1978 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Two human polls comprised the 1978 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A 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

Preseason
Preseason[1][2]
Week 1
Sep 11[1]
Week 2
Sep 18[1]
Week 3
Sep 25[1]
Week 4
Oct 2[1]
Week 5
Oct 9[1]
Week 6
Oct 16[1]
Week 7
Oct 23[1]
Week 8
Oct 30[1]
Week 9
Nov 6[1]
Week 10
Nov 13[1]
Week 11
Nov 20[1]
Week 12
Nov 27[1]
Week 13
Dec 4[1]
Week 14 (Final)
Final[1][3]
1.Alabama (31)Alabama (1–0)Alabama (2–0)Oklahoma (3–0)Oklahoma (4–0)Oklahoma (5–0)Oklahoma (6–0)Oklahoma (7–0)Oklahoma (8–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Penn State (10–0)Penn State (10–0)Penn State (11–0)Penn State (11–0)Alabama (11–1) (38)1.
2.Arkansas (13)Arkansas (0–0)Arkansas (1–0)Arkansas (2–0)USC (4–0)USC (4–0)Penn State (6–0)Penn State (7–0)Penn State (8–0)Penn State (9–0)Nebraska (9–1)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (10–1)USC (12–1) (19)2.
3.Penn State (5)Oklahoma (1–0)Oklahoma (2–0) тUSC (3–0)Michigan (3–0)Arkansas (4–0) тArkansas (4–0)Alabama (6–1)Alabama (7–1)Alabama (8–1)Alabama (9–1)USC (9–1)USC (10–1)USC (11–1)Oklahoma (11–1) (1)3.
4.Oklahoma (1)Michigan (0–0)Penn State (3–0) тMichigan (2–0)Arkansas (3–0)Penn State (6–0) тAlabama (5–1)Nebraska (6–1)Nebraska (7–1)Nebraska (8–1)Oklahoma (9–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Penn State (11–1)4.
5.Notre Dame (9)Penn State (2–0)Michigan (1–0)Penn State (4–0)Penn State (5–0)Michigan (4–0)Nebraska (5–1)Maryland (7–0)Maryland (8–0)USC (7–1)USC (8–1)Houston (8–1)Michigan (10–1)Michigan (10–1)Michigan (10–2)5.
6.MichiganOhio State (0–0)Texas (1–0)Texas (2–0)Texas (3–0)Texas A&M (4–0)Maryland (6–0)USC (5–1)USC (6–1)Texas (6–1)Houston (8–1)Michigan (9–1)Nebraska (9–2)Nebraska (9–2)Clemson (11–1)6.
7.Ohio StateTexas (0–0)USC (2–0)Alabama (2–1)Texas A&M (3–0)Alabama (4–1)USC (4–1)Texas (5–1)Texas (6–1)Michigan (7–1)Michigan (8–1)Nebraska (9–2)Clemson (10–1)Clemson (10–1)Notre Dame (9–3)7.
8.Texas (1)USC (1–0)UCLA (2–0)Texas A&M (2–0)Alabama (3–1)Nebraska (4–1)Texas (4–1)Michigan (5–1)Michigan (6–1)Houston (7–1)Georgia (8–1)Notre Dame (8–2)Arkansas (8–2)Arkansas (9–2)Nebraska (9–3)8.
9.USC (2)UCLA (1–0)Texas A&M (1–0)Pittsburgh (2–0)Pittsburgh (3–0)Pittsburgh (4–0)Michigan (4–1)Arkansas (4–1)UCLA (7–1)UCLA (8–1)Texas (6–2)Texas (7–2)Houston (8–2)Houston (9–2)Texas (9–3)9.
10.NebraskaTexas A&M (1–0)LSU (1–0)Florida State (3–0)Nebraska (3–1)Maryland (5–0)UCLA (5–1)UCLA (6–1)Houston (6–1)LSU (6–1)Notre Dame (7–2)Clemson (9–1)Notre Dame (8–3)Notre Dame (8–3)Houston (9–3)10.
11.WashingtonMissouri (1–0)Pittsburgh (1–0)LSU (2–0)LSU (3–0)LSU (4–0)Houston (4–1)Houston (5–1)Navy (7–0)Georgia (7–1)Maryland (9–1)Arkansas (7–2)Georgia (8–1–1)Georgia (9–1–1)Arkansas (9–2–1)11.
12.UCLANebraska (1–1)Nebraska (2–1)Nebraska (2–1)Maryland (4–0)Texas (3–1)Texas A&M (4–1)Arizona State (5–1)LSU (5–1)Purdue (7–1)Clemson (8–1)Georgia (8–1–1)Michigan State (8–3)Michigan State (8–3)Michigan State (8–3)12.
