Two human polls comprised the 1996 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.
| 1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1996 |
| Bowl season | 1996–97 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Florida |
| Conference with most teams in final AP poll | Big Ten, SEC (5) |
Legend edit
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| National champion | ||
(#–#)
|
Win–loss record | |
(Italics)
|
Number of first place votes | |
т
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Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP Poll edit
| Preseason Aug 12 [1] | Week 1 Aug 26 [2] | Week 2 Sep 2 [3] | Week 3 Sep 9 [4] | Week 4 Sep 16 [5] | Week 5 Sep 23 [6] | Week 6 Sep 30 [7] | Week 7 Oct 7 [8] | Week 8 Oct 14 [9] | Week 9 Oct 21 [10] | Week 10 Oct 28 [11] | Week 11 Nov 4 [12] | Week 12 Nov 11 [13] | Week 13 Nov 18 [14] | Week 14 Nov 25 [15] | Week 15 Dec 2 [16] | Week 16 Dec 9 [17] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 [18][19] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nebraska (50) | Nebraska (0–0) (50) | Nebraska (0–0) | Nebraska (1–0) (57) | Nebraska (1–0) (58) | Florida (3–0) (52) | Florida (4–0) (57) | Florida (5–0) (38) | Florida (6–0) (54) | Florida (7–0) (57) | Florida (7–0) (59) | Florida (7–0) (59) | Florida (9–0) (46) | Florida (10–0) (54) | Florida (10–0) (59) | Florida State (11–0) (61) | Florida State (11–0) (62) | Florida (12–1) (65½) | 1. |
| 2. | Tennessee (7) | Tennessee (0–0) (8) | Tennessee (1–0) (8) | Tennessee (2–0) (4) | Tennessee (2–0) (5) | Florida State (2–0) (13) | Florida State (3–0) (8) | Ohio State (4–0) (24) | Ohio State (5–0) (7) | Ohio State (6–0) (4) | Ohio State (7–0) (4) | Ohio State (8–0) (5) | Ohio State (9–0) (17) | Ohio State (10–0) (7) | Florida State (10–0) (5) | Arizona State (11–0) (5) | Arizona State (11–0) (5) | Ohio State (11–1) (1½) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida State (5) | Florida State (0–0) (5) | Florida State (0–0) (5) | Florida State (1–0) (3) | Florida State (1–0) (4) | Penn State (4–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (4–0) (4) | Florida State (5–0) (5) | Florida State (5–0) (5) | Florida State (6–0) (3) | Florida State (7–0) (2) | Florida State (8–0) (2) | Florida State (9–0) (4) | Arizona State (11–0) (3) | Nebraska (10–1) (1) | Florida (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida (1) | Florida (0–0) | Florida (1–0) (1) | Florida (2–0) | Florida (2–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Penn State (5–0) | Arizona State (5–0) (1) | Arizona State (6–0) (1) | Arizona State (7–0) (1) | Arizona State (8–0) (1) | Arizona State (9–0) (1) | Arizona State (10–0) (2) | Arizona State (10–0) (2) | Nebraska (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Arizona State (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Colorado (3) | Colorado (0–0) (3) | Colorado (1–0) (3) | Colorado (2–0) (3) | Penn State (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Arizona State (4–0) (1) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Colorado (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | BYU (13–1) | BYU (14–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame (1) | Notre Dame (0–0) (1) | Notre Dame (0–0) (1) | Penn State (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Arizona State (3–0) (1) | Michigan (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Colorado (8–1) T | Colorado (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | BYU (12–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | Nebraska (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | USC | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (7–0) | Colorado (6–1) | Colorado (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) T | Penn State (9–2) | BYU (12–1) | Colorado (9–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Penn State (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Colorado (5–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | BYU (11–1) | Penn State (10–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Colorado (9–2) | Colorado (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | Ohio State (0–0) | Syracuse (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Colorado (3–1) | Colorado (4–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Kansas State (8–1) | Tennessee (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Tennessee (9–2) | Tennessee (9–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Syracuse | Syracuse (0–0) | Ohio State (0–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Colorado (3–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Penn State (6–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | BYU (10–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Virginia Tech (10–1) | North Carolina (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Penn State | Miami (FL) (0–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | Northwestern (7–1) | LSU (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Alabama (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Miami (FL) | Michigan (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Colorado (2–1) | Virginia (4–0) | LSU (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | West Virginia (7–0) | LSU (6–1) | BYU (9–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Washington (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | LSU (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Texas A&M | Alabama (0–0) | Northwestern (0–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) T | Texas (2–1) | Alabama (4–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Michigan (4–1) | LSU (5–1) | BYU (8–1) | Kansas State (8–1) | Northwestern (8–2) | North Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Virginia Tech (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Michigan | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) T | Alabama (4–0) | LSU (3–0) | Michigan (4–1) | Northwestern (5–1) | Virginia (5–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Kansas State (8–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Northwestern (0–0) | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Auburn (2–0) | USC (2–1) | USC (3–1) | North Carolina (3–1) | Northwestern (4–1) | West Virginia (6–0) | BYU (7–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Virginia (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Virginia Tech (9–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Northwestern (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Virginia Tech | Auburn (0–0) | BYU (2–0) | USC (1–1) | Kansas State (3–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Washington (3–1) | Auburn (5–1) | Kansas State (6–1) | Virginia (5–2) | Wyoming (9–0) | Michigan (7–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Alabama (9–3) | Washington (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Auburn | USC (0–1) | LSU (0–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | USC (3–1) | West Virginia (6–0) | LSU (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | Wyoming (8–0) | Notre Dame (5–2) | LSU (6–2) | Virginia Tech (8–1) | Virginia Tech (9–1) | LSU (9–2) | LSU (9–2) | Kansas State (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Northwestern | LSU (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Washington (2–1) | Auburn (4–1) | BYU (6–1) | Wyoming (8–0) | West Virginia (7–1) | Northwestern (7–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | LSU (7–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Iowa (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | LSU | BYU (1–0) | USC (0–1) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Virginia (3–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | BYU (5–1) | California (5–0) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Washington (6–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | Virginia (7–3) | LSU (8–2) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Arizona State | Arizona State (0–0) | Arizona State (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Kansas (2–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Virginia (4–1) | Virginia (4–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Utah (7–1) | Southern Miss (8–2) | Auburn (7–2) | Wyoming (10–1) | Virginia (7–3) | Wyoming (10–1) | Texas (8–4) | Michigan (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Kansas State | Kansas State (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | Iowa (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Washington (2–1) | BYU (4–1) | California (5–0) | Kansas State (5–1) | Utah (6–1) | Washington (5–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Virginia Tech (7–1) | Michigan (7–3) | Wyoming (10–1) | Iowa (8–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Iowa | Iowa (0–0) | Iowa (0–0) | Virginia (1–0) | Kansas (2–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Northwestern (3–1) | Kansas State (4–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Auburn (6–2) | Army (9–0) | Clemson (7–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Wyoming (10–2) | Wyoming (10–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Virginia | Texas A&M (0–1) | Virginia (0–0) | Syracuse (0–1) | Syracuse (0–1) | West Virginia (4–0) | Texas (2–2) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Wyoming (7–0) | Washington (4–2) | Southern Miss (7–1) | Iowa (6–2) | Wyoming (9–1) | West Virginia (8–2) | Miami (FL) (7–3) | Army (9–1) | Syracuse (8–3) | Texas (8–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Kansas | Virginia (0–0) | North Carolina (1–0) | Kansas (1–0) | Washington (1–1) | BYU (3–1) | Utah (4–1) | Wyoming (6–0) | Utah (5–1) | Southern Miss (6–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Syracuse (5–2) | Virginia (6–3) | Iowa (7–3) | Army (9–1) | West Virginia (8–3) | Army (10–1) | Auburn (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Clemson | Kansas (0–0) | Texas A&M (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–1) | Oregon (3–0) | Northwestern (2–1) | Wyoming (5–0) | Texas (3–2) | Washington (3–2) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Southern Miss (8–2) | Miami (FL) (6–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Virginia (7–4) | West Virginia (8–3) | Army (10–2) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 12 [1] | Week 1 Aug 26 [2] | Week 2 Sep 2 [3] | Week 3 Sep 9 [4] | Week 4 Sep 16 [5] | Week 5 Sep 23 [6] | Week 6 Sep 30 [7] | Week 7 Oct 7 [8] | Week 8 Oct 14 [9] | Week 9 Oct 21 [10] | Week 10 Oct 28 [11] | Week 11 Nov 4 [12] | Week 12 Nov 11 [13] | Week 13 Nov 18 [14] | Week 14 Nov 25 [15] | Week 15 Dec 2 [16] | Week 16 Dec 9 [17] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 [18][19] | ||
| Dropped: Clemson | Dropped: Kansas | Dropped: Northwestern | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Texas | Dropped:
| None | Dropped:
| Dropped: Iowa | Dropped:
| Dropped: Clemson | None | Dropped: Virginia | Dropped: West Virginia |
Coaches Poll edit
| Preseason Aug 12[20] | Week 2 Sep 3[21] | Week 3 Sep 9[22] | Week 4 Sep 16[23] | Week 5 Sep 23[24] | Week 6 Sep 30[25] | Week 7 Oct 7[26][27] | Week 8 Oct 14[28] | Week 9 Oct 21[29] | Week 10 Oct 28[30] | Week 11 Nov 4[31] | Week 12 Nov 11[32] | Week 13 Nov 18[33] | Week 14 Nov 25[34] | Week 15 Dec 2[35] | Week 16 Dec 9[36] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3[37] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nebraska (47) | Nebraska (0–0) (51) | Nebraska (1–0) (57) | Nebraska (1–0) (58) | Florida (3–0) (38) | Florida (4–0) (48) | Florida (5–0) (36) | Florida (6–0) (53) | Florida (7–0) (56) | Florida (7–0) (53) | Florida (8–0) (53) | Florida (9–0) (37) | Florida (10–0) (46) | Florida (10–0) (52) | Florida State (11–0) (56) | Florida State (11–0) (57) | Florida (12–1) (58) | 1. |
| 2. | Tennessee (6) | Tennessee (1–0) (4) | Tennessee (2–0) (1) | Tennessee (2–0) (2) | Florida State (2–0) (22) | Florida State (3–0) (9) | Ohio State (4–0) (20) | Florida State (5–0) (7) | Florida State (5–0) (5) | Florida State (6–0) (5) | Florida State (7–0) (5) | Ohio State (9–0) (16) | Ohio State (10–0) (9) | Florida State (10–0) (7) | Arizona State (11–0) (6) | Arizona State (11–0) (5) | Ohio State (11–1) (4) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida State (6) | Florida State (0–0) (3) | Florida State (1–0) (1) | Florida State (1–0) (1) | Penn State (4–0) | Ohio State (3–0) (5) | Florida State (4–0) (6) | Ohio State (5–0) (2) | Ohio State (6–0) (1) | Ohio State (7–0) (4) | Ohio State (8–0) (4) | Florida State (8–0) (8) | Florida State (9–0) (7) | Arizona State (11–0) (3) | Nebraska (10–1) | Florida (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida (3) | Florida (1–0) (3) | Florida (2–0) (3) | Florida (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (2–0) (2) | Penn State (5–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Arizona State (7–0) | Arizona State (8–0) | Arizona State (9–0) | Arizona State (10–0) (1) | Arizona State (10–0) | Nebraska (9–1) | Florida (10–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Arizona State (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Colorado | Colorado (1–0) | Colorado (2–0) | Penn State (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Arizona State (5–0) | Arizona State (6–0) | Nebraska (5–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Colorado (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | BYU (13–1) | BYU (14–1) | 5. |
| 6. | USC | Penn State (1–0) (1) | Penn State (2–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Nebraska (2–1) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Alabama (7–0) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Colorado (8–1) | Colorado (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | BYU (12–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | Nebraska (11–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Nebraska (1–1) | Arizona State (4–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Alabama (6–0) | Tennessee (4–1) | Colorado (6–1) | Colorado (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | BYU (11–1) | BYU (12–1) | Penn State (10–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Penn State (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Penn State | Texas (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Texas (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Penn State (6–1) | Colorado (5–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (10–2) | Colorado (9–2) | Colorado (9–2) | Colorado (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Texas | Ohio State (0–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | Michigan (6–1) | Michigan (7–1) | Kansas State (8–1) | Virginia Tech (8–1) | Virginia Tech (9–1) | Virginia Tech (10–1) | Virginia Tech (10–1) | Tennessee (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Ohio State | Michigan (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Colorado (3–1) | Colorado (4–1) | Michigan (5–1) | Northwestern (7–1) | Alabama (7–1) | BYU (10–1) | Tennessee (7–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Tennessee (10–2) | Tennessee (9–2) | North Carolina (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Michigan | Syracuse (0–0) | Miami (FL) (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Virginia (4–0) | LSU (4–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | West Virginia (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Alabama (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas A&M | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Arizona State (3–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Northwestern (6–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | BYU (9–1) | Tennessee (6–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Northwestern (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Virginia Tech (10–2) | 12. |
| 13. | Syracuse | Alabama (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Kansas State (4–0) | Colorado (3–1) | Michigan (4–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Virginia (5–1) | LSU (6–1) | LSU (6–1) | Virginia Tech (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | LSU (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Alabama | Virginia Tech (0–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Kansas State (3–0) | Texas (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | North Carolina (4–1) | West Virginia (6–0) | Kansas State (6–1) | BYU (8–1) | Penn State (8–2) | Northwestern (8–2) | North Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | North Carolina (9–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Virginia Tech | Kansas State (1–0) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Colorado (2–1) | LSU (3–0) | West Virginia (6–0) | Northwestern (5–1) | LSU (5–1) | Penn State (7–2) | Wyoming (9–0) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Washington (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | Alabama (9–3) | Washington (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Miami (FL) | BYU (2–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | USC (3–1) | Washington (3–1) | Auburn (5–1) | BYU (7–1) | Wyoming (8–0) | Virginia (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Kansas State (8–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | LSU (9–2) | LSU (9–2) | Northwestern (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Auburn | Auburn (1–0) | Virginia (1–0) | Virginia (2–0) | Virginia (3–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | Virginia (4–1) | Virginia (4–1) | Penn State (6–2) | West Virginia (7–1) | Virginia Tech (6–1) | Washington (7–2) | Syracuse (7–2) | Syracuse (8–2) | Michigan (8–3) | Michigan (8–3) | Kansas State (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Kansas State | Northwestern (0–0) | USC (1–1) | USC (2–1) | USC (3–1) | Washington (2–1) | Northwestern (4–1) | LSU (4–1) | Wyoming (8–0) | Virginia (5–2) | Northwestern (7–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | LSU (7–2) | LSU (8–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Iowa (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Northwestern | LSU (0–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | LSU (2–0) | West Virginia (5–0) | Auburn (4–1) | Kansas State (5–1) | Iowa (5–1) | Utah (7–1) | Notre Dame (5–2) | Syracuse (6–2) | Virginia (7–3) т | Michigan (8–3) | Wyoming (10–1) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Syracuse (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | LSU | Virginia (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Kansas (2–0) | Kansas (2–0) | Auburn (3–1) | BYU (5–1) | BYU (6–1) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Washington (6–2) | LSU (6–2) | Wyoming (10–1) т | Wyoming (10–1) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Texas (8–4) | Michigan (8–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Virginia | USC (0–1) | Iowa (1–0) | LSU (1–0) | Washington (2–1) | BYU (4–1) | Kansas State (4–1) | California (5–0) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Notre Dame (4–2) | Miami (FL) (6–2) | Auburn (7–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Virginia (7–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | 21. |
| 22. | Washington | North Carolina (1–0) | Kansas (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Auburn (3–1) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | California (5–0) | Wyoming (7–0) | Utah (6–1) | Miami (FL) (5–2) | Southern Miss (8–1) | Wyoming (9–1) | Michigan (7–3) | Iowa (8–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Syracuse (8–3) | Wyoming (10–2) | 22. |
