| 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1997 |
| Bowl season | 1997–98 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 |
|
| End of season champions | |
| Conference with most teams in final AP poll | SEC (6) |
Two human polls comprised the 1997 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 | ||
(#–#)
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Win–loss record | |
(Italics)
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Number of first place votes | |
т
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Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP Poll
| Preseason Aug 11 [1] | Week 1 Aug 25 [2] | Week 2 Sep 2 [3] | Week 3 Sep 8 [4] | Week 4 Sep 15 [5] | Week 5 Sep 22 [6] | Week 6 Sep 29 [7] | Week 7 Oct 6 [8] | Week 8 Oct 13 [9] | Week 9 Oct 20 [10] | Week 10 Oct 27 [11] | Week 11 Nov 3 [12] | Week 12 Nov 10 [13] | Week 13 Nov 17 [14] | Week 14 Nov 24 [15] | Week 15 Dec 1 [16] | Week 16 Dec 8 [17] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 [18] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Penn State (21) | Penn State (0–0) (22) | Penn State (0–0) (23) | Penn State (1–0) (22) | Penn State (2–0) (25) | Florida (3–0) (32) | Florida (4–0) (36) | Florida (5–0) (35) | Penn State (5–0) (51) | Nebraska (6–0) (33) | Nebraska (7–0) (35) | Nebraska (8–0) (46) | Michigan (9–0) (44) | Michigan (10–0) (44) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (11–0) (69) | Michigan (12–0) (51½) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida (12) | Florida (0–0) (14) | Florida (1–0) (14) | Florida (2–0) (15) | Washington (2–0) (19) | Penn State (3–0) (28) | Penn State (3–0) (25) | Penn State (4–0) (26) | Nebraska (5–0) (14) | Penn State (6–0) (26) | Penn State (6–0) (25) | Penn State (7–0) (16) | Florida State (9–0) (23) | Florida State (10–0) (24) | Nebraska (10–0) (1) | Nebraska (11–0) (1) | Nebraska (12–0) (1) | Nebraska (13–0) (18½) | 2. |
| 3. | Florida State (7) | Florida State (0–0) (6) | Tennessee (1–0) (7) | Washington (1–0) (14) | Florida (2–0) (14) | Nebraska (3–0) (7) | Nebraska (3–0) (6) | Nebraska (4–0) (6) | Florida State (5–0) (3) | Florida State (6–0) (9) | Florida State (7–0) (8) | Florida State (8–0) (5) | Nebraska (9–0) (3) | Nebraska (10–0) (2) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Tennessee (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Washington (10) | Washington (0–0) (9) | Washington (0–0) (9) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (4–0) (1) | North Carolina (6–0) (2) | North Carolina (7–0) (2) | Michigan (7–0) | Michigan (8–0) (1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Tennessee (8) | Tennessee (0–0) (7) | Florida State (0–0) (6) | Florida State (1–0) (4) | Florida State (2–0) (3) | North Carolina (3–0) (2) | North Carolina (4–0) (2) | North Carolina (5–0) (2) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) | North Carolina (7–0) (2) | North Carolina (8–0) (2) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (0–0) (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (4) | North Carolina (2–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | 6. |
| 7. | North Carolina (4) | North Carolina (0–0) (4) | North Carolina (0–0) (4) | North Carolina (1–0) (2) | Nebraska (2–0) (2) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Florida (5–1) | Washington (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Georgia (7–1) | UCLA (8–2) | Florida (9–2) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | Tennessee (11–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Colorado (3) | Colorado (0–0) (3) | Colorado (0–0) (3) | Colorado (1–0) (3) | Michigan (1–0) | Auburn (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | LSU (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State (1) | Ohio State (0–0) (1) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | Kansas State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Washington State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (3–1) | Washington (4–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Washington State (7–0) | UCLA (7–2) | Kansas State (8–1) | Florida (8–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (0–0) | Notre Dame (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Michigan State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | LSU (7–2) | Washington State (9–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Auburn (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Auburn (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Texas (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | UCLA (6–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Florida (7–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Miami (FL) | Syracuse (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Iowa (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | LSU (3–1) | Georgia (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | UCLA (5–2) | Kansas State (6–1) | Florida (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Michigan | Miami (FL) (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | LSU (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Kansas State (5–1) | Georgia (6–1) | LSU (6–2) | Washington State (8–1) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Michigan (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Washington State (3–0) | Washington State (4–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Iowa (4–1) | Michigan State (5–1) | Iowa (5–2) | Arizona State (6–2) | Arizona State (7–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Auburn | Alabama (0–0) | Auburn (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Colorado (2–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Georgia (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Washington State (7–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | Penn State (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Syracuse | Auburn (0–0) | Stanford (0–0) | Stanford (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Clemson (2–1) | Kansas State (3–0) | Iowa (4–1) | UCLA (4–2) | LSU (5–2) | West Virginia (6–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Washington (7–3) | LSU (7–3) | Arizona State (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (11–2) | 17. |
| 18. | Stanford | Stanford (0–0) | Clemson (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–2) | Air Force (7–0) | Iowa (4–2) | Purdue (6–1) | Toledo (8–0) | Texas A&M (7–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (10–2) | Washington (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | BYU (0–0) | BYU (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Stanford (3–1) | Air Force (6–0) | Georgia (4–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Purdue (7–2) T | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Southern Miss (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Clemson | Clemson (0–0) | Iowa (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Stanford (2–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) | Kansas State (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) T | LSU (7–3) | Colorado State (9–2) | Colorado State (9–2) | Texas A&M (9–3) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Iowa | Iowa (0–0) | Kansas State (0–0) T | Michigan State (1–0) | Stanford (1–1) | Alabama (2–1) | Texas A&M (3–0) | BYU (3–1) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Michigan State (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Syracuse (7–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Syracuse (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | USC | Kansas State (0–0) | Northwestern (1–0) T | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Texas A&M (2–0) | UCLA (2–2) | Kansas State (3–1) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Purdue (5–1) | Toledo (7–0) | Syracuse (6–3) | Iowa (6–3) | West Virginia (7–4) | Mississippi State (7–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Mississippi (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Kansas State | USC (0–0) | USC (0–0) | USC (0–1) | Colorado State (2–1) | BYU (1–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Virginia Tech (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (5–2) | Purdue (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Purdue (7–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Air Force (10–2) | Missouri (7–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Wisconsin | Northwestern (1–0) | Colorado State (1–0) | Arizona State (1–0) | UCLA (1–2) | UCLA (1–2) | BYU (2–1) | Colorado (2–2) | Wisconsin (6–1) | Toledo (6–0) | Southern Miss (5–2) | Southern Miss (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Michigan State | Michigan State (0–0) | Michigan State (0–0) | Colorado State (1–1) | Georgia (2–0) | Arizona State (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | Georgia Tech (3–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Mississippi (4–2) | Texas A&M (5–2) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | Missouri (6–4) | Colorado State (8–2) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Michigan State (7–4) | Michigan State (7–4) | Georgia Tech (7–5) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 11 [1] | Week 1 Aug 25 [2] | Week 2 Sep 2 [3] | Week 3 Sep 8 [4] | Week 4 Sep 15 [5] | Week 5 Sep 22 [6] | Week 6 Sep 29 [7] | Week 7 Oct 6 [8] | Week 8 Oct 13 [9] | Week 9 Oct 20 [10] | Week 10 Oct 27 [11] | Week 11 Nov 3 [12] | Week 12 Nov 10 [13] | Week 13 Nov 17 [14] | Week 14 Nov 24 [15] | Week 15 Dec 1 [16] | Week 16 Dec 8 [17] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 3 [18] | ||
