1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Season| 1997
Bowl season| 1997–98 bowl games
Preseason No. 1|

* Penn State (AP)
* Florida (Coaches)

End of season champions|

* Michigan (AP)
* Nebraska (Coaches)

Conference with most
teams in final AP poll| SEC (6)
NCAA Division I-A football rankings

<- 1996

1998 ->

Two human polls comprised the 1997 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, did not bestow a national championship; instead that title was 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

[edit]

|  | Increase in ranking

|
|

|  | Decrease in ranking
|  | Not ranked previous week
|  | National champion

(#–#)

|  | Win–loss record

(Italics)

|  | Number of first place votes

|  | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

## AP Poll

[edit]

| Preseason
Aug 11[1]| Week 1
Aug 25[2]| Week 2
Sep 2[3]| Week 3
Sep 8[4]| Week 4
Sep 15[5]| Week 5
Sep 22[6]| Week 6
Sep 29[7]| Week 7
Oct 6[8]| Week 8
Oct 13[9]| Week 9
Oct 20[10]| Week 10
Oct 27[11]| Week 11
Nov 3[12]| Week 12
Nov 10[13]| Week 13
Nov 17[14]| Week 14
Nov 24[15]| Week 15
Dec 1[16]| Week 16
Dec 8[17]| Week 17 (Final)
Jan 3[18]|

