Two human polls comprised the 1976 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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.
| 1976 NCAA Division I football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1976 |
| Bowl season | 1976–77 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Pittsburgh |
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 Aug [1] | Week 1 Sep 14[2] | Week 2 Sep 21[3] | Week 3 Sep 28[4] | Week 4 Oct 5[5] | Week 5 Oct 12[6] | Week 6 Oct 19[7] | Week 7 Oct 26[8] | Week 8 Nov 2[9] | Week 9 Nov 9[10] | Week 10 Nov 16[11] | Week 11 Nov 23[12] | Week 12 Nov 30[13] | Week 13 (Final) Jan[14] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nebraska (25) | Michigan (1–0) (28) | Michigan (2–0) (47) | Michigan (3–0) (56) | Michigan (4–0) (52) | Michigan (5–0) (57) | Michigan (6–0) (58) | Michigan (7–0) (53) | Michigan (8–0) (57) | Pittsburgh (9–0) (49) | Pittsburgh (10–0) (44) | Pittsburgh (10–0) (39) | Pittsburgh (11–0) (45) | Pittsburgh (12–0) (59) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (10) | Ohio State (1–0) (18) | Ohio State (2–0) (3) | Pittsburgh (3–0) (2) | Pittsburgh (4–0) (3) | Pittsburgh (5–0) (3) | Pittsburgh (6–0) (4) | Pittsburgh (7–0) (6) | Pittsburgh (8–0) (5) | UCLA (8–0–1) (7) | UCLA (9–0–1) (13) | Michigan (10–1) (13) | Michigan (10–1) (8) | USC (11–1) (3) | 2. |
| 3. | Arizona State (7) | Pittsburgh (1–0) (9) | Pittsburgh (2–0) (7) | Oklahoma (3–0) (2) | Oklahoma (4–0) (3) | Nebraska (4–0–1) | Nebraska (5–0–1) | UCLA (6–0–1) | UCLA (7–0–1) | USC (7–1) (2) | USC (8–1) (1) | USC (9–1) (7) | USC (10–1) (3) | Michigan (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Ohio State (3) | Oklahoma (1–0) (4) | Oklahoma (2–0) (3) | UCLA (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) (2) | UCLA (4–0–1) | UCLA (5–0–1) | USC (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Michigan (8–1) (2) | Michigan (9–1) (2) | Georgia (9–1) (1) | Maryland (11–0) (2) | Houston (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma (6) | UCLA (1–0) (2) | UCLA (2–0) | Nebraska (2–0–1) | UCLA (3–0–1) | Maryland (5–0) | Oklahoma (5–0–1) | Maryland (7–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Texas Tech (7–0) (1) | Texas Tech (8–0) (1) | Maryland (11–0) (2) | Georgia (10–1) | Oklahoma (9–2–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Alabama (3) | Missouri (1–0) | Nebraska (1–0–1) | Georgia (3–0) | Nebraska (3–0–1) | Oklahoma (4–0–1) | Maryland (6–0) | Texas Tech (5–0) (1) | Maryland (8–0) | Maryland (9–0) (2) | Georgia (9–1) т | UCLA (9–1–1) | Houston (8–2) | Ohio State (9–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Texas (3) | Penn State (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Maryland (4–0) | Missouri (4–1) | USC (4–1) | Georgia (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Georgia (8–1) | Maryland (10–0) т | Houston (7–2) | UCLA (9–1–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | USC (2) | Nebraska (0–0–1) | Maryland (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Kansas (4–0) | USC (4–1) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Ohio State (5–1–1) | Ohio State (6–1–1) | Ohio State (7–1–1) | Ohio State (8–1–1) | Oklahoma (7–2–1) | Oklahoma (8–2–1) | Maryland (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Pittsburgh (1) | Georgia (1–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Kansas (3–0) | Missouri (3–1) | Ohio State (3–1–1) | Ohio State (4–1–1) | Nebraska (5–1–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Houston (6–2) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Nebraska (9–3–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Penn State | Maryland (1–0) | Kansas (3–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Ohio State (2–1–1) | Texas Tech (3–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Missouri (5–2) | Florida (6–1) | Alabama (7–2) | Oklahoma (7–2–1) | Nebraska (7–2–1) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Texas A&M (1–0) | Penn State (1–1) | LSU (2–0–1) | USC (3–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Florida (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Missouri (6–3) | Texas A&M (7–2) (1) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Ohio State (8–2–1) | Alabama (9–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Maryland | Arkansas (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Missouri (2–1) | Florida (3–1) | Florida (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Houston (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2–1) | Ohio State (8–2–1) | Colorado (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Arkansas | Kansas (2–0) | Alabama (1–1) | USC (2–1) | Boston College (3–0) | Texas (2–1–1) | Texas (2–1–1) | Oklahoma (5–1–1) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Arkansas (5–1–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Nebraska (7–3–1) | Texas Tech (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Texas A&M | Alabama (0–1) | Illinois (2–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Houston (4–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Oklahoma (6–2–1) | Iowa State (8–2) | Colorado (8–3) т | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | California | Boston College (1–0) | LSU (1–0–1) | Boston College (2–0) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Kansas (4–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Texas (3–1–1) | Alabama (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Colorado (7–3) | Oklahoma State (7–3) т | Notre Dame (8–3) | UCLA (9–2–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Georgia | LSU (0–0–1) | North Carolina (3–0) | Ole Miss (3–1) | Texas (2–1) | LSU (3–1–1) т | Iowa State (5–1) | Oklahoma State (4–2) | Missouri (5–3) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Oklahoma State (6–3) | Penn State (7–3) | Alabama (8–3) | Colorado (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | UCLA | North Carolina (2–0) | Ole Miss (2–1) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Ole Miss (4–2) т | Missouri (4–2) | Alabama (5–2) | Oklahoma (5–2–1) | Oklahoma State (5–3) | Penn State (7–3) | Rutgers (10–0) | Rutgers (11–0) | Rutgers (11–0) | 17. |
| 18. | Florida | Arizona State (0–1) | Boston College (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Alabama (4–2) | Mississippi State (6–1) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Alabama (7–3) | Alabama (7–3) | Baylor (7–2–1) | Kentucky (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Kansas | Texas (0–1) | USC (1–1) | Florida (2–1) | North Carolina (4–1) | Houston (3–1) | South Carolina (5–2) | Colorado (5–2) | Houston (5–2) | Colorado (6–3) | Missouri (6–4) т | Mississippi State (9–2) т | North Carolina (9–2) | Iowa State (8–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Miami (OH) | Ole Miss (1–1) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Penn State (1–2) | LSU (2–1–1) | Alabama (3–2) |
| Cincinnati (5–1) | Texas (3–2–1) | South Carolina (6–3) | Rutgers (10–0) т | North Carolina (9–2) т |
| Mississippi State (9–2) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug [1] | Week 1 Sep 14[2] | Week 2 Sep 21[3] | Week 3 Sep 28[4] | Week 4 Oct 5[5] | Week 5 Oct 12[6] | Week 6 Oct 19[7] | Week 7 Oct 26[8] | Week 8 Nov 2[9] | Week 9 Nov 9[10] | Week 10 Nov 16[11] | Week 11 Nov 23[12] | Week 12 Nov 30[13] | Week 13 (Final) Jan[14] | ||
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Coaches Poll
| Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27[15] | Week 4 Oct 4[16] | Week 5 Oct 11[17] | Week 6 Oct 18[18] | Week 7 Oct 25[19] | Week 8 Nov 1[20][N 1] | Week 9 Nov 8[21] | Week 10 Nov 15[22] | Week 11 Nov 22[23] | Week 12 Nov 29[24] | Week 13 Jan 4 (Final) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | Michigan (7–0) | Michigan (8–0) | Pittsburgh (9–0) | Pittsburgh (10–0) | Pittsburgh (10–0) | Pittsburgh (11–0) | Pittsburgh (12–0) (39) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | Pittsburgh (5–0) | Pittsburgh (6–0) | Pittsburgh (7–0) | Pittsburgh (8–0) | UCLA (8–0–1) | UCLA (9–0–1) | USC (9–1) | Michigan (10–1) | USC (11–1) (3) | 2. |
| 3. | UCLA (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Oklahoma (4–0) | Nebraska (4–0–1) | Nebraska (5–0–1) | UCLA (6–0–1) | UCLA (7–0–1) | USC (7–1) | USC (8–1) | Michigan (10–1) | USC (10–1) | Michigan (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Pittsburgh (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Oklahoma (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | UCLA (4–0–1) | UCLA (5–0–1) | USC (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Michigan (8–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Georgia (9–1) | Georgia (10–1) | Houston (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma (1–0) | Oklahoma (2–0) | Nebraska (2–0–1) | Nebraska (3–0–1) | Oklahoma (4–0–1) | Oklahoma (5–0–1) | Maryland (7–0) | Texas Tech (6–0) | Texas Tech (7–0) | Texas Tech (8–0) | Maryland (11–0) | Maryland (11–0) | Ohio State (9–2–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Missouri (1–0) | Nebraska (1–0–1) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–0–1) | Maryland (5–0) | USC (4–1) | Texas