13.LSULSU (0–0)Florida State (2–0)Ohio State (1–1)Colorado (4–0)Colorado (5–0)Missouri (4–2)Missouri (5–2)Georgia (6–1)Maryland (8–1)Arkansas (6–2)Maryland (9–2)Maryland (9–2)Maryland (9–2)Purdue (9–2–1)13.
14.PittsburghPittsburgh (0–0)Notre Dame (0–1)Missouri (2–1)Ohio State (2–1)UCLA (4–1)Arizona State (5–1)LSU (5–1)Purdue (6–1)Notre Dame (6–2)UCLA (8–2)Michigan State (7–3)Texas (7–3)Texas (8–3)UCLA (8–3–1)14.
15.KentuckyNotre Dame (0–1)Washington (1–1)Maryland (3–0)Iowa State (4–0)Florida State (4–1)Pittsburgh (4–1)Pittsburgh (5–1)Notre Dame (5–2)Clemson (7–1)Purdue (7–1–1)Pittsburgh (8–2)UCLA (8–3)UCLA (8–3)Missouri (8–4)15.
16.Texas A&M (1)Florida State (1–0)Ohio State (0–1)Colorado (3–0)UCLA (3–1)Ohio State (2–1–1)LSU (4–1)Georgia (5–1)Clemson (6–1)Arkansas (5–2)Michigan State (6–3)Ohio State (7–2–1)Pittsburgh (8–3)Pittsburgh (8–3)Georgia (9–2–1)16.
17.Florida StateKentucky (0–0)Missouri (1–1)Iowa State (3–0)Stanford (3–1)Houston (3–1)Navy (5–0)Purdue (5–1)Arkansas (4–2)Michigan State (5–3)LSU (6–2)UCLA (8–3)Purdue (8–2–1)Purdue (8–2–1)Stanford (8–4)17.
18.ClemsonWashington (0–1)Maryland (2–0)UCLA (2–1)Florida State (3–1)Stanford (3–2)Georgia (4–1)Navy (6–0)Michigan State (4–3)Navy (7–1)Pittsburgh (7–2)Purdue (7–2–1)Missouri (7–4)Missouri (7–4)NC State (9–3)18.
19.North CarolinaIowa State (1–0)Colorado (2–0)Georgia (2–0)Auburn (3–0)Missouri (3–2)Purdue (4–1)Notre Dame (4–2)Pittsburgh (5–2)Washington (6–3)Ohio State (6–2–1)Missouri (7–4)Iowa State (8–3)Iowa State (8–3)Texas A&M (8–4)19.
20.Iowa StateMaryland (1–0)Iowa State (2–0)Stanford (2–1)NC State (4–0)Iowa State (4–1)Notre Dame (3–2)Clemson (5–1)Washington (5–3)Pittsburgh (6–2)Georgia Tech (7–2)Iowa State (8–3)Ohio State (7–3–1)Ohio State (7–3–1)Maryland (9–3)20.
Preseason
Preseason[1][4]
Week 1
Sep 11[1]
Week 2
Sep 18[1]
Week 3
Sep 25[1]
Week 4
Oct 2[1]
Week 5
Oct 9[1]
Week 6
Oct 16[1]
Week 7
Oct 23[1]
Week 8
Oct 30[1]
Week 9
Nov 6[1]
Week 10
Nov 13[1]
Week 11
Nov 20[1]
Week 12
Nov 27[1]
Week 13
Dec 4[1]
Week 14 (Final)
Final[1][5]
NoneDropped:
  • Kentucky
Dropped:
  • Notre Dame
  • Washington
Dropped:
  • Missouri
  • Georgia
Dropped:
  • Auburn
  • NC State
Dropped:
  • Colorado
  • Florida State
  • Ohio State
  • Stanford
  • Iowa State
Dropped:
  • Texas A&M
Dropped:
  • Arizona State
  • Missouri
NoneDropped:
  • Navy
  • Washington
Dropped:
  • LSU
  • Georgia Tech
NoneNoneDropped:
  • Pittsburgh
  • Iowa State
  • Ohio State

Coaches' Poll

Preseason
[6]
Week 1
Sep 9[7]
Week 2
Sep 16[8]
Week 3
Sep 23[9]
Week 4
Sep 30[10]
Week 5
Oct 7[11]
Week 6
Oct 14[12]
Week 7
Oct 21[13]
Week 8
Oct 28[14]
Week 9
Nov 4[15]
Week 10
Nov 11[16]
Week 11
Nov 18[17]
Week 12
Nov 25[18]
Week 13
Dec 2[19]
Week 14 (Final)
Jan 2[20]
1.Alabama (18)Alabama (1–0) (30)Alabama (2–0) (34)Oklahoma (3–0) (25)Oklahoma (4–0) (29)Oklahoma (5–0) (35)Oklahoma (6–0) (31)Oklahoma (7–0) (32)Oklahoma (8–0) (32)Oklahoma (9–0) (34)Penn State (10–0) (32)Penn State (10–0) (39)Penn State (11–0) (30)Penn State (11–0) (31)USC (12–1) (15)1.