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1.| Penn State (21)| Penn State (0–0) (22)| Penn State (0–0) (23)| Penn State (1–0) (22)| Penn State (2–0) (25)| Florida (3–0) (32)| Florida (4–0) (36)| Florida (5–0) (35)| Penn State (5–0) (51)| Nebraska (6–0) (33)| Nebraska (7–0) (35)| Nebraska (8–0) (46)| Michigan (9–0) (44)| Michigan (10–0) (44)| Michigan (11–0) (69)| Michigan (11–0) (69)| Michigan (11–0) (69)| Michigan (12–0) (51½)| 1.
2.| Florida (12)| Florida (0–0) (14)| Florida (1–0) (14)| Florida (2–0) (15)| Washington (2–0) (19)| Penn State (3–0) (28)| Penn State (3–0) (25)| Penn State (4–0) (26)| Nebraska (5–0) (14)| Penn State (6–0) (26)| Penn State (6–0) (25)| Penn State (7–0) (16)| Florida State (9–0) (23)| Florida State (10–0) (24)| Nebraska (10–0) (1)| Nebraska (11–0) (1)| Nebraska (12–0) (1)| Nebraska (13–0) (18½)| 2.
3.| Florida State (7)| Florida State (0–0) (6)| Tennessee (1–0) (7)| Washington (1–0) (14)| Florida (2–0) (14)| Nebraska (3–0) (7)| Nebraska (3–0) (6)| Nebraska (4–0) (6)| Florida State (5–0) (3)| Florida State (6–0) (9)| Florida State (7–0) (8)| Florida State (8–0) (5)| Nebraska (9–0) (3)| Nebraska (10–0) (2)| Tennessee (9–1)| Tennessee (10–1)| Tennessee (11–1)| Florida State (11–1)| 3.
4.| Washington (10)| Washington (0–0) (9)| Washington (0–0) (9)| Tennessee (2–0) (6)| Tennessee (2–0) (6)| Florida State (3–0) (1)| Florida State (3–0) (1)| Florida State (4–0) (1)| North Carolina (6–0) (2)| North Carolina (7–0) (2)| Michigan (7–0)| Michigan (8–0) (1)| Ohio State (9–1)| Ohio State (10–1)| Penn State (9–1)| Florida State (10–1)| Florida State (10–1)| Florida (10–2)| 4.
5.| Tennessee (8)| Tennessee (0–0) (7)| Florida State (0–0) (6)| Florida State (1–0) (4)| Florida State (2–0) (3)| North Carolina (3–0) (2)| North Carolina (4–0) (2)| North Carolina (5–0) (2)| Michigan (5–0)| Michigan (6–0)| North Carolina (7–0) (2)| North Carolina (8–0) (2)| Tennessee (7–1)| Tennessee (8–1)| Florida State (10–1)| UCLA (9–2)| UCLA (9–2)| UCLA (10–2)| 5.
6.| Nebraska (4)| Nebraska (0–0) (4)| Nebraska (1–0) (4)| Nebraska (1–0) (4)| North Carolina (2–0) (1)| Michigan (2–0)| Michigan (3–0)| Michigan (4–0)| Auburn (6–0)| Florida (6–1)| Florida (6–1)| Washington (7–1)| Penn State (7–1)| Penn State (8–1)| UCLA (9–2)| Florida (9–2)| Florida (9–2)| North Carolina (11–1)| 6.
7.| North Carolina (4)| North Carolina (0–0) (4)| North Carolina (0–0) (4)| North Carolina (1–0) (2)| Nebraska (2–0) (2)| Ohio State (3–0)| Ohio State (4–0)| Ohio State (5–0)| Florida (5–1)| Washington (5–1)| Washington (6–1)| Ohio State (8–1)| Georgia (7–1)| UCLA (8–2)| Florida (9–2)| North Carolina (10–1)| North Carolina (10–1)| Tennessee (11–2)| 7.
8.| Colorado (3)| Colorado (0–0) (3)| Colorado (0–0) (3)| Colorado (1–0) (3)| Michigan (1–0)| Auburn (3–0)| Auburn (4–0)| Auburn (5–0)| LSU (5–1)| Tennessee (5–1)| Tennessee (5–1)| Tennessee (6–1)| North Carolina (8–1)| North Carolina (9–1)| North Carolina (10–1)| Washington State (10–1)| Washington State (10–1)| Kansas State (11–1)| 8.
