2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprise the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship at the FBS level. 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. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is usually released starting midway through the season. The CFP rankings determine who makes the four-team playoff that determines the College Football Playoff National Champion.

Legend

  Increase in ranking
  Decrease in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
  Selected for College Football Playoff
(#–#)
  Win–loss record
(Italics)
  Number of first place votes
т
Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

AP Poll

Preseason
Aug 16[1]
Week 1
Sep 7[2]
Week 2
Sep 12[3]
Week 3
Sep 19[4]
Week 4
Sep 26[5]
Week 5
Oct 3[6]
Week 6
Oct 10[7]
Week 7
Oct 17[8]
Week 8
Oct 24[9]
Week 9
Oct 31[10]
Week 10
Nov 7[11]
Week 11
Nov 14[12]
Week 12
Nov 21[13]
Week 13
Nov 28[14]
Week 14
Dec 5[15]
Week 15 (Final)
Jan 11[16]
1.Alabama (47)Alabama (1–0) (59)Alabama (2–0) (60)Alabama (3–0) (59)Alabama (4–0) (58)Alabama (5–0) (53)Georgia (6–0) (62)Georgia (7–0) (63)Georgia (7–0) (63)Georgia (8–0) (63)Georgia (9–0) (63)Georgia (10–0) (62)Georgia (11–0) (62)Georgia (12–0) (62)Alabama (12–1) (50)Georgia (14–1) (61)1.
2.Oklahoma (6)Georgia (1–0) (3)Georgia (2–0) (2)Georgia (3–0) (3)Georgia (4–0) (4)Georgia (5–0) (9)Iowa (6–0)Cincinnati (6–0)Cincinnati (7–0)Cincinnati (8–0)Cincinnati (9–0)Alabama (9–1)Ohio State (10–1)Michigan (11–1)Michigan (12–1) (9)Alabama (13–2)2.
3.Clemson (6)Ohio State (1–0)Oklahoma (2–0)Oregon (3–0)Oregon (4–0)Iowa (5–0)Cincinnati (6–0)Oklahoma (7–0)Alabama (7–1)Alabama (7–1)Alabama (8–1)Cincinnati (10–0)Alabama (10–1)Cincinnati (12–0)Georgia (12–1)Michigan (12–2)3.
4.Ohio State (1)Oklahoma (1–0)Oregon (2–0)Oklahoma (3–0)Penn State (4–0)Penn State (5–0)Oklahoma (6–0)Alabama (6–1)Oklahoma (8–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Oregon (9–1)Cincinnati (11–0)Alabama (11–1)Cincinnati (13–0) (3)Cincinnati (13–1)4.
5.Georgia (3)Texas A&M (1–0)Iowa (2–0)Iowa (3–0)Iowa (4–0)Cincinnati (4–0)Alabama (5–1)Ohio State (5–1)Ohio State (6–1)Michigan State (8–0)Oregon (8–1)Ohio State (9–1)Notre Dame (10–1)Oklahoma State (11–1)Notre Dame (11–1)Baylor (12–2)5.
6.Texas A&MClemson (0–1)Clemson (1–1)Penn State (3–0)Oklahoma (4–0)Oklahoma (5–0)Ohio State (5–1)Michigan (6–0)Michigan (7–0)Ohio State (7–1)Ohio State (8–1)Notre Dame (9–1)Michigan (10–1)Notre Dame (11–1)Baylor (11–2)Ohio State (11–2)6.
7.Iowa StateCincinnati (1–0)Texas A&M (2–0)Texas A&M (3–0)Cincinnati (3–0)Ohio State (4–1)Penn State (5–1)Penn State (5–1)Oregon (6–1)Oregon (7–1)Notre Dame (8–1)Michigan State (9–1)Oklahoma State (10–1)Ohio State (10–2)Ohio State (10–2)Oklahoma State (12–2)7.
8.CincinnatiNotre Dame (1–0)Cincinnati (2–0)Cincinnati (3–0)Arkansas (4–0)Oregon (4–1)Michigan (6–0)Oklahoma State (6–0)Michigan State (7–0)Notre Dame (7–1)Michigan State (8–1)Michigan (9–1)Ole Miss (9–2)Ole Miss (10–2)Ole Miss (10–2)Notre Dame (11–2)8.
