| 1971 NCAA University Division football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1971 |
| Bowl season | 1971–72 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | Notre Dame |
| End of season champions | Nebraska |
| NCAA University Division football rankings ← 19701972 → | |
Two human polls comprised the 1971 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
For the first time, the top two teams in the final poll were from the same conference; Nebraska (13–0) and Oklahoma (11–1) were joined by Colorado (10–2) in third for a sweep by the Big Eight Conference.
| Preseason Aug | Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27 | Week 4 Oct 4 | Week 5 Oct 11 | Week 6 Oct 18 | Week 7 Oct 25 | Week 8 Nov 1 | Week 9 Nov 8 | Week 10 Nov 15 | Week 11 Nov 22 | Week 12 Nov 29 | Week 13 Dec 6 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Notre Dame (15) | Nebraska (1–0) (31) | Nebraska (2–0) (32) | Nebraska (3–0) (44) | Nebraska (4–0) (43) | Nebraska (5–0) (40) | Nebraska (6–0) (35) | Nebraska (7–0) (31) | Nebraska (8–0) (34) | Nebraska (9–0) (41) | Nebraska (10–0) (40) | Nebraska (10–0) (40) | Nebraska (11–0) (48) | Nebraska (12–0) (48) | Nebraska (13–0) (55) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska (26) | Notre Dame (0–0) (10) | Notre Dame (1–0) (18) | Michigan (3–0) (3) | Michigan (4–0) (5) | Oklahoma (4–0) (8) | Oklahoma (5–0) (18) | Oklahoma (6–0) (21) | Oklahoma (7–0) (17) | Oklahoma (8–0) (6) | Oklahoma (9–0) (8) | Oklahoma (9–0) (8) | Alabama (11–0) (4) | Alabama (11–0) (4) | Oklahoma (11–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Texas (5) | Texas (0–0) (5) | Texas (1–0) (3) | Texas (2–0) (3) | Texas (3–0) (3) | Michigan (5–0) (4) | Michigan (6–0) (1) | Michigan (7–0) (1) | Michigan (8–0) (2) | Michigan (9–0) (6) | Michigan (10–0) (4) | Alabama (10–0) (1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Colorado (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Michigan (1) | Michigan (1–0) (2) | Michigan (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) (1) | Auburn (3–0) (2) | Alabama (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (7–0) (1) | Alabama (8–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (10–0) (1) | Michigan (11–0) (3) | Michigan (11–0) (2) | Michigan (11–0) (3) | Alabama (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | USC (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Auburn (1–0) (2) | Auburn (2–0) (2) | Colorado (4–0) (2) | Auburn (4–0) (2) | Auburn (5–0) (1) | Auburn (6–0) (1) | Auburn (7–0) (1) | Penn State (8–0) (1) | Auburn (9–0) (1) | Auburn (9–0) (1) | Penn State (10–0) (1) | Auburn (9–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Auburn (1) | Arkansas (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Colorado (3–0) (2) | Alabama (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) (1) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Penn State (6–0) | Penn State (7–0) (1) | Auburn (8–0) (1) | Penn State (9–0) (1) | Penn State (10–0) (2) | Auburn (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Michigan (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Arkansas | Auburn (0–0) (2) | Arkansas (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Georgia (7–0) | Georgia (8–0) | Georgia (9–0) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Colorado (9–2) | Georgia (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Tennessee | Tennessee (0–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Georgia (5–0) | Georgia (6–0) | Arkansas (6–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Colorado (9–2) | Colorado (9–2) | Arizona State (10–1) | Arizona State (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | LSU | Alabama (1–0) | Tennessee (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Penn State (4–0) | Arkansas (5–1) | Colorado (6–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Arizona State (7–1) | Arizona State (8–1) | Arizona State (9–1) | Arizona State (10–1) | Tennessee (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Oklahoma | Oklahoma (0–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Stanford (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Texas (3–1) | Stanford (5–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Arizona State (6–1) | Stanford (7–2) | Colorado (8–2) | LSU (7–3) | LSU (8–3) | Penn State (10–1) | Stanford (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Ohio State | Georgia (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Washington (4–0) | Arizona State (4–0) | Colorado (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Tennessee (5–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (6–2) | Tennessee (7–2) | Texas (8–2) | LSU (8–3) | LSU (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Penn State | Colorado (1–0) | Penn State (1–0) | Tennessee (1–1) | Arizona State (3–0) | LSU (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Stanford (6–2) | Colorado (7–2) | Texas (7–2) | Texas (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Texas (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Syracuse | Stanford (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Ohio State (3–1) | LSU (5–1) | Arizona State (5–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Texas (6–2) | Toledo (10–0) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Toledo (11–0) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Arizona State | Penn State (0–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Ohio State (1–1) | Duke (4–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Arizona State (4–1) т | Texas (4–2) | Toledo (8–0) | Toledo (9–0) | LSU (6–3) | Toledo (11–0) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Toledo (11–0) | Toledo (12–0) | 14. |