9.| Ohio State (1)| Ohio State (0–0) (1)| Ohio State (1–0)| Ohio State (1–0)| Ohio State (2–0)| Tennessee (2–1)| Tennessee (2–1)| Tennessee (3–1)| Tennessee (4–1)| Ohio State (6–1)| Ohio State (7–1)| Georgia (7–1)| UCLA (7–2)| Kansas State (9–1)| Ohio State (10–2)| Ohio State (10–2)| Ohio State (10–2)| Washington State (10–2)| 9.
10.| LSU| LSU (0–0)| LSU (0–0)| LSU (1–0)| LSU (2–0)| Washington (2–1)| Washington (2–1)| Washington (3–1)| Washington (4–1)| Washington State (6–0)| Washington State (7–0)| UCLA (7–2)| Kansas State (8–1)| Florida (8–2)| Washington State (10–1)| Kansas State (10–1)| Kansas State (10–1)| Georgia (10–2)| 10.
11.| Notre Dame| Notre Dame (0–0)| Notre Dame (0–0)| Texas (1–0)| Alabama (2–0)| Iowa (3–0)| Iowa (4–0)| Michigan State (4–0)| Ohio State (5–1)| Auburn (6–1)| Auburn (7–1)| Kansas State (7–1)| LSU (7–2)| Washington State (9–1)| Kansas State (10–1)| Auburn (9–2)| Penn State (9–2)| Auburn (10–3)| 11.
12.| Texas| Texas (0–0)| Texas (0–0)| Notre Dame (1–0)| Auburn (2–0)| Michigan State (3–0)| Michigan State (3–0)| Washington State (5–0)| Michigan State (5–0)| Oklahoma State (6–0)| UCLA (6–2)| Iowa (6–2)| Florida (7–2)| Arizona State (8–2)| Arizona State (8–2)| Penn State (9–2)| Georgia (9–2)| Ohio State (10–3)| 12.
13.| Miami (FL)| Syracuse (1–0)| Miami (FL) (1–0)| Miami (FL) (1–0)| Iowa (2–0)| LSU (2–1)| LSU (3–1)| Georgia (4–0)| Washington State (5–0)| UCLA (5–2)| Kansas State (6–1)| Florida (6–2)| Washington (7–2)| Auburn (8–2)| Auburn (9–2)| Georgia (9–2)| Auburn (9–3)| LSU (9–3)| 13.
14.| Michigan| Miami (FL) (0–0)| Michigan (0–0)| Michigan (0–0)| Arizona State (2–0)| Virginia Tech (3–0)| Virginia Tech (4–0)| LSU (4–1)| Texas A&M (5–0)| Kansas State (5–1)| Georgia (6–1)| LSU (6–2)| Washington State (8–1)| Georgia (7–2)| Georgia (8–2)| Texas A&M (9–2)| Syracuse (9–3)| Arizona State (8–3)| 14.
15.| Alabama| Michigan (0–0)| Alabama (1–0)| Alabama (1–0)| Colorado (1–1)| Washington State (3–0)| Washington State (4–0)| Texas A&M (4–0)| Iowa (4–1)| Michigan State (5–1)| Iowa (5–2)| Arizona State (6–2)| Arizona State (7–2)| Mississippi State (7–2)| Texas A&M (8–2)| Syracuse (9–3)| LSU (8–3)| Purdue (9–3)| 15.
16.| Auburn| Alabama (0–0)| Auburn (0–0)| Auburn (1–0)| Clemson (2–0)| Colorado (1–1)| Colorado (2–1)| Stanford (4–1)| Oklahoma State (6–0)| Georgia (5–1)| LSU (5–2)| Washington State (7–1)| Auburn (7–2)| Texas A&M (8–2)| Syracuse (8–3)| LSU (8–3)| Arizona State (8–3)| Penn State (9–3)| 16.
17.| Syracuse| Auburn (0–0)| Stanford (0–0)| Stanford (1–0)| Michigan State (2–0)| Clemson (2–1)| Kansas State (3–0)| Iowa (4–1)| UCLA (4–2)| LSU (5–2)| West Virginia (6–1)| Auburn (7–2)| Mississippi State (6–2)| Washington (7–3)| LSU (7–3)| Arizona State (8–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Colorado State (11–2)| 17.