Tech (5–0) | Maryland (8–0) | Georgia (8–1) | Georgia (9–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | UCLA (9–1–1) | Oklahoma (9–2–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn State (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Maryland (4–0) | Missouri (4–1) | Maryland (6–0) | Georgia (6–1) | Ohio State (6–1–1) | Maryland (9–0) | Maryland (10–0) | Houston (7–2) | Houston (8–2) | Nebraska (8–3–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Nebraska (0–0–1) | Maryland (2–0) | Ohio State (2–1) | Kansas (4–0) | USC (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1–1) | Ohio State (5–1–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Ohio State (7–1–1) | Ohio State (8–1–1) | Nebraska (7–2–1) | Texas Tech (9–1) | Texas A&M (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Georgia (1-0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Missouri (3–1) | Ohio State (3–1–1) | Texas Tech (4–0) | Nebraska (5–1–1) | Nebraska (6–1–1) | Nebraska (7–1–1) | Oklahoma (7–2–1) | Ohio State (8–2–1) | Oklahoma (8–2–1) | Alabama (9–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas A&M (1–0) | Penn State (1–1) | Missouri (2–1) | USC (3–1) | Texas Tech (3–0) | Georgia (5–1) | Missouri (5–2) | Florida (6–1) | Missouri (6–3) | Iowa State (8–2) | Texas Tech (8–1) | Ohio State (8–2–1) т | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Maryland (1–0) | Arkansas (2–0) | Kansas (3–0) | Ohio State (2–1–1) | Georgia (4–1) | Florida (4–1) | Notre Dame (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1–1) | Houston (6–2) | Nebraska (7–2–1) | Notre Dame (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) т | Maryland (11–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Arkansas (1–0) | Kansas (3–0) | USC (2–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Florida (3–1) | Notre Dame (4–1) | Florida (5–1) | Oklahoma State (5–2) | Alabama (7–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Colorado (8–3) | Notre Dame (9–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Alabama (0–1) | Alabama (1–1) | LSU (2–0–1) | Florida (3–1) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Texas (2–1–1) | Oklahoma (5–1–1) | Colorado (6–2) | Tulsa (6–2) | Houston (6–2) | Oklahoma (7–2–1) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Texas Tech (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | LSU (0–0–1) | Illinois (2–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | Texas (2–1) | Texas (2–1–1) | Houston (4–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Arkansas (5–1) | Oklahoma (6–2–1) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Oklahoma State (7–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Boston College (1–0) | LSU (1–0–1) т | Notre Dame (2–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Houston (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Oklahoma State (4–2) | Alabama (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Tulsa (7–2) | Colorado (8–3) | Rutgers (11–0) т | UCLA (9–2–1) | 15. |
| 16. | Kansas (2–0) т | USC (1–1) т | Boston College (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Missouri (4–2) | Colorado (5–2) | Tulsa (5–2) | Iowa State (7–2) т | Colorado (7–3) | Rutgers (10–0) т | Alabama (8–3) т | Colorado (8–4) | 16. |
| 17. | North Carolina (2-0) т | Boston College (1–0) | Florida (2–1) | Boston College (3–0) | Tulsa (4–1) | Cincinnati (6–0) | Texas (3–1–1) | Houston (5–2) | Arkansas (6–1–1) т | Oklahoma State (6–3) | BYU (9–2) т | BYU (9–2) т | Rutgers (11–0) | 17. |
| 18. | Texas Tech (1–0) т | North Carolina (3–0) | Houston (2–1) | Texas Tech (2–0) | Kansas (4–1) | Iowa State (5–1) | Alabama (5–2) т | Baylor (4–2–1) | Rutgers (10–0) | Baylor (6–2–1) | Baylor (7–2–1) т | Iowa State (8–3) | 18. | |
| 19. | USC (0–1) | Florida (1–1) т | Tulsa (3–1) | Houston (2–1) | Oklahoma State (3–1) | Colorado (4–2) | Boston College (5–1) т | Notre Dame (6–2) т | BYU (8–2) т | Florida (7–3) | Nebraska (7–3–1) | Baylor (8–2–1) т | 19. | |
| 20. | Oklahoma State (1–0) | Texas Tech (1–0) т | Texas (1–1) | Tulsa (4–1) | Ole Miss (4–2) | Alabama (4–2) | Cincinnati (6–0) т | Wyoming (8–2) т | Penn State (7–3) | Florida (8–3) | Kentucky (8–4) т | 20. | ||
| Week 1 Sep 13 | Week 2 Sep 20 | Week 3 Sep 27[15] | Week 4 Oct 4[16] | Week 5 Oct 11[17] | Week 6 Oct 18[18] | Week 7 Oct 25[19] | Week 8 Nov 1[20][N 1] | Week 9 Nov 8[21] | Week 10 Nov 15[22] | Week 11 Nov 22[23] | Week 12 Nov 29[24] | Week 13 Jan 4 (Final) | ||
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References
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