2.Oklahoma (4)Oklahoma (1–0) (4)Oklahoma (2–0) (4)USC (3–0) (7)USC (4–0) (11)USC (4–0) (5)Penn State (6–0) (10)Penn State (7–0) (7)Penn State (8–0) (7)Penn State (9–0) (6)Nebraska (9–1) (5)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (10–1)Alabama (11–1) (15)2.
3.Penn State (3)Arkansas (0–0) (2)Arkansas (1–0) (1)Michigan (2–0) (3)Michigan (3–0) (1)Penn State (6–0) (1)Arkansas (4–0)Alabama (6–1)Alabama (7–1)Alabama (8–1)Alabama (9–1) (2)Oklahoma (10–1)USC (10–1) (3)USC (11–1) (3)Oklahoma (11–1) (5)3.
4.Notre Dame (6)Michigan (0–0) (1)Penn State (1–0) (3)Arkansas (2–0) (3)Penn State (5–0) (1)Michigan (4–0)Alabama (5–1)Nebraska (6–1)Nebraska (7–1)Nebraska (8–1)Oklahoma (9–1)USC (9–1) (1)Oklahoma (10–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Penn State (11–1)4.
5.Arkansas (3)USC (1–0)Michigan (1–0) (1)Penn State (4–0) (1)Arkansas (3–0)Arkansas (4–0)Nebraska (5–1)Maryland (7–0)Maryland (8–0)USC (7–1)USC (8–1)Houston (8–1)Michigan (10–1) (1)Michigan (10–1) (1)Michigan (10–2)5.
6.MichiganOhio State (0–0)Texas (1–0)Texas (2–0)Texas (3–0)Texas A&M (4–0)Maryland (6–0)USC (5–1)USC (6–1)Texas (6–1)Houston (8–1)Michigan (9–1)Nebraska (9–2)Nebraska (9–2)Clemson (11–1) т6.
7.USC (1)Texas (0–0)USC (2–0)Alabama (2–1)Texas A&M (3–0)Alabama (4–1)USC (4–1)Texas (5–1)Texas (6–1)Michigan (7–1)Michigan (8–1)Nebraska (9–2)Clemson (10–1)Georgia (9–1–1)Notre Dame (9–3) т7.
8.Ohio State (1)Penn State (2–0)UCLA (2–0)Texas A&M (2–0)Alabama (3–1)Nebraska (4–1)Texas (4–1)UCLA (6–1)Houston (6–1)Houston (7–1)Georgia (8–1)Notre Dame (8–2)Georgia (8–1–1)Clemson (10–1)Nebraska (9–3)8.
9.TexasUCLA (1–0)Pittsburgh (1–0)Florida State (3–0)Pittsburgh (3–0)Pittsburgh (4–0)Michigan (4–1)Michigan (5–1)Michigan (6–1)UCLA (8–1)Texas (6–2)Texas (7–2)Notre Dame (8–3)Notre Dame (8–3)Texas (9–3)9.
10.NebraskaMissouri (1–0)Texas A&M (1–0)Pittsburgh (2–0)Nebraska (3–1)LSU (4–0)Arkansas (5–0)Houston (5–1)UCLA (7–1)Georgia (7–1)Notre Dame (7–2)Clemson (9–1)Arkansas (8–2)Arkansas (9–2)Arkansas (9–2–1)10.
11.WashingtonTexas A&M (1–0)LSU (1–0)LSU (2–0)LSU (3–0)Maryland (5–0)Houston (4–1)Arkansas (4–1)Navy (7–0)LSU (6–1)Maryland (9–1)Georgia (8–1–1)Houston (8–2)Houston (9–2)Houston (9–3)11.
12.UCLAPittsburgh (0–0)Nebraska (2–1)Nebraska (2–1)Colorado (4–0)Colorado (5–0)Arizona State (5–1)Arizona State (5–1)Georgia (6–1)Purdue (7–1)Clemson (8–1)Arkansas (7–2)Maryland (9–2)Maryland (9–2)UCLA (8–3–1)12.
13.LSULSU (0–0)Florida State (2–0)Maryland (3–0)Maryland (4–0)Texas (3–1)LSU (4–1)Georgia (5–1)LSU (5–1)Notre Dame (6–2)Arkansas (6–2)Pittsburgh (8–2)Pittsburgh (8–3)Pittsburgh (8–3)Purdue (9–2–1)13.
14.PittsburghNebraska (1–1)Notre Dame (0–1)Colorado (3–0)Ohio State (2–1)UCLA (4–1)Texas A&M (4–1)LSU (5–1)Purdue (6–1)Maryland (8–1)LSU (6–2)Ohio State (7–2–1)Purdue (8–2–1)Texas (8–3)Missouri (8–4)14.