18.| Stanford| Stanford (0–0)| Clemson (0–0)| Iowa (1–0)| Virginia Tech (2–0)| Kansas State (2–0)| Georgia (3–0)| UCLA (3–2)| Air Force (7–0)| Iowa (4–2)| Purdue (6–1)| Toledo (8–0)| Texas A&M (7–2)| Syracuse (8–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Colorado State (10–2)| Washington (8–4)| 18.
19.| BYU| BYU (0–0)| BYU (0–0)| Clemson (1–0)| Washington State (2–0)| Georgia (3–0)| Stanford (3–1)| Air Force (6–0)| Georgia (4–1)| Virginia Tech (5–1)| Oklahoma State (6–1)| Mississippi State (6–2)| Purdue (7–2) T| Virginia Tech (7–2)| Missouri (7–4)| Missouri (7–4)| Missouri (7–4)| Southern Miss (9–3)| 19.
20.| Clemson| Clemson (0–0)| Iowa (0–0)| Kansas State (1–0)| Kansas State (2–0)| Stanford (2–1)| Alabama (3–1)| Oklahoma State (5–0)| Kansas State (4–1)| Texas A&M (5–1)| Arizona State (5–2)| Virginia Tech (6–2)| Virginia Tech (7–2) T| LSU (7–3)| Colorado State (9–2)| Colorado State (9–2)| Texas A&M (9–3)| Texas A&M (9–4)| 20.
21.| Iowa| Iowa (0–0)| Kansas State (0–0) T| Michigan State (1–0)| Stanford (1–1)| Alabama (2–1)| Texas A&M (3–0)| BYU (3–1)| Georgia Tech (4–1)| West Virginia (5–1)| Michigan State (5–2)| Texas A&M (6–2)| Syracuse (7–3)| Missouri (7–4)| Washington (7–4)| Washington (7–4)| Washington (7–4)| Syracuse (9–4)| 21.
22.| USC| Kansas State (0–0)| Northwestern (1–0) T| Virginia Tech (1–0)| Miami (FL) (1–1)| Texas A&M (2–0)| UCLA (2–2)| Kansas State (3–1)| Virginia Tech (5–1)| Purdue (5–1)| Toledo (7–0)| Syracuse (6–3)| Iowa (6–3)| West Virginia (7–4)| Mississippi State (7–3)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Mississippi (8–4)| 22.
23.| Kansas State| USC (0–0)| USC (0–0)| USC (0–1)| Colorado State (2–1)| BYU (1–1)| Air Force (5–0)| Virginia Tech (4–1)| West Virginia (5–1)| Arizona State (5–2)| Virginia Tech (5–2)| Purdue (6–2)| Wisconsin (8–2)| Purdue (7–3)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Air Force (10–2)| Air Force (10–2)| Missouri (7–5)| 23.
24.| Wisconsin| Northwestern (1–0)| Colorado State (1–0)| Arizona State (1–0)| UCLA (1–2)| UCLA (1–2)| BYU (2–1)| Colorado (2–2)| Wisconsin (6–1)| Toledo (6–0)| Southern Miss (5–2)| Southern Miss (6–2)| Oklahoma State (7–2)| Wisconsin (8–3)| Air Force (10–2)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| Oklahoma State (8–4)| 24.
25.| Michigan State| Michigan State (0–0)| Michigan State (0–0)| Colorado State (1–1)| Georgia (2–0)| Arizona State (2–1)| Arizona State (3–1)| Georgia Tech (3–1)| Stanford (4–2)| Mississippi (4–2)| Texas A&M (5–2)| Oklahoma State (6–2)| Missouri (6–4)| Colorado State (8–2)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| Michigan State (7–4)| Michigan State (7–4)| Georgia Tech (7–5)| 25.
| Preseason
Aug 11[1]| Week 1
Aug 25[2]| Week 2
Sep 2[3]| Week 3
Sep 8[4]| Week 4
Sep 15[5]| Week 5
Sep 22[6]| Week 6
Sep 29[7]| Week 7
Oct 6[8]| Week 8
Oct 13[9]| Week 9
Oct 20[10]| Week 10
Oct 27[11]| Week 11
Nov 3[12]| Week 12
Nov 10[13]| Week 13
Nov 17[14]| Week 14
Nov 24[15]| Week 15
Dec 1[16]| Week 16
Dec 8[17]| Week 17 (Final)
Jan 3[18]|
| Dropped:
Wisconsin| Dropped:
Syracuse| Dropped:

