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Two human polls comprised the 1977 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.
| 1977 NCAA Division I football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1977 |
| Bowl season | 1977–78 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Notre Dame |
| 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 |
| Preseason [1][2] | Week 1 Sep 12[1] | Week 2 Sep 19[1] | Week 3 Sep 26[1] | Week 4 Oct 3[1] | Week 5 Oct 10[1] | Week 6 Oct 17[1] | Week 7 Oct 24[1] | Week 8 Oct 31[1] | Week 9 Nov 7[1] | Week 10 Nov 14[1] | Week 11 Nov 21[1] | Week 12 Nov 28[1] | Week 13 (Final) Final[1][3] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Oklahoma (23) | Michigan (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | USC (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Texas (6–0) | Texas (7–0) | Texas (8–0) | Texas (9–0) | Texas (10–0) | Texas (11–0) | Notre Dame (11–1) (37 1⁄3) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (19) | USC (1–0) | USC (2–0) | USC (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Texas (4–0) | Texas (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) (19 1⁄3) | 2. |
| 3. | Notre Dame (10) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Arkansas (11–1) (5 1⁄3) | 3. |
| 4. | USC (3) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Alabama (4–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Texas (11–1) (2) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State (2) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Texas (3–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Alabama (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Colorado (4–0) | USC (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Arkansas (9–1) | Arkansas (10–1) | Kentucky (10–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Pittsburgh (2) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) т | Oklahoma (4–1) | Colorado (5–0–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Kentucky (7–1) | Kentucky (8–1) | Kentucky (9–1) | Kentucky (10–1) | Kentucky (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Tech (1) | Texas Tech (1–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Arkansas (4–0) т | Arkansas (4–0) | Kentucky (5–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Penn State (10–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Texas A&M (1) | Houston (0–0) | Texas (2–0) | Florida (2–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Maryland | Penn State (1–0) | Alabama (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Penn State (3–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Penn State (5–1) | USC (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Washington (8–4) | 10. |
| 11. | UCLA | Maryland (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–1) | Nebraska (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Nebraska (6–2) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Nebraska (8–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Clemson (8–2–1) | Ohio State (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Colorado | Colorado (1–0) | Mississippi State (2–0) | Arkansas (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Kentucky (4–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | Nebraska (5–2) | Pittsburgh (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–2) | Arizona State (8–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | Nebraska (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Penn State | Mississippi State (2–0) | Florida (1–0) | Texas Tech (2–1) | BYU (3–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Texas Tech (5–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Clemson (7–1) | BYU (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | Clemson (8–2–1) | Washington (7–4) | USC (8–4) | 13. |
| 14. | Houston | UCLA (0–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Notre Dame (2–1) | California (4–0) | Wisconsin (5–0) | Pittsburgh (4–1–1) | Texas Tech (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | USC (6–3) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Washington (7–4) | North Carolina (8–2–1) | Florida State (10–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Nebraska | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | BYU (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–1) | Texas Tech (4–1) | California (5–1) | Colorado (5–1–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Clemson (7–1–1) | Clemson (7–2–1) | North Carolina (8–2–1) | Arizona State (9–2) | Stanford (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Mississippi State | Pittsburgh (0–1) | Arkansas (2–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Kentucky (3–1) | LSU (3–1) | Iowa State (5–1) | Clemson (6–1) | USC (5–3) | Florida State (7–1) | Texas Tech (7–2) | San Diego State (9–1) | San Diego State (9–1) | San Diego State (10–1) | 16. |
| 17. | Arizona State | Georgia (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | California (3–0) | Texas Tech (3–1) | Pittsburgh (3–1–1) | BYU (4–1) | BYU (5–1) | California (6–2) | Arizona State (7–1) | BYU (7–2) | UCLA (7–3) | BYU (9–2) т | North Carolina (8–3–1) | 17. |
| 18. | Florida | Texas (1–0) | UCLA (1–1) | Mississippi State (2–1) | LSU (2–1) | Florida (2–1–1) | Nebraska (4–2) | Florida (3–1–1) | LSU (5–2) | Texas Tech (6–2) | North Carolina (7–2–1) | BYU (8–2) | Texas A&M (7–3) т | Arizona State (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Georgia | Florida (0–0) | Houston (1–1) | Houston (2–1) | Wisconsin (4–0) | Houston (3–1) | Florida (2–1–1) | Minnesota (5–2) | Arizona State (6–1) т | North Carolina (6–2–1) | Washington (6–4) | Arizona State (8–2) | Florida State (8–2) | Clemson (8–3–1) | 19. |
| 20. | Oklahoma State | BYU (1–0) | BYU (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | California (4–1) | Clemson (5–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Iowa State (6–2) т | Colgate (9–0) | UCLA (7–3) | Florida State (8–2) | USC (7–4) | BYU (9–2) | 20. |
| Preseason [1][4] | Week 1 Sep 12[1] | Week 2 Sep 19[1] | Week 3 Sep 26[1] | Week 4 Oct 3[1] | Week 5 Oct 10[1] | Week 6 Oct 17[1] | Week 7 Oct 24[1] | Week 8 Oct 31[1] | Week 9 Nov 7[1] | Week 10 Nov 14[1] | Week 11 Nov 21[1] | Week 12 Nov 28[1] | Week 13 (Final) Final[1][5] | ||