9.Notre DameIowa State (1–0)Ohio State (1–1)Clemson (2–1)Notre Dame (4–0)Michigan (5–0)Oregon (4–1)Michigan State (7–0)Iowa (6–1)Michigan (7–1)Michigan (8–1)Oklahoma State (9–1)Baylor (9–2)Baylor (10–2)Oklahoma State (11–2)Michigan State (11–2)9.
10.North CarolinaIowa (1–0)Penn State (2–0)Ohio State (2–1)Florida (3–1)BYU (5–0)Michigan State (6–0)Oregon (5–1)Ole Miss (6–1)Wake Forest (8–0)Oklahoma State (8–1)Ole Miss (8–2)Oklahoma (10–1)Oregon (10–2)Utah (10–3)Oklahoma (11–2)10.
11.OregonPenn State (1–0)Florida (2–0)Florida (2–1)Ohio State (3–1)Michigan State (5–0)Kentucky (6–0)Iowa (6–1)Notre Dame (6–1)Oklahoma State (7–1)Texas A&M (7–2)Baylor (8–2)Oregon (9–2)Michigan State (10–2)Michigan State (10–2)Ole Miss (10–3)11.
12.WisconsinOregon (1–0)Notre Dame (2–0)Notre Dame (3–0)Ole Miss (3–0)Oklahoma State (5–0)Oklahoma State (5–0)Ole Miss (5–1)Kentucky (6–1)Auburn (6–2)Ole Miss (7–2)Oklahoma (9–1)Michigan State (9–2)BYU (10–2)BYU (10–2)Utah (10–4)12.
13.FloridaFlorida (1–0)UCLA (2–0)Ole Miss (3–0)BYU (4–0)Arkansas (4–1)Ole Miss (4–1)Notre Dame (5–1)Wake Forest (7–0)Texas A&M (6–2)Wake Forest (8–1)Wake Forest (9–1)BYU (9–2)Oklahoma (10–2)Pittsburgh (11–2)Pittsburgh (11–3)13.
14.Miami (FL)USC (1–0)Iowa State (1–1)Iowa State (2–1)Michigan (4–0)Notre Dame (4–1)Notre Dame (5–1)Coastal Carolina (6–0)Texas A&M (6–2)Baylor (7–1)BYU (8–2)BYU (8–2)Texas A&M (8–3)Utah (9–3)Oklahoma (10–2)Clemson (10–3)14.
15.USCTexas (1–0)Virginia Tech (2–0)BYU (3–0)Texas A&M (3–1)Coastal Carolina (5–0)Coastal Carolina (6–0)Kentucky (6–1)Oklahoma State (6–1)Ole Miss (6–2)UTSA (9–0)UTSA (10–0)UTSA (11–0)Iowa (10–2)Oregon (10–3)Wake Forest (11–3)15.
16.LSUUCLA (2–0)Coastal Carolina (2–0)Arkansas (3–0)Coastal Carolina (4–0)Kentucky (5–0)Wake Forest (6–0)Wake Forest (6–0)Baylor (6–1)UTSA (8–0)Auburn (6–3)Texas A&M (7–3)Utah (8–3)Houston (11–1)Louisiana (12–1)Louisiana (13–1)16.
17.IndianaCoastal Carolina (1–0)Ole Miss (2–0)Coastal Carolina (3–0)Michigan State (4–0)Ole Miss (3–1)Arkansas (4–2)Texas A&M (5–2)Pittsburgh (6–1)BYU (7–2)Houston (8–1)Houston (9–1)Iowa (9–2)Pittsburgh (10–2)Iowa (10–3)Houston (12–2)17.
18.IowaWisconsin (0–1)Wisconsin (1–1)Wisconsin (1–1)Fresno State (4–1)Auburn (4–1)Arizona State (5–1)NC State (5–1)Auburn (5–2)Kentucky (6–2)Baylor (7–2)Iowa (8–2)Wisconsin (8–3)Wake Forest (10–2)NC State (9–3)Kentucky (10–3)18.