* BYU
* Northwestern

| Dropped:

* Texas
* Notre Dame
* USC

| Dropped:

* Miami (FL)
* Colorado State

| Dropped:
Clemson| Dropped:

* Alabama
* Arizona State

| Dropped:

* BYU
* Colorado

| Dropped:

* Air Force
* Georgia Tech
* Wisconsin
* Stanford

| Dropped:
Mississippi| Dropped:

* West Virginia
* Michigan State

| Dropped:

* Toledo
* Southern Miss

| Dropped:

* Iowa
* Oklahoma State

| Dropped:

* Virginia Tech
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin

| Dropped:
Mississippi State| None| Dropped:

* Air Force
* Michigan State

## Coaches Poll

[edit]

In the final Coaches Poll of the 1997 season, Nebraska leapfrogged Michigan to secure a share of the national championship, making it the 3rd split championship of the 1990s.[19] Eight coaches split their first-place votes, with a final tally of 32 first-place votes for Nebraska and 30 for Michigan. The final vote count was Nebraska 1,520, Michigan 1,516.[20]

| Preseason
Aug 11[21]| Week 2
Sep 2[22]| Week 3
Sep 8[23]| Week 4
Sep 15[24]| Week 5
Sep 22[25]| Week 6
Sep 29[26]| Week 7
Oct 6[27]| Week 8
Oct 13[28]| Week 9
Oct 20[29]| Week 10
Oct 27[30]| Week 11
Nov 3[31]| Week 12
Nov 10[32]| Week 13
Nov 17[33]| Week 14
Nov 24[34]| Week 15
Dec 1[35]| Week 16
Dec 8[36]| Week 17 (Final)
Jan 4[37]|