| Dropped: Wisconsin | Dropped: Syracuse | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Clemson | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Mississippi | Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped:
| Dropped: Mississippi State | None | Dropped:
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Coaches Poll
In the final Coaches Poll of the 1997 season, Nebraska leapfrogged Michigan to secure a share of the national championship, making it the 3rd split championship of the 1990s. [19] Eight coaches split their first-place votes, with a final tally of 32 first-place votes for Nebraska and 30 for Michigan. The final vote count was Nebraska 1,520, Michigan 1,516. [20]
| Preseason Aug 11 [21] | Week 2 Sep 2 [22] | Week 3 Sep 8 [23] | Week 4 Sep 15 [24] | Week 5 Sep 22 [25] | Week 6 Sep 29 [26] | Week 7 Oct 6 [27] | Week 8 Oct 13 [28] | Week 9 Oct 20 [29] | Week 10 Oct 27 [30] | Week 11 Nov 3 [31] | Week 12 Nov 10 [32] | Week 13 Nov 17 [33] | Week 14 Nov 24 [34] | Week 15 Dec 1 [35] | Week 16 Dec 8 [36] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 4 [37] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Florida (19) | Florida (1–0) (25) | Florida (2–0) (25) | Florida (2–0) (25) | Florida (3–0) (43) | Florida (4–0) (45) | Florida (5–0) (48) | Penn State (5–0) (51) | Nebraska (6–0) (28) | Nebraska (7–0) (37) | Nebraska (8–0) (50) | Florida State (9–0) (26) | Florida State (10–0) (29) | Michigan (11–0) (46) | Michigan (11–0) (58) | Michigan (11–0) (53½) | Nebraska (13–0) (32) | 1. |
| 2. | Penn State (9) | Penn State (0–0) (13) | Penn State (1–0) (12) | Penn State (2–0) (14) | Penn State (3–0) (14) | Penn State (3–0) (13) | Penn State (4–0) (11) | Nebraska (5–0) (9) | Penn State (6–0) (29) | Penn State (6–0) (20) | Florida State (8–0) (2) | Michigan (9–0) (20) | Michigan (10–0) (20) | Nebraska (10–0) (16) | Nebraska (11–0) (4) | Nebraska (12–0) (8½) | Michigan (12–0) (30) | 2. |
| 3. | Washington (15) | Tennessee (1–0) (10) | Washington (1–0) (13) | Washington (2–0) (12) | Nebraska (3–0) (3) | Nebraska (3–0) (3) | Nebraska (4–0) (2) | Florida State (5–0) (1) | Florida State (6–0) (3) | Florida State (7–0) (3) | Penn State (7–0) (8) | Nebraska (9–0) (16) | Nebraska (10–0) (13) | Tennessee (9–1) | Tennessee (10–1) | Tennessee (11–1) | Florida State (11–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Florida State (3) | Washington (0–0) (7) | Tennessee (2–0) (5) | Tennessee (2–0) (6) | Florida State (3–0) (1) | Florida State (3–0) | Florida State (4–0) | North Carolina (6–0) (1) | North Carolina (7–0) (1) | Michigan (7–0) (2) | Michigan (8–0) (2) | Ohio State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Florida State (10–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Tennessee (8) | Florida State (0–0) (3) | Nebraska (1–0) (2) | Florida State (2–0) (2) | North Carolina (3–0) (1) | North Carolina (4–0) (1) | North Carolina (5–0) (1) | Michigan (5–0) | Michigan (6–0) (1) | North Carolina (7–0) | North Carolina (8–0) | Tennessee (7–1) | Tennessee (8–1) | Florida State (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | UCLA (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Nebraska (4) | Nebraska (1–0) (2) | Florida State (1–0) (3) | Nebraska (2–0) (1) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Florida (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Colorado (3) | Colorado (0–0) (1) | Colorado (1–0) (1) | North Carolina (2–0) (1) | Ohio State (3–0) | Ohio State (4–0) | Ohio State (5–0) | Auburn (6–0) | Washington (5–1) | Washington (6–1) | Tennessee (6–1) | Georgia (7–1) | Kansas State (9–1) | UCLA (9–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Washington State (10–1) | Kansas State (11–1) | 7. |