19.Penn StateVirginia Tech (1–0)Arizona State (2–0)Michigan (3–0)Oklahoma State (4–0)Wake Forest (5–0)BYU (5–1)Auburn (5–2)SMU (7–0)Iowa (6–2)Iowa (7–2)Wisconsin (7–3)Houston (10–1)San Diego State (11–1)Clemson (9–3)BYU (10–3)19.
20.WashingtonOle Miss (1–0)Arkansas (2–0)Michigan State (3–0)UCLA (3–1)Florida (3–2)Florida (4–2)Baylor (6–1)Penn State (5–2)Houston (7–1)Wisconsin (6–3)Pittsburgh (8–2)Pittsburgh (9–2)Louisiana (11–1)Wake Forest (10–3)NC State (9–3)20.
21.TexasUtah (1–0)North Carolina (1–1)North Carolina (2–1)Baylor (4–0)Texas (4–1)Texas A&M (4–2)SMU (6–0)San Diego State (7–0)Coastal Carolina (7–1)NC State (7–2)Arkansas (7–3)Wake Forest (9–2)NC State (9–3)Houston (11–2)Arkansas (9–4)21.
22.Coastal CarolinaMiami (FL) (0–1)Auburn (2–0)Fresno State (3–1)Auburn (3–1)Arizona State (4–1)NC State (4–1)San Diego State (6–0)Iowa State (5–2)Penn State (5–3)Coastal Carolina (8–1)Louisiana (9–1)San Diego State (10–1)Clemson (9–3)Arkansas (8–4)Oregon (10–4)22.
23.LouisianaArizona State (1–0)BYU (2–0)Auburn (2–1)NC State (3–1)NC State (4–1)SMU (6–0)Pittsburgh (5–1)UTSA (8–0)SMU (7–1)Penn State (6–3)San Diego State (9–1)Louisiana (10–1)Arkansas (8–4)Texas A&M (8–4)Iowa (10–4)23.
24.UtahNorth Carolina (0–1)Miami (FL) (1–1)UCLA (2–1)Wake Forest (4–0)SMU (5–0)San Diego State (5–0)UTSA (7–0)Coastal Carolina (6–1)Louisiana (7–1)Louisiana (8–1)Utah (7–3)NC State (8–3)Texas A&M (8–4)UTSA (12–1)Utah State (11–3)24.
25.Arizona StateAuburn (1–0)Michigan (2–0)Kansas State (3–0)Clemson (2–2)San Diego State (4–0)Texas (4–2)Purdue (4–2)BYU (6–2)Fresno State (7–2)Pittsburgh (7–2)NC State (7–3)Arkansas (7–4)Kentucky (9–3)Kentucky (9–3)San Diego State (12–2)25.
Preseason
Aug 16[1]
Week 1
Sep 7[2]
Week 2
Sep 12[3]
Week 3
Sep 19[4]
Week 4
Sep 26[5]
Week 5
Oct 3[6]
Week 6
Oct 10[7]
Week 7
Oct 17[8]
Week 8
Oct 24[9]
Week 9
Oct 31[10]
Week 10
Nov 7[11]
Week 11
Nov 14[12]
Week 12
Nov 21[13]
Week 13
Nov 28[14]
Week 14
Dec 5[15]
Week 15 (Final)
Jan 11[16]
Dropped:
  • LSU
  • Indiana
  • Washington
  • Louisiana
Dropped:
  • USC
  • Texas
  • Utah
Dropped:
  • Virginia Tech
  • Arizona State
  • Miami (FL)
Dropped:
  • Iowa State
  • Wisconsin
  • North Carolina
  • Kansas State
Dropped:
  • Texas A&M
  • Fresno State
  • UCLA
  • Baylor
  • Clemson
Dropped:
Auburn
Dropped:
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona State
  • BYU
  • Florida
  • Texas
Dropped:
  • NC State
  • Purdue
Dropped:
  • Pittsburgh
  • San Diego State
  • Iowa State
Dropped:
  • Kentucky
  • SMU
  • Fresno State
Dropped:
  • Auburn
  • Coastal Carolina
  • Penn State
NoneDropped:
  • UTSA
  • Wisconsin
Dropped:
  • San Diego State
Dropped:
  • Texas A&M
  • UTSA

Ranking highlights

Preseason[17]
  • Iowa State received its highest ranking (No. 7) in program history.