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| Week 1 Sep 12 | Week 2 Sep 19 | Week 3 Sep 26 | Week 4 Oct 3 | Week 5 Oct 10 | Week 6 Oct 17 | Week 7 Oct 24 | Week 8 Oct 31 | Week 9 Nov 7 | Week 10 Nov 14[N 2] | Week 11 Nov 21[N 2] | Week 12 Nov 28 | Week 13 Jan 3 (Final) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Michigan (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | USC (3–0) | USC (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Texas (6–0) | Texas (7–0) | Texas (8–0) | Texas (9–0) | Texas (10–0) | Texas (11–0) | Notre Dame (11–1) (23) | 1. |
| 2. | USC (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Texas (4–0) | Texas (5–0) | Alabama (6–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Alabama (11–1) (13) | 2. |
| 3. | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Colorado (5–0) | Alabama (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–1) | Oklahoma (7–1) | Oklahoma (8–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (9–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Arkansas (11–1) (2) | 3. |
| 4. | Notre Dame (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Texas (3–0) | Alabama (4–1) | USC (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Michigan (10–1) | Penn State (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Colorado (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Notre Dame (9–1) | Texas (11–1) (1) | 5. |
| 6. | Oklahoma (1–0) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Colorado (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Oklahoma (4–1) | Oklahoma (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Notre Dame (8–1) | Arkansas (9–1) | Arkansas (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Texas A&M (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Nebraska (3–1) | USC (4–1) | Colorado (5–0–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Arkansas (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Penn State (10–1) | Pittsburgh (9–2–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas Tech (1–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Arkansas (4–0) | Arkansas (4–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Arkansas (6–1) | Penn State (8–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Penn State (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Florida (2–0) | Arkansas (4–0) | Nebraska (4–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Pittsburgh (6–1–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1–1) | Pittsburgh (8–2–1) | Washington (8–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Maryland (1–0) | Florida (1–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | California (4–0) | Penn State (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Nebraska (5–2) | Nebraska (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Nebraska (8–2) | Clemson (8–2–1) | Nebraska (9–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Colorado (1–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Arkansas (3–0) | Penn State (3–1) | LSU (3–1) | Texas A&M (4–1) | USC (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–1) | Arizona State (8–1) | Texas A&M (7–2) | North Carolina (8–2–1) | Florida State (10–2) | 11. |
| 12. | Houston (1–0) | Alabama (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | BYU (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) т | Pittsburgh (4–1–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1–1) | Iowa State (6–2) | BYU (7–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Iowa State (8–3) | Arizona State (9–2) | Ohio State (9–3) т | 12. |
| 13. | Texas (1–0) т | Washington State (2–0) | Pittsburgh (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Pittsburgh (3–1–1) т | Texas Tech (5–1) | Texas Tech (5–1) | BYU (6–1) т | Arizona State (7–1) | Florida State (8–1) | North Texas State (9–2) | Nebraska (8–3) | USC (8–4) т | 13. |
| 14. | UCLA (1–0) т | Notre Dame (1–1) | BYU (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | California (5–1) | Colorado (5–1–1) | Clemson (7–1) т | USC (6–3) | North Texas State (8–2) | Clemson (8–2–1) | BYU (9–2) т | North Carolina (8–3–1) | 14. |
| 15. | Florida (0–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Houston (3–1) | Texas Tech (4–1) т | BYU (4–1) | BYU (5–1) | Florida State (6–1) | Colorado (6–2–1) | Clemson (7–2–1) | North Carolina (8–2–1) | Iowa State (8–3) т | Stanford (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Pittsburgh (0–1) | Mississippi State (2–0) | California (3–0) | Texas Tech (3–1) | Wisconsin (5–0) т | North Texas State (6–1) | Clemson (6–1) т | Arizona State (6–1) т | Clemson (7–1–1) т | North Carolina (7–2–1) т | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) т | BYU (9–2) т | 16. |
| 17. | BYU (1–0) | BYU (1–0) т | Houston (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Houston (3–1) | Nebraska (4–2) | North Texas State (7–1) т | California (6–2) т | Florida State (7–1) т | Texas Tech (7–2) т | UCLA (7–3) | North Texas State (9–2) | North Texas State (9–2) т | 17. |
| 18. | South Carolina (2–0) | Pittsburgh (1–1) т | Arizona State (2–0) | Florida (2–1) | BYU (3–1) т | Iowa State (5–1) | Oklahoma State (4–3) | Stanford (6–2) | North Texas State (8–2) | UCLA (7–3) т | BYU (8–2) | San Diego State (10–1) т | Arizona State (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Iowa State (1–0) т | Oklahoma State (1–1) | Texas Tech (2–1) | LSU (2–1) | North Texas State (5–1) т | Clemson (5–1) | Iowa State (5–2) | NC State (6–3) | Iowa State (7–3) | Colorado State (8–2–1) | Texas A&M (7–3) т | NC State (8–4) т | 19. | |
| 20. | Georgia (1–0) т Oklahoma State (1–0) т | West Virginia (2–0) | Wisconsin (3–0) | Wisconsin (4–0) | NC State (5–1) | Arizona State (4–1) | Arizona State (5–1) | North Texas State (7–2) | Stanford (8–3) | USC (7–4) | San Diego State (10–1) т | 20. | ||
| Week 1 Sep 12 | Week 2 Sep 19 | Week 3 Sep 26 | Week 4 Oct 3 | Week 5 Oct 10 | Week 6 Oct 17 | Week 7 Oct 24 | Week 8 Oct 31 | Week 9 Nov 7 | Week 10 Nov 14[N 2] | Week 11 Nov 21[N 2] | Week 12 Nov 28 | Week 13 Jan 3 (Final) | ||
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Notes:
- Per an agreement with the AFCA, teams under NCAA probation were ineligible to be ranked in the Coaches Poll. Notable teams on probation included Kentucky (10–1) and Michigan State (7–3–1).
- Less than 20 teams received votes in this poll.
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