| 8. | North Carolina (1) | North Carolina (0–0) (1) | North Carolina (1–0) (1) | Ohio State (2–0) (1) | Auburn (3–0) | Iowa (4–0) | Auburn (5–0) | Washington (4–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Tennessee (5–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Kansas State (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Florida (9–2) | Tennessee (11–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Ohio State | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Iowa (3–0) | Auburn (4–0) | Washington (3–1) | Tennessee (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Georgia (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | UCLA (8–2) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Kansas State (10–1) | Washington State (10–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas | Texas (0–0) | Texas (1–0) | LSU (2–0) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (2–1) | Tennessee (3–1) | LSU (5–1) | Washington State (6–0) | Washington State (7–0) | Kansas State (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | Florida (8–2) | Washington State (10–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Ohio State (10–2) | Georgia (10–2) | 10. |
| 11. | LSU | LSU (0–0) | LSU (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Washington (2–1) | Washington (2–1) | Michigan State (4–0) | Michigan State (5–0) | Auburn (6–1) | Auburn (7–1) | UCLA (7–2) | LSU (7–2) | Washington State (9–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (10–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–0) | Auburn (2–0) | Virginia Tech (3–0) | Virginia Tech (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Ohio State (5–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | Kansas State (6–1) | LSU (6–2) | Florida (7–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Arizona State (8–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Ohio State (10–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Michigan | Notre Dame (0–0) | Michigan (0–0) | Iowa (2–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Michigan State (3–0) | Texas A&M (4–0) | Washington State (5–0) | Kansas State (5–1) | UCLA (6–2) | Florida (6–2) | Washington State (8–1) | Auburn (8–2) | Auburn (9–2) | Georgia (9–2) | Auburn (9–3) | LSU (9–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Miami (FL) | Michigan (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Virginia Tech (2–0) | Washington State (3–0) | LSU (3–1) | LSU (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–0) | Michigan State (5–1) | LSU (5–2) | Iowa (6–2) | Washington (7–2) | Georgia (7–2) | Georgia (8–2) | Texas A&M (9–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | Arizona State (9–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Alabama | Alabama (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Clemson (2–0) | LSU (2–1) | Washington State (4–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Iowa (4–1) | LSU (5–2) | Georgia (6–1) | Washington State (7–1) | Arizona State (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (9–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Syracuse | BYU (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Colorado (1–1) | Colorado (1–1) | Kansas State (3–0) | Iowa (4–1) | Oklahoma State (6–0) | UCLA (5–2) | Iowa (5–2) | Arizona State (6–2) | Auburn (7–2) | Texas A&M (8–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (8–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (11–2) | 16. |
| 17. | BYU | Stanford (0–0) | Iowa (1–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Texas A&M (3–0) | Stanford (4–1) | Air Force (7–0) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | West Virginia (6–1) | Auburn (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–2) | Syracuse (8–3) | LSU (7–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (10–2) | Penn State (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Stanford | Auburn (0–0) | Stanford (1–0) | Michigan State (2–0) | Texas A&M (2–0) | Colorado (2–1) | Air Force (6–0) | UCLA (4–2) | Georgia (5–1) | Purdue (6–1) | Virginia Tech (6–2) | Texas A&M (7–2) | LSU (7–3) | Purdue (8–3) | Colorado State (9–2) | Arizona State (8–3) | Washington (8–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Auburn | Iowa (0–0) | Virginia Tech (1–0) | Kansas State (2–0) | Alabama (2–1) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–2) | Virginia Tech (5–1) | Iowa (4–2) | Oklahoma State (6–1) | Syracuse (6–3) | Syracuse (7–3) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Colorado State (9–2) | Arizona State (8–3) | Texas A&M (9–3) | Southern Miss (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Iowa | Clemson (0–0) | Kansas State (1–0) | Washington State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | Alabama (3–1) | Oklahoma State (5–0) т | Kansas State (4–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Michigan State (5–2) | Toledo (8–0) | Purdue (7–2) | Washington (7–3) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Missouri (7–4) | Syracuse (9–4) | 20. |
