| Rk | Change | Team | Record | Conference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 |  Ohio StateBuckeyes · 5 | 14-2 | Big Ten | 1,400(56) |
| 2 | 1 |  Notre DameFighting Irish · 1 | 14-2 | FBS Independents | 1,342 |
| 3 | 2 |  OregonDucks · 2 | 13-1 | Big Ten | 1,255 |
| 4 |  TexasLonghorns · | 13-3 | SEC | 1,211 | |
| 5 |  Penn StateNittany Lions · | 13-3 | Big Ten | 1,203 | |
| 6 | 4 |  GeorgiaBulldogs · 4 | 11-3 | SEC | 1,141 |
| 7 | 3 |  Arizona StateSun Devils · 3 | 11-3 | Big 12 | 1,041 |
| 8 |  Boise StateBroncos · | 12-2 | Mountain West | 958 | |
| 9 | 2 |  TennesseeVolunteers · 2 | 10-3 | SEC | 945 |
| 10 | 1 |  IndianaHoosiers · 1 | 11-2 | Big Ten | 906 |
| 11 | 5 |  Ole MissRebels · 5 | 10-3 | SEC | 780 |
| 12 |  SMUMustangs · | 11-3 | ACC | 721 | |
| 13 | 4 |  BYUCougars · 4 | 11-2 | Big 12 | 718 |
| 14 | 1 |  ClemsonTigers · 1 | 10-4 | ACC | 712 |
| 15 | 3 |  Iowa StateCyclones · 3 | 11-3 | Big 12 | 594 |
| 16 | 5 |  IllinoisFighting Illini · 5 | 10-3 | Big Ten | 533 |
| 17 | 6 |  AlabamaCrimson Tide · 6 | 9-4 | SEC | 415 |
| 18 | 3 |  MiamiHurricanes · 3 | 10-3 | ACC | 411 |
| 19 | 5 |  South CarolinaGamecocks · 5 | 9-4 | SEC | 405 |
| 20 | 2 |  SyracuseOrange · 2 | 10-3 | ACC | 320 |
| 21 | 2 |  ArmyBlack Knights · 2 | 12-2 | American Athletic | 307 |
| 22 | 1 |  MissouriTigers · 1 | 10-3 | SEC | 266 |
| 23 | 1 |  UNLVRebels · 1 | 11-3 | Mountain West | 178 |
| 24 | 1 |  MemphisTigers · 1 | 11-2 | American Athletic | 154 |
| 25 | 5 |  ColoradoBuffaloes · 5 | 9-4 | Big 12 | 79 |
Results that shaped this poll
Bowl results
- Jan 2· College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl - Rescheduled from Jan 1Upset
- Jan 1· College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Presented by PrudentialUpset
- Jan 9· College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl
- Jan 20· College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&TUpset
- Jan 10· College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl ClassicUpset
- Dec 20· College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate
- Dec 21· College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate
- Dec 31· College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
- Jan 1· College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
- Dec 21· College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate
- Dec 21· College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate
- Dec 28· Pop-Tarts BowlUpset
- Dec 31· Cheez-It Citrus BowlUpset
- Dec 28· Valero Alamo Bowl
- Dec 31· ReliaQuest BowlUpset
- Jan 2· TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Dec 28· Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech6 - Dec 27· DirecTV Holiday Bowl
- Dec 30· TransPerfect Music City Bowl
- Dec 18· Art of Sport LA Bowl
California13 - Dec 17· Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
West Virginia37