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1.| Florida (19)| Florida (1–0) (25)| Florida (2–0) (25)| Florida (2–0) (25)| Florida (3–0) (43)| Florida (4–0) (45)| Florida (5–0) (48)| Penn State (5–0) (51)| Nebraska (6–0) (28)| Nebraska (7–0) (37)| Nebraska (8–0) (50)| Florida State (9–0) (26)| Florida State (10–0) (29)| Michigan (11–0) (46)| Michigan (11–0) (58)| Michigan (11–0) (53½)| Nebraska (13–0) (32)| 1.
2.| Penn State (9)| Penn State (0–0) (13)| Penn State (1–0) (12)| Penn State (2–0) (14)| Penn State (3–0) (14)| Penn State (3–0) (13)| Penn State (4–0) (11)| Nebraska (5–0) (9)| Penn State (6–0) (29)| Penn State (6–0) (20)| Florida State (8–0) (2)| Michigan (9–0) (20)| Michigan (10–0) (20)| Nebraska (10–0) (16)| Nebraska (11–0) (4)| Nebraska (12–0) (8½)| Michigan (12–0) (30)| 2.
3.| Washington (15)| Tennessee (1–0) (10)| Washington (1–0) (13)| Washington (2–0) (12)| Nebraska (3–0) (3)| Nebraska (3–0) (3)| Nebraska (4–0) (2)| Florida State (5–0) (1)| Florida State (6–0) (3)| Florida State (7–0) (3)| Penn State (7–0) (8)| Nebraska (9–0) (16)| Nebraska (10–0) (13)| Tennessee (9–1)| Tennessee (10–1)| Tennessee (11–1)| Florida State (11–1)| 3.
4.| Florida State (3)| Washington (0–0) (7)| Tennessee (2–0) (5)| Tennessee (2–0) (6)| Florida State (3–0) (1)| Florida State (3–0)| Florida State (4–0)| North Carolina (6–0) (1)| North Carolina (7–0) (1)| Michigan (7–0) (2)| Michigan (8–0) (2)| Ohio State (9–1)| Ohio State (10–1)| Penn State (9–1)| Florida State (10–1)| Florida State (10–1)| North Carolina (11–1)| 4.
5.| Tennessee (8)| Florida State (0–0) (3)| Nebraska (1–0) (2)| Florida State (2–0) (2)| North Carolina (3–0) (1)| North Carolina (4–0) (1)| North Carolina (5–0) (1)| Michigan (5–0)| Michigan (6–0) (1)| North Carolina (7–0)| North Carolina (8–0)| Tennessee (7–1)| Tennessee (8–1)| Florida State (10–1)| North Carolina (10–1)| North Carolina (10–1)| UCLA (10–2)| 5.
6.| Nebraska (4)| Nebraska (1–0) (2)| Florida State (1–0) (3)| Nebraska (2–0) (1)| Michigan (2–0)| Michigan (3–0)| Michigan (4–0)| Florida (6–1)| Florida (6–1)| Florida (6–1)| Washington (7–1)| Penn State (7–1)| Penn State (8–1)| North Carolina (10–1)| UCLA (9–2)| UCLA (9–2)| Florida (10–2)| 6.
7.| Colorado (3)| Colorado (0–0) (1)| Colorado (1–0) (1)| North Carolina (2–0) (1)| Ohio State (3–0)| Ohio State (4–0)| Ohio State (5–0)| Auburn (6–0)| Washington (5–1)| Washington (6–1)| Tennessee (6–1)| Georgia (7–1)| Kansas State (9–1)| UCLA (9–2)| Washington State (10–1)| Washington State (10–1)| Kansas State (11–1)| 7.
8.| North Carolina (1)| North Carolina (0–0) (1)| North Carolina (1–0) (1)| Ohio State (2–0) (1)| Auburn (3–0)| Iowa (4–0)| Auburn (5–0)| Washington (4–1)| Tennessee (5–1)| Tennessee (5–1)| Ohio State (8–1)| Kansas State (8–1)| North Carolina (9–1)| Florida (9–2)| Florida (9–2)| Florida (9–2)| Tennessee (11–2)| 8.
9.| Ohio State| Ohio State (1–0)| Ohio State (1–0)| Michigan (1–0)| Iowa (3–0)| Auburn (4–0)| Washington (3–1)| Tennessee (4–1)| Ohio State (6–1)| Ohio State (7–1)| Georgia (7–1)| North Carolina (8–1)| UCLA (8–2)| Kansas State (10–1)| Kansas State (10–1)| Kansas State (10–1)| Washington State (10–2)| 9.
10.| Texas| Texas (0–0)| Texas (1–0)| LSU (2–0)| Tennessee (2–1)| Tennessee (2–1)| Tennessee (3–1)| LSU (5–1)| Washington State (6–0)| Washington State (7–0)| Kansas State (7–1)| UCLA (7–2)| Florida (8–2)| Washington State (10–1)| Ohio State (10–2)| Ohio State (10–2)| Georgia (10–2)| 10.
11.| LSU| LSU (0–0)| LSU (1–0)| Alabama (2–0)| Washington (2–1)| Washington (2–1)| Michigan State (4–0)| Michigan State (5–0)| Auburn (6–1)| Auburn (7–1)| UCLA (7–2)| LSU (7–2)| Washington State (9–1)| Ohio State (10–2)| Auburn (9–2)| Georgia (9–2)| Auburn (10–3)| 11.
12.| Notre Dame| Miami (FL) (1–0)| Miami (FL) (1–0)| Auburn (2–0)| Virginia Tech (3–0)| Virginia Tech (4–0)| Washington State (5–0)| Ohio State (5–1)| Oklahoma State (6–0)| Kansas State (6–1)| LSU (6–2)| Florida (7–2)| Arizona State (8–2)| Arizona State (8–2)| Penn State (9–2)| Penn State (9–2)| Ohio State (10–3)| 12.
13.| Michigan| Notre Dame (0–0)| Michigan (0–0)| Iowa (2–0)| Michigan State (3–0)| Michigan State (3–0)| Texas A&M (4–0)| Washington State (5–0)| Kansas State (5–1)| UCLA (6–2)| Florida (6–2)| Washington State (8–1)| Auburn (8–2)| Auburn (9–2)| Georgia (9–2)| Auburn (9–3)| LSU (9–3)| 13.