  • Coastal Carolina and Louisiana, respectively No. 22 and No. 23, were the first Sun Belt Conference teams ever ranked in the preseason.
Week 5
  • Clemson's long streak of poll rankings ends.
Week 6
  • Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 3) in program history.
Week 7
  • UTSA was ranked for the first time in program history at No. 24.
  • Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 2) in program history.
Week 8
  • UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 23) in program history.
Week 9
  • Wake Forest received its highest ranking (No. 10) in program history.
  • UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 16) in program history.
Week 10
  • UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 15) in program history.
Final Poll
  • Cincinnati received its highest final ranking (No. 4). Its previous high was No. 8 in 2009 and 2020.
  • Baylor received its highest final ranking (No. 5). Its previous high was No. 7 in 2014.
  • Wake Forest received its highest final ranking (No. 15). Its previous high was No. 18 in 2006.

Coaches Poll

Preseason
Aug 10[18]
Week 1
Sep 7[19]
Week 2
Sep 12[20]
Week 3
Sep 19[21]
Week 4
Sep 26[22]
Week 5
Oct 3[23]
Week 6
Oct 10[24]
Week 7
Oct 17[25]
Week 8
Oct 24[26]
Week 9
Oct 31[27]
Week 10
Nov 7[28]
Week 11
Nov 14[29]
Week 12
Nov 21[30]
Week 13
Nov 28[31]
Week 14
Dec 5[32]
Week 15 (Final)
Jan 11[33]
1.Alabama (63)Alabama (1–0) (64)Alabama (2–0) (64)Alabama (3–0) (64)Alabama (4–0) (64)Alabama (5–0) (63)Georgia (6–0) (64)Georgia (7–0) (65)Georgia (7–0) (64)Georgia (8–0) (64)Georgia (9–0) (64)Georgia (10–0) (62)Georgia (11–0) (62)Georgia (12–0) (62)Alabama (12–1) (54)Georgia (14–1) (62)1.
2.ClemsonGeorgia (1–0) (1)Georgia (2–0) (1)Georgia (3–0) (1)Georgia (4–0) (1)Georgia (5–0) (2)Iowa (6–0) (1)Oklahoma (7–0)Cincinnati (7–0)Cincinnati (8–0)Alabama (8–1)Alabama (9–1)Alabama (10–1)Alabama (11–1)Michigan (12–1) (5)Alabama (13–2)2.
3.Oklahoma (2)Ohio State (1–0)Oklahoma (2–0)Oklahoma (3–0)Oregon (4–0)Iowa (5–0)Oklahoma (6–0)Cincinnati (7–0)Alabama (7–1)Alabama (7–1)Cincinnati (9–0)Cincinnati (10–0)Ohio State (10–1)Michigan (11–1)Georgia (12–1)Michigan (12–2)3.
4.Ohio StateOklahoma (1–0)Oregon (2–0)Oregon (3–0)Oklahoma (4–0)Penn State (5–0)Cincinnati (5–0)Alabama (6–1)Oklahoma (8–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Ohio State (9–1)Cincinnati (11–0)Cincinnati (12–0)Cincinnati (13–0) (3)Cincinnati (13–1)4.
5.GeorgiaTexas A&M (1–0)Texas A&M (2–0)Texas A&M (3–0)Iowa (4–0)Oklahoma (5–0)Alabama (5–1)Ohio State (5–1)Ohio State (6–1)Ohio State (7–1)Ohio State (8–1)Oregon (9–1)Notre Dame (10–1)Oklahoma State (11–1)Notre Dame (11–1)Ohio State (11–2)5.
6.Texas A&MClemson (0–1)Clemson (1–1)Iowa (3–0)Penn State (4–0)Cincinnati (4–0)Ohio State (5–1)Michigan (6–0)Michigan (7–0)Michigan State (8–0)Oregon (8–1)Notre Dame (8–1)Michigan (10–1)Notre Dame (11–1)Baylor (11–2)Baylor (12–2)6.