| 15. | UCLA | Syracuse (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Washington (3–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Toledo (6–0) т | Toledo (7–0) | Texas (5–2) | USC (5–4) | USC (6–4) | Houston (8–2) | Houston (9–2) | Houston (9–2) | Mississippi (10–2) | 15. |
| 16. | Alabama | Arizona State (0–0) | USC (1–1) | LSU (2–1) | LSU (3–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Texas (3–2) | Tennessee (4–2) | Arkansas (6–2) | Ohio State (6–2) | Houston (7–2) | Stanford (8–3) | Arkansas (8–2–1) т | Stanford (8–3) | Arkansas (8–3–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgia Tech | USC (0–1) | Washington (2–0) | USC (2–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Toledo (5–0) | Purdue (3–2) | Stanford (5–2) | USC (4–4) | Arkansas (6–2–1) | Arkansas (7–2–1) | Arkansas (8–2–1) | Stanford (8–3) т | Mississippi (9–2) | Houston (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Georgia | Michigan State (1–0) | LSU (1–1) | Arkansas (2–1) | North Carolina (4–0) | Washington (4–1) | Tennessee (3–2) | Air Force (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Houston (6–2) | Stanford (7–3) | Mississippi (8–2) | Mississippi (9–2) т | Arkansas (8–2–1) | Texas (8–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Stanford | South Carolina (1–0) | Toledo (2–0) | Duke (3–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Florida State (5–0) | Duke (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Houston (5–2) | Washington (7–2) | Michigan State (6–4) | North Carolina (9–2) | North Carolina (9–2) т | Northwestern (7–4) | Washington (8–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Northwestern (1) | Houston (1–0) | Duke (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Toledo (4–0) | Purdue (2–2) | Air Force (4–1) | USC (3–4) | Washington (6–2) | LSU (5–3) | Mississippi (8–2) | Washington (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | Washington (8–3) | USC (6–4–1) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug | Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27 | Week 4 Oct 4 | Week 5 Oct 11 | Week 6 Oct 18 | Week 7 Oct 25 | Week 8 Nov 1 | Week 9 Nov 8 | Week 10 Nov 15 | Week 11 Nov 22 | Week 12 Nov 29 | Week 13 Dec 6 | Week 14 (Final) Jan 3 | ||
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Final Coaches Poll
The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.
Nebraska received 29 of the 31 first place votes; Alabama received the other two.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Won Orange, 38–6 |
| 2 | Alabama | SEC | Lost Orange, 6–38 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | Won Sugar, 40–22 |
| 4 | Michigan | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 12–13 |
| 5 | Auburn | SEC | Lost Sugar, 22–40 |
| 6 | Arizona State | WAC | Won Fiesta, 45–38 |
| 7 | Colorado | Big Eight | Won Bluebonnet, 31–21 |
| 8 | Georgia | SEC | Won Gator, 7–3 |
| 9 | Tennessee | SEC | Won Liberty, 14–13 |
| 10 | LSU | SEC | Won Sun, 33–15 |
| 11 | Penn State | Independent | Won Cotton, 30–6 |
| 12 | Texas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 6–30 |
| 13 | Toledo | Mid-American | Won Tangerine, 28–3 |
| 14 | Houston | Independent | Lost Bluebonnet, 21–31 |
| 15 | Notre Dame | Independent | none (declined) |
| 16 | Stanford | Pac-8 | Won Rose, 13–12 |
| 17 | Iowa State | Big Eight | Lost Sun, 15–33 |
| 18 | North Carolina | ACC | Lost Gator, 3–7 |
| 19 | Florida State | Independent | Lost Fiesta, 38–45 |
| 20 | Arkansas | Southwest | Lost Liberty, 13–14 |
| Mississippi | SEC | Won Peach, 13–12 |
- Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac-8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.
References
- ^ "Grid poll sweep for Big Eight; Huskers, Sooners, Buffs, 1, 2, 3". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 4, 1972. p. 12.
- "1971 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "September 13, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "September 20, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "September 27, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "October 4, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "October 11, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "October 18, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "October 25, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "November 1, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "November 8, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "November 15, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "November 22, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "November 29, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "December 6, 1971 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- "1971 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ Madden, Bill (December 7, 1971). "Coaches agree". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. p. 32.
| NCAA college football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Pre-divisional |
|
| NCAA University Division | |
| NCAA Division I | |
| NCAA Division I-A/FBS | |
| NCAA Division I-AA/FCS | |
| Small college | |
| NCAA Division II | |
| NCAA Division III | |
| Polls | |