14.| Miami (FL)| Michigan (0–0)| Alabama (1–0)| Virginia Tech (2–0)| Washington State (3–0)| LSU (3–1)| LSU (4–1)| Texas A&M (5–0)| Michigan State (5–1)| LSU (5–2)| Iowa (6–2)| Washington (7–2)| Georgia (7–2)| Georgia (8–2)| Texas A&M (9–2)| Syracuse (9–3)| Arizona State (9–3)| 14.
15.| Alabama| Alabama (1–0)| Notre Dame (1–0)| Clemson (2–0)| LSU (2–1)| Washington State (4–0)| Georgia (4–0)| Iowa (4–1)| LSU (5–2)| Georgia (6–1)| Washington State (7–1)| Arizona State (7–2)| Virginia Tech (7–2)| Texas A&M (8–2)| Syracuse (9–3)| LSU (8–3)| Purdue (9–3)| 15.
16.| Syracuse| BYU (0–0)| Auburn (1–0)| Colorado (1–1)| Colorado (1–1)| Kansas State (3–0)| Iowa (4–1)| Oklahoma State (6–0)| UCLA (5–2)| Iowa (5–2)| Arizona State (6–2)| Auburn (7–2)| Texas A&M (8–2)| Syracuse (8–3)| LSU (8–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Colorado State (11–2)| 16.
17.| BYU| Stanford (0–0)| Iowa (1–0)| Arizona State (2–0)| Kansas State (2–0)| Texas A&M (3–0)| Stanford (4–1)| Air Force (7–0)| Virginia Tech (5–1)| West Virginia (6–1)| Auburn (7–2)| Virginia Tech (7–2)| Syracuse (8–3)| LSU (7–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Colorado State (10–2)| Penn State (9–3)| 17.
18.| Stanford| Auburn (0–0)| Stanford (1–0)| Michigan State (2–0)| Texas A&M (2–0)| Colorado (2–1)| Air Force (6–0)| UCLA (4–2)| Georgia (5–1)| Purdue (6–1)| Virginia Tech (6–2)| Texas A&M (7–2)| LSU (7–3)| Purdue (8–3)| Colorado State (9–2)| Arizona State (8–3)| Washington (8–4)| 18.
19.| Auburn| Iowa (0–0)| Virginia Tech (1–0)| Kansas State (2–0)| Alabama (2–1)| Georgia (3–0)| UCLA (3–2)| Virginia Tech (5–1)| Iowa (4–2)| Oklahoma State (6–1)| Syracuse (6–3)| Syracuse (7–3)| Mississippi State (7–2)| Colorado State (9–2)| Arizona State (8–3)| Texas A&M (9–3)| Southern Miss (9–3)| 19.
20.| Iowa| Clemson (0–0)| Kansas State (1–0)| Washington State (2–0)| Georgia (3–0)| Alabama (3–1)| Oklahoma State (5–0) т| Kansas State (4–1)| West Virginia (5–1)| Michigan State (5–2)| Toledo (8–0)| Purdue (7–2)| Washington (7–3)| Missouri (7–4)| Missouri (7–4)| Missouri (7–4)| Syracuse (9–4)| 20.
21.| Clemson| USC (0–0)| Clemson (1–0)| Miami (FL) (1–1)| Clemson (2–1)| Stanford (3–1)| Virginia Tech (4–1) т| Georgia (4–1)| Texas A&M (5–1)| Arizona State (5–2)| Texas A&M (6–2)| Oklahoma State (7–2)| West Virginia (7–2)| Virginia Tech (7–3)| Air Force (10–2)| Air Force (10–2)| Texas A&M (9–4)| 21.
22.| USC| Virginia Tech (1–0)| USC (0–1)| Texas A&M (1–0)| Stanford (2–1)| Arizona State (3–1)| BYU (3–1)| West Virginia (5–1)| Arizona State (5–2)| Virginia Tech (5–2)| West Virginia (6–2)| Iowa (6–3)| Colorado State (8–2)| Washington (7–4)| Washington (7–4)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Mississippi (8–4)| 22.
23.| Kansas State| Kansas State (0–0)| Michigan State (1–0)| Stanford (1–1)| Arizona State (2–1)| Air Force (5–0)| Kansas State (3–1)| Stanford (4–2)| Purdue (5–1)| Toledo (7–0)| Oklahoma State (6–2)| West Virginia (6–2)| Missouri (7–4)| Air Force (10–2)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Washington (7–4)| Missouri (7–5)| 23.
24.| Wisconsin| Northwestern (1–0)| West Virginia (2–0)| Texas (1–1)| BYU (1–1)| BYU (2–1)| West Virginia (4–1)| Wisconsin (6–1)| Air Force (7–1)| Syracuse (5–3)| Purdue (6–2)| Wisconsin (8–2)| Wisconsin (8–3)| Southern Miss (8–3)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| Oklahoma State (8–4)| 24.
25.| Virginia Tech| Colorado State (1–0)| NC State (2–0)| Georgia (2–0)| Air Force (4–0)| UCLA (2–2)| Colorado (2–2)| Georgia Tech (4–1)| Syracuse (5–3)| BYU (5–2)| Southern Miss (6–2)| Mississippi State (6–2)| Purdue (7–3)| Oklahoma State (8–3)| New Mexico (9–2)| Michigan State (7–4)| Air Force (10–3)| 25.
| Preseason
Aug 11[21]| Week 2
Sep 2[22]| Week 3
Sep 8[23]| Week 4
Sep 15[24]| Week 5
Sep 22[25]| Week 6
Sep 29[26]| Week 7
Oct 6[27]| Week 8
Oct 13[28]| Week 9
Oct 20[29]| Week 10
Oct 27[30]| Week 11
Nov 3[31]| Week 12
Nov 10[32]| Week 13
Nov 17[33]| Week 14
Nov 24[34]| Week 15
Dec 1[35]| Week 16
Dec 8[36]| Week 17 (Final)
Jan 4[37]|
| Dropped:

