Winning the Big Ten championship may not have been enough for Ohio State, at least according to the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. Alabama (11-1) appears ahead of them in both polls, and while there are some minor cosmetic changes (Auburn being moved a spot down behind USC), for the most part the polls reflect the same idea: Ohio State might need a friend on the inside.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | 1st VOTES | PREV | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLEMSON | 13-0 | 1510 | 49 | 1 | – |
| 2 | OKLAHOMA | 12-1 | 1462 | 10 | 2 | – |
| 3 | GEORGIA | 12-1 | 1416 | 2 | 6 | +3 |
| 4 | ALABAMA | 11-1 | 1312 | – | 5 | +1 |
| 5 | OHIO STATE | 11-2 | 1298 | – | 7 | +2 |
| 6 | WISCONSIN | 12-1 | 1162 | – | 3 | -3 |
| 7 | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 11-2 | 1140 | – | 9 | +2 |
| 8 | AUBURN | 10-3 | 1085 | – | 4 | -4 |
| 9 | PENN STATE | 10-2 | 1006 | – | 10 | +1 |
| 10 | CENTRAL FLORIDA | 12-0 | 986 | – | 11 | +1 |
| 11 | MIAMI | 10-2 | 934 | – | 7 | -4 |
| 12 | WASHINGTON | 10-2 | 855 | – | 13 | +1 |
| 13 | TEXAS CHRISTIAN | 10-3 | 807 | – | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | LOUISIANA STATE | 9-3 | 638 | – | 16 | +2 |
| 15 | NOTRE DAME | 9-3 | 628 | – | 17 | +2 |
| 16 | STANFORD | 9-4 | 607 | – | 15 | -1 |
| 17 | OKLAHOMA STATE | 9-3 | 522 | – | 18 | +1 |
| 18 | MEMPHIS | 10-2 | 485 | – | 14 | -4 |
| 19 | MICHIGAN STATE | 9-3 | 474 | – | 19 | – |
| 20 | NORTHWESTERN | 9-3 | 370 | – | 20 | – |
| 21 | WASHINGTON STATE | 9-3 | 310 | – | 22 | +1 |
| 22 | VIRGINIA TECH | 9-3 | 302 | – | 21 | -1 |
| 23 | MISSISSIPPI STATE | 8-4 | 134 | – | 24 | +1 |
| 24 | SOUTH FLORIDA | 9-2 | 126 | – | 23 | -1 |
| 25 | BOISE STATE | 10-3 | 72 | – | 28 | +3 |
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