| 21. | Clemson | USC (0–0) | Clemson (1–0) | Miami (FL) (1–1) | Clemson (2–1) | Stanford (3–1) | Virginia Tech (4–1) т | Georgia (4–1) | Texas A&M (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Texas A&M (6–2) | Oklahoma State (7–2) | West Virginia (7–2) | Virginia Tech (7–3) | Air Force (10–2) | Air Force (10–2) | Texas A&M (9–4) | 21. |
| 22. | USC | Virginia Tech (1–0) | USC (0–1) | Texas A&M (1–0) | Stanford (2–1) | Arizona State (3–1) | BYU (3–1) | West Virginia (5–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Virginia Tech (5–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Iowa (6–3) | Colorado State (8–2) | Washington (7–4) | Washington (7–4) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Mississippi (8–4) | 22. |
| 23. | Kansas State | Kansas State (0–0) | Michigan State (1–0) | Stanford (1–1) | Arizona State (2–1) | Air Force (5–0) | Kansas State (3–1) | Stanford (4–2) | Purdue (5–1) | Toledo (7–0) | Oklahoma State (6–2) | West Virginia (6–2) | Missouri (7–4) | Air Force (10–2) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Washington (7–4) | Missouri (7–5) | 23. |
| 24. | Wisconsin | Northwestern (1–0) | West Virginia (2–0) | Texas (1–1) | BYU (1–1) | BYU (2–1) | West Virginia (4–1) | Wisconsin (6–1) | Air Force (7–1) | Syracuse (5–3) | Purdue (6–2) | Wisconsin (8–2) | Wisconsin (8–3) | Southern Miss (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | Oklahoma State (8–4) | 24. |
| 25. | Virginia Tech | Colorado State (1–0) | NC State (2–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Air Force (4–0) | UCLA (2–2) | Colorado (2–2) | Georgia Tech (4–1) | Syracuse (5–3) | BYU (5–2) | Southern Miss (6–2) | Mississippi State (6–2) | Purdue (7–3) | Oklahoma State (8–3) | New Mexico (9–2) | Michigan State (7–4) | Air Force (10–3) | 25. |
| Preseason Aug 11 [21] | Week 2 Sep 2 [22] | Week 3 Sep 8 [23] | Week 4 Sep 15 [24] | Week 5 Sep 22 [25] | Week 6 Sep 29 [26] | Week 7 Oct 6 [27] | Week 8 Oct 13 [28] | Week 9 Oct 20 [29] | Week 10 Oct 27 [30] | Week 11 Nov 3 [31] | Week 12 Nov 10 [32] | Week 13 Nov 17 [33] | Week 14 Nov 24 [34] | Week 15 Dec 1 [35] | Week 16 Dec 8 [36] | Week 17 (Final) Jan 4 [37] | ||
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References
- ^ "1997 AP Preseason Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 1 Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 2 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 3 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 4 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 5 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 6 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 7 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 8 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 9 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 10 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 11 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 12 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 13 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 14 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 15 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Week 16 Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ "1997 AP Final Poll". AP Poll Archive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ^ Few ready to accept split NCAA national football title. (1998, Jan 05). USA Today. Retrieved ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1998, Jan 05). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ "COACHES: The top 25 teams in the USA Today/ESPN preseason college football poll". The Washington Post. August 10, 1997. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 02). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 08). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 15). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 22). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Sep 29). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 06). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 13). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 20). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Oct 27). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 3). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 10). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 17). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Nov 24). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Dec 01). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ USA Today ESPN TOP 25 COACHES' POLL. (1997, Dec 08). USA Today. Retrieved via ProQuest.
- ^ "USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll". The Tennessean. January 4, 1998. Retrieved December 31, 2016.