* Syracuse
* Wisconsin

| Dropped:

* BYU
* Northwestern
* Colorado State

| Dropped:

* Notre Dame
* USC
* West Virginia
* NC State

| Dropped:

* Miami (FL)
* Texas

| Dropped:

* Clemson

| Dropped:

* Alabama
* Arizona State

| Dropped:

* BYU
* Colorado

| Dropped:

* Stanford
* Wisconsin
* Georgia Tech

| Dropped:

* Texas A&M
* Air Force

| Dropped:

* Michigan State
* BYU

| Dropped:

* Toledo
* Southern Miss

| Dropped:

* Oklahoma State
* Iowa

| Dropped:

* Mississippi State
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin

| Dropped:

* Virginia Tech

| Dropped:

* New Mexico

| Dropped:

* Michigan State

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1997 AP Preseason Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
2. ^ "1997 AP Week 1 Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
3. ^ "1997 AP Week 2 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
4. ^ "1997 AP Week 3 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
5. ^ "1997 AP Week 4 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
6. ^ "1997 AP Week 5 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
7. ^ "1997 AP Week 6 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
8. ^ "1997 AP Week 7 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
9. ^ "1997 AP Week 8 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
10. ^ "1997 AP Week 9 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
11. ^ "1997 AP Week 10 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
12. ^ "1997 AP Week 11 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
13. ^ "1997 AP Week 12 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
14. ^ "1997 AP Week 13 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
15. ^ "1997 AP Week 14 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
16. ^ "1997 AP Week 15 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
17. ^ "1997 AP Week 16 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
18. ^ "1997 AP Final Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
19. ^ Few ready to accept split NCAA national football title. (1998, Jan 05). USA Today. Retrieved ProQuest.
20. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1998, Jan 05). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
21. ^ "COACHES: The top 25 teams in the USA Today/ESPN preseason college football poll". The Washington Post. August 10, 1997. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
22. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 02). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
23. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 08). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
24. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 15). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
25. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 22). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
26. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 29). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
27. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 06). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
28. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 13). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
29. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 20). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
30. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 27). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
31. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 3). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
32. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 10). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
33. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 17). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
34. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 24). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
35. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Dec 01). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
36. ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Dec 08). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
37. ^ "USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll". The Tennessean. January 4, 1998. Retrieved December 31, 2016.

* v
* t
* e

NCAA college football rankings

Pre-divisional|

* 1869–1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961

NCAA University Division|

* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972

NCAA Division I|

* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977

NCAA Division I-A/FBS|

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS|

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Small college|

* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974

NCAA Division II|

* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

NCAA Division III|

* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Polls|

* AP poll
* Coaches Poll

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template