15.Texas A&MFlorida State (1–0)Colorado (2–0)Ohio State (1–1)Iowa State (4–0)Missouri (3–2)Pittsburgh (4–1)Pittsburgh (5–1)Notre Dame (5–2)Clemson (7–1)UCLA (8–2)UCLA (8–3)UCLA (8–3)Missouri (7–4)Georgia (9–2–1)15.
16.Florida StateNotre Dame (0–1)Maryland (2–0)Iowa State (3–0)UCLA (3–1)Houston (3–1)Georgia (4–1)Missouri (5–2)Clemson (6–1)Arkansas (5–2)Purdue (7–1–1)Maryland (9–2)Missouri (7–4)UCLA (8–3)Stanford (8–4)16.
17.KentuckyMaryland (1–0)Washington (1–1)Missouri (2–1)Houston (2–1)Florida State (4–1)Missouri (4–2)Purdue (5–1)Arkansas (4–2)Washington (6–3)Ohio State (6–2–1)Missouri (7–4)Texas (7–3)Purdue (8–2–1)Navy (9–3)17.
18.North CarolinaKentucky (0–0)Clemson (1–0)Kentucky (1–0–1)Stanford (3–1)Utah State (5–0)Notre Dame (3–2)Navy (6–0)Colorado (6–2)Navy (7–1)Pittsburgh (7–2)Stanford (7–4)LSU (7–3)LSU (8–3)Texas A&M (8–4)18.
19.Iowa StateWashington (0–1)Ohio State (0–1)Stanford (2–1)NC State (4–0)Navy (4–0)Purdue (4–1)Notre Dame (4–2)Georgia Tech (6–2)Georgia Tech (6–2)Georgia Tech (7–2)Purdue (7–2–1)Stanford (7–4)Georgia Tech (7–4)Arizona State (9–3) т19.
20.MarylandColorado (1–0)Arizona State (2–0)Purdue (2–0)Auburn (3–0)Stanford (3–2)Navy (5–0)Clemson (5–1)Ohio State (4–2–1)Pittsburgh (6–2)
  • Stanford (6–4) т
  • Iowa State (7–3) т
Iowa State (8–3)Ohio State (7–3–1)Stanford (7–4)NC State (9–3) т20.
Preseason
[21]
Week 1
Sep 9[22]
Week 2
Sep 16[23]
Week 3
Sep 23[24]
Week 4
Sep 30[25]
Week 5
Oct 7[26]
Week 6
Oct 14[27]
Week 7
Oct 21[28]
Week 8
Oct 28[29]
Week 9
Nov 4[30]
Week 10
Nov 11[31]
Week 11
Nov 18[32]
Week 12
Nov 25[33]
Week 13
Dec 2[34]
Week 14 (Final)
Jan 2[35]
Dropped:
  • North Carolina
  • Iowa State
Dropped:
  • Missouri
  • Kentucky
Dropped:
  • UCLA
  • Notre Dame
  • Washington
  • Clemson
  • Arizona State
Dropped:
  • Florida State
  • Missouri
  • Kentucky
  • Purdue
Dropped:
  • Ohio State
  • Iowa State
  • NC State
  • Auburn
Dropped:
  • Colorado
  • Florida State
  • Utah State
  • Stanford
Dropped:
  • Texas A&M
Dropped:
  • Arizona State
  • Pittsburgh
  • Missouri
Dropped:
  • Colorado
  • Ohio State
Dropped:
  • Washington
  • Navy
Dropped:
  • LSU
  • Georgia Tech
Dropped:
  • Iowa State
Dropped:
  • Ohio State
Dropped:
  • Maryland
  • Pittsburgh
  • LSU
  • Georgia Tech

References

  1. "1978 Polls". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  2. "1978 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  3. "1978 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  4. "1978 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  5. "1978 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  6. "UPI Top 20 Colleges". Tampa Bay Times. September 8, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  7. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 12, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  8. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 20, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  9. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 26, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  10. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 4, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  11. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 10, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  12. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 18, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  13. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 24, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  14. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 1, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  15. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 7, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  16. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 15, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  17. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 21, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  18. "The UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 29, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  19. "UPI College Poll". Tampa Bay Times. December 5, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  20. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. January 3, 1979. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  21. "UPI Top 20 Colleges". Tampa Bay Times. September 8, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  22. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 12, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  23. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 20, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  24. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. September 26, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  25. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 4, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  26. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 10, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  27. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 18, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  28. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. October 24, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  29. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 1, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  30. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 7, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  31. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 15, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  32. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 21, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  33. "The UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. November 29, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  34. "UPI College Poll". Tampa Bay Times. December 5, 1978. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  35. "UPI Top 20". Tampa Bay Times. January 3, 1979. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
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