| 23. | Clemson | Washington (0–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | Washington (1–1) | West Virginia (4–0) | Texas (2–2) | Virginia Tech (3–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | Miami (FL) (4–2) | Washington (5–2) | Syracuse (5–2) | Army (9–0) | Iowa (7–3) | Miami (FL) (7–3) | Army (9–1) | Wyoming (10–2) | Texas (8–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Kansas | Kansas (1–0) | Syracuse (0–1) | Syracuse (0–1) | BYU (3–1) | Utah (4–1) | Wyoming (6–0) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Washington (4–2) | Southern Miss (7–1) | Auburn (6–2) | West Virginia (8–2) | Clemson (7–3) | Army (9–1) | West Virginia (8–3) | Army (10–1) | Army (10–2) | 24. |
| 25. | Iowa | Texas A&M (0–1) | Texas A&M (0–1) | BYU (2–1) | Iowa (2–1) | Wyoming (5–0) | Texas (3–2) | Utah (5–1) | California (5–1) | Auburn (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Virginia (6–3) | Miami (FL) (6–3) | West Virginia (8–3) | Virginia (7–4) | West Virginia (8–3) | Auburn (8–4) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 12[20] | Week 2 Sep 3[21] | Week 3 Sep 9[22] | Week 4 Sep 16[23] | Week 5 Sep 23[24] | Week 6 Sep 30[25] | Week 7 Oct 7[26][27] | Week 8 Oct 14[28] | Week 9 Oct 21[29] | Week 10 Oct 28[30] | Week 11 Nov 4[31] | Week 12 Nov 11[32] | Week 13 Nov 18[33] | Week 14 Nov 25[34] | Week 15 Dec 2[35] | Week 16 Dec 9[36] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3[37] | ||
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References edit
- ^ "1996 Preseason AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "August 26, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "September 2, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "September 9, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "September 16, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "September 23, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "September 30, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "October 7, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "October 14, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "October 21, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "October 28, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "November 4, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "November 11, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "November 18, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "November 25, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "December 2, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "December 9, 1996 AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "1996 Final AP Football Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "The Associated Press final college football poll". The Palm Beach Post. January 4, 1997. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "The USATODAY / CNN football preseason coaches' poll". Galveston Daily News. August 11, 1996. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. September 3, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. September 9, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. September 16, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. September 23, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. September 30, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. October 7, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ Schmadtke, Alan (October 7, 1996). "OHIO STATE OVERTAKES FSU AS NO. 2-RANKED TEAM". Orlando Sentinel. p. B8. ProQuest 278827343.
- ^ USA TODAY CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. October 14, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. USA TODAY. October 21, 1996. Retrieved May 1, 2017 via LexisNexis.
- ^ "USA TODAY CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL". USA TODAY. October 8, 1996. p. 18.C. ProQuest 306767200.
- ^ "USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL". USA TODAY. November 4, 1996. p. 04.C. ProQuest 306787059.
- ^ "USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL". USA TODAY. November 11, 1996. p. 18.C. ProQuest 306848800.
- ^ "USA TODAY/CNN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL". USA TODAY. November 18, 1996. p. 14.C. ProQuest 306833444.
- ^ "USA TODAY/CNN/TOP 25 COACHES' POLL". USA TODAY. November 25, 1996. p. 20.C. ProQuest 306776801.
- ^ "The Top Twenty Five teams in USA Today-CNN college football poll". The Salina Journal (Salina, KS). December 2, 1996. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ^ "COACHES' TOP 25". Des Moines Register. December 9, 1996. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- ^ "USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll". The Tennessean. January 4, 1998. Retrieved December 31, 2016.