The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 18, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
| Record | Pts | Prv | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ohio St. (60) | 7-0 | 1643 | 1 |
| 2. Indiana (6) | 7-0 | 1583 | 3 |
| 3. Texas A&M | 7-0 | 1499 | 4 |
| 4. Alabama | 6-1 | 1463 | 6 |
| 5. Georgia | 6-1 | 1360 | 9 |
| 6. Oregon | 6-1 | 1317 | 8 |
| 7. Georgia Tech | 7-0 | 1143 | 12 |
| 8. Mississippi | 6-1 | 1119 | 5 |
| 9. Miami (FL) | 5-1 | 1073 | 2 |
| 10. Vanderbilt | 6-1 | 1031 | 17 |
| 11. BYU | 7-0 | 975 | 15 |
| 12. Notre Dame | 5-2 | 964 | 13 |
| 13. Oklahoma | 6-1 | 882 | 14 |
| 14. Texas Tech | 6-1 | 782 | 7 |
| 15. Missouri | 6-1 | 748 | 16 |
| 16. Virginia | 6-1 | 624 | 18 |
| 17. Tennessee | 5-2 | 527 | 11 |
| 18. South Florida | 6-1 | 501 | 19 |
| 19. Louisville | 5-1 | 458 | - |
| 20. LSU | 5-2 | 388 | 10 |
| 21. Cincinnati | 6-1 | 350 | 24 |
| 22. Texas | 5-2 | 318 | 21 |
| 23. Illinois | 5-2 | 168 | - |
| 24. Arizona St. | 5-2 | 155 | - |
| 25. Michigan | 5-2 | 123 | - |
Others receiving votes: Southern Cal 97, Utah 40, Tulane 37, Houston 34, Navy 28, San Diego St. 7, James Madison 6, Boise St. 4, TCU 2, Minnesota 1.
