In the final Coaches Poll before the bowl games and College Football Playoff, Ohio State is ranked No. 5. Despite falling two spots in the AP Top 25, the Buckeyes rose to No. 5 in the nation as selected by the coaches.
Like the AP, the coaches chose Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan State among the top four, and six Big Ten schools in the Top 25: Michigan State (4), Ohio State (5), Iowa (7), Northwestern (12), Michigan (17), and Wisconsin (23).
Here is how the coaches voted on their final ballots. Urban Meyer ranked Ohio State at No. 5 and Jim Harbaugh put the Buckeyes at No. 4.
| Rank | Team | Points | 1st Votes | Change | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLEMSON | 1493 | 55 | ACC | |
| 2 | ALABAMA | 1438 | 5 | SEC | |
| 3 | OKLAHOMA | 1363 | +2 | BIG 12 | |
| 4 | MICHIGAN STATE | 1341 | +1 | BIG TEN | |
| 5 | OHIO STATE | 1205 | +1 | BIG TEN | |
| 6 | STANFORD | 1202 | +1 | PAC-12 | |
| 7 | IOWA | 1184 | -4 | BIG TEN | |
| 8 | FLORIDA STATE | 1025 | +1 | ACC | |
| 9 | NOTRE DAME | 1016 | +1 | INDEPENDENT | |
| 10 | TEXAS CHRISTIAN | 927 | +1 | BIG 12 | |
| 11 | NORTH CAROLINA | 914 | -3 | ACC | |
| 12 | NORTHWESTERN | 775 | +1 | BIG TEN | |
| 13 | OKLAHOMA STATE | 764 | +1 | BIG 12 | |
| 14 | OREGON | 655 | +2 | PAC-12 | |
| 15 | MISSISSIPPI | 627 | +2 | SEC | |
| 16 | HOUSTON | 626 | +2 | AMERICAN | |
| 17 | MICHIGAN | 533 | +2 | BIG TEN | |
| 18 | FLORIDA | 502 | -3 | SEC | |
| 19 | BAYLOR | 485 | -7 | BIG 12 | |
| 20 | UTAH | 362 | 0 | PAC-12 | |
| 21 | LSU | 261 | +2 | SEC | |
| 22 | NAVY | 251 | 0 | AMERICAN | |
| 23 | WISCONSIN | 177 | +2 | BIG TEN | |
| 24 | TEMPLE | 72 | -3 | AMERICAN | |
| 25 | GEORGIA | 68 | *1 | SEC |
