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319083451/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 16September 20, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319017599/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 23September 26, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319031069/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Sep 30October 4, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319023058/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 7October 10, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319036237/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 14October 18, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319019783/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 21October 24, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319033385/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Oct 28November 1, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319801900/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 4November 7, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319876235/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 11November 15, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319169749/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 18November 21, 1978 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/320173554/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Nov 25November 29, 1978 The UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/319857635/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Dec 2December 5, 1978 UPI College Poll https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/318955786/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Jan 2January 3, 1979 UPI Top 20 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/318978334/ Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2018 Alabama (18) Oklahoma (4) Penn State (3) Notre Dame (6) Arkansas (3) Michigan USC (1) Ohio State (1) Texas Nebraska Washington UCLA LSU Pittsburgh Texas A&M Florida State Kentucky North Carolina Iowa State Maryland Alabama (1–0) (30) Oklahoma (1–0) (4) Arkansas (0–0) (2) u Michigan (0–0) (1) u USC (1–0) u Ohio State (0–0) u Texas (0–0) u Penn State (2–0) d UCLA (1–0) u Missouri (1–0) npr Texas A&M (1–0) u Pittsburgh (0–0) u LSU (0–0) Nebraska (1–1) d Florida State (1–0) u Notre Dame (0–1) d Maryland (1–0) Kentucky (0–0) d Washington (0–1) d Colorado (1–0) npr North Carolina Iowa State Alabama (2–0) (34) Oklahoma (2–0) (4) Arkansas (1–0) (1) Penn State (1–0) (3) u Michigan (1–0) (1) d Texas (1–0) u USC (2–0) d UCLA (2–0) u Pittsburgh (1–0) u Texas A&M (1–0) u LSU (1–0) u Nebraska (2–1) u Florida State (2–0) u Notre Dame (0–1) u Colorado (2–0) u Maryland (2–0) u Washington (1–1) u Clemson (1–0) npr Ohio State (0–1) d Arizona State (2–0) npr Missouri Kentucky Oklahoma (3–0) (25) u USC (3–0) (7) u Michigan (2–0) (3) u Arkansas (2–0) (3) d Penn State (4–0) (1) d Texas (2–0) Alabama (2–1) d Texas A&M (2–0) u Florida State (3–0) u Pittsburgh (2–0) d LSU (2–0) Nebraska (2–1) Maryland (3–0) u Colorado (3–0) u Ohio State (1–1) u Iowa State (3–0) npr Missouri (2–1) npr Kentucky (1–0–1) npr Stanford (2–1) npr Purdue (2–0) npr UCLA Notre Dame Washington Clemson Arizona State Oklahoma (4–0) (29) USC (4–0) (11) Michigan (3–0) (1) Penn State (5–0) (1) u Arkansas (3–0) d Texas (3–0) Texas A&M (3–0) u Alabama (3–1) d Pittsburgh (3–0) u Nebraska (3–1) u LSU (3–0) Colorado (4–0) u Maryland (4–0) Ohio State (2–1) u Iowa State (4–0) u UCLA (3–1) npr Houston (2–1) npr Stanford (3–1) u NC State (4–0) npr Auburn (3–0) npr Florida State Missouri Kentucky Purdue Oklahoma (5–0) (35) USC (4–0) (5) Penn State (6–0) (1) u Michigan (4–0) d Arkansas (4–0) Texas A&M (4–0) u Alabama (4–1) u Nebraska (4–1) u Pittsburgh (4–0) LSU (4–0) u Maryland (5–0) u Colorado (5–0) Texas (3–1) d UCLA (4–1) u Missouri (3–2) npr Houston (3–1) u Florida State (4–1) npr Utah State (5–0) npr Navy (4–0) npr Stanford (3–2) d Ohio State Iowa State NC State Auburn Oklahoma (6–0) (31) Penn State (6–0) (10) u Arkansas (4–0) u Alabama (5–1) u Nebraska (5–1) u Maryland (6–0) u USC (4–1) d Texas (4–1) u Michigan (4–1) d Arkansas (5–0) u Houston (4–1) u Arizona State (5–1) npr LSU (4–1) d Texas A&M (4–1) d Pittsburgh (4–1) d Georgia (4–1) npr Missouri (4–2) d Notre Dame (3–2) npr Purdue (4–1) npr Navy (5–0) d Colorado Florida State Utah State Stanford Oklahoma (7–0) (32) Penn State (7–0) (7) Alabama (6–1) u Nebraska (6–1) u Maryland (7–0) u USC (5–1) u Texas (5–1) u UCLA (6–1) u Michigan (5–1) Houston (5–1) u Arkansas (4–1) d Arizona State (5–1) Georgia (5–1) u LSU (5–1) d Pittsburgh (5–1) Missouri (5–2) u Purdue (5–1) u Navy (6–0) u Notre Dame (4–2) d Clemson (5–1) npr Texas A&M Oklahoma (8–0) (32) Penn State (8–0) (7) Alabama (7–1) Nebraska (7–1) Maryland (8–0) USC (6–1) Texas (6–1) Houston (6–1) u Michigan (6–1) UCLA (7–1) d Navy (7–0) u Georgia (6–1) u LSU (5–1) u Purdue (6–1) u Notre Dame (5–2) u Clemson (6–1) u Arkansas (4–2) d Colorado (6–2) npr Georgia Tech (6–2) npr Ohio State (4–2–1) npr Arizona State Pittsburgh Missouri Oklahoma (9–0) (34) Penn State (9–0) (6) Alabama (8–1) Nebraska (8–1) USC (7–1) u Texas (6–1) u Michigan (7–1) u Houston (7–1) UCLA (8–1) u Georgia (7–1) u LSU (6–1) u Purdue (7–1) u Notre Dame (6–2) u Maryland (8–1) d Clemson (7–1) u Arkansas (5–2) u Washington (6–3) npr Navy (7–1) d Georgia Tech (6–2) Pittsburgh (6–2) npr Colorado Ohio State Penn State (10–0) (32) u Nebraska (9–1) (5) u Alabama (9–1) (2) Oklahoma (9–1) d USC (8–1) Houston (8–1) u Michigan (8–1) Georgia (8–1) u Texas (6–2) d Notre Dame (7–2) u Maryland (9–1) u Clemson (8–1) u Arkansas (6–2) u LSU (6–2) d UCLA (8–2) d Purdue (7–1–1) d Ohio State (6–2–1) npr Pittsburgh (7–2) u Georgia Tech (7–2) Stanford (6–4) т Iowa State (7–3) т npr Washington Navy Penn State (10–0) (39) Alabama (9–1) u Oklahoma (10–1) u USC (9–1) (1) u Houston (8–1) u Michigan (9–1) u Nebraska (9–2) d Notre Dame (8–2) u Texas (7–2) Clemson (9–1) u Georgia (8–1–1) d Arkansas (7–2) u Pittsburgh (8–2) u Ohio State (7–2–1) u UCLA (8–3) Maryland (9–2) d Missouri (7–4) npr Stanford (7–4) u Purdue (7–2–1) d Iowa State (8–3) LSU Georgia Tech Penn State (11–0) (30) Alabama (9–1) USC (10–1) (3) u Oklahoma (10–1) d Michigan (10–1) (1) u Nebraska (9–2) u Clemson (10–1) u Georgia (8–1–1) u Notre Dame (8–3) d Arkansas (8–2) u Houston (8–2) d Maryland (9–2) u Pittsburgh (8–3) Purdue (8–2–1) u UCLA (8–3) Missouri (7–4) u Texas (7–3) d LSU (7–3) npr Stanford (7–4) d Ohio State (7–3–1) d Iowa State Penn State (11–0) (31) Alabama (10–1) USC (11–1) (3) Oklahoma (10–1) Michigan (10–1) (1) Nebraska (9–2) Georgia (9–1–1) u Clemson (10–1) d Notre Dame (8–3) Arkansas (9–2) Houston (9–2) Maryland (9–2) Pittsburgh (8–3) Texas (8–3) u Missouri (7–4) u UCLA (8–3) d Purdue (8–2–1) d LSU (8–3) Georgia Tech (7–4) npr Stanford (7–4) d Ohio State USC (12–1) (15) nc Alabama (11–1) (15) Oklahoma (11–1) (5) u Penn State (11–1) d Michigan (10–2) Clemson (11–1) т tu Notre Dame (9–3) т u Nebraska (9–3) d Texas (9–3) u Arkansas (9–2–1) Houston (9–3) UCLA (8–3–1) u Purdue (9–2–1) u Missouri (8–4) u Georgia (9–2–1) d Stanford (8–4) u Navy (9–3) npr Texas A&M (8–4) npr Arizona State (9–3) т tnpr NC State (9–3) т npr Maryland Pittsburgh LSU Georgia Tech References * Category:NCAA Division I FBS football rankings