7.Notre DameNotre Dame (1–0)Iowa (2–0)Clemson (2–1)Notre Dame (4–0)Ohio State (4–1)Michigan (6–0)Michigan State (7–0)Michigan State (7–0)Oregon (7–1)Notre Dame (8–1)Michigan (9–1)Oklahoma State (10–1)Ohio State (10–2)Ohio State (10–2)Oklahoma State (12–2)7.
8.Iowa StateCincinnati (1–0)Cincinnati (2–0)Penn State (3–0)Cincinnati (3–0)Michigan (5–0)Penn State (5–1)Penn State (5–1)Oregon (6–1)Notre Dame (7–1)Michigan (8–1)Michigan State (9–1)Ole Miss (9–2)Ole Miss (10–2)Ole Miss (10–2)Michigan State (11–2)8.
9.North CarolinaFlorida (1–0)Florida (2–0)Cincinnati (3–0)Florida (3–1)Oregon (4–1)Michigan State (6–0)Oklahoma State (6–0)Ole Miss (6–1)Wake Forest (8–0)Michigan State (8–1)Oklahoma State (9–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Baylor (10–2)Oklahoma State (11–2)Notre Dame (11–2)9.
10.CincinnatiIowa State (1–0)Notre Dame (2–0)Notre Dame (3–0)Ohio State (3–1)BYU (5–0)Oregon (4–1)Oregon (5–1)Iowa (6–1)Michigan (7–1)Oklahoma State (8–1)Ole Miss (8–2)Baylor (9–2)Oregon (10–2)Michigan State (10–2)Oklahoma (11–2)10.
11.FloridaOregon (1–0)Ohio State (1–1)Florida (2–1)Arkansas (4–0)Michigan State (5–0)Kentucky (6–0)Iowa (6–1)Notre Dame (6–1)Oklahoma State (7–1)Texas A&M (7–2)Oklahoma (9–1)Oregon (9–2)Oklahoma (10–2)Utah (10–3)Ole Miss (10–3)11.
12.OregonIowa (1–0)Penn State (2–0)Ohio State (2–1)Ole Miss (3–0)Oklahoma State (5–0)Oklahoma State (5–0)Ole Miss (5–1)Kentucky (6–1)Texas A&M (6–2)Ole Miss (7–2)Wake Forest (9–1)Iowa (9–2)Iowa (10–2)Pittsburgh (11–2)Utah (10–4)12.
13.LSUPenn State (1–0)UCLA (2–0)Ole Miss (3–0)Texas A&M (3–1)Notre Dame (4–1)Notre Dame (5–1)Notre Dame (5–1)Wake Forest (7–0)Baylor (7–1)Wake Forest (8–1)Baylor (8–2)Michigan State (9–2)Michigan State (10–2)Oklahoma (10–2)Pittsburgh (11–3)13.
14.USCUSC (1–0)Iowa State (1–1)Iowa State (2–1)Michigan (4–0)Kentucky (5–0)Ole Miss (4–1)Kentucky (6–1)Texas A&M (6–2)Auburn (6–2)Iowa (7–2)Iowa (8–2)Texas A&M (8–3)BYU (10–2)BYU (10–2)Wake Forest (11–3)14.
15.WisconsinTexas (1–0)Virginia Tech (2–0)Wisconsin (1–1)BYU (4–0)Coastal Carolina (5–0)Coastal Carolina (6–0)Wake Forest (6–0)Oklahoma State (6–1)Ole Miss (6–2)BYU (8–2)BYU (8–2)BYU (9–2)Pittsburgh (10–2)Oregon (10–3)Kentucky (10–3)15.
16.Miami (FL)UCLA (2–0)Ole Miss (2–0)BYU (3–0)Michigan State (4–0) тArkansas (4–1)Wake Forest (6–0)Coastal Carolina (6–0)SMU (7–0)Iowa (6–2)UTSA (9–0)Texas A&M (7–3)Houston (10–1)Houston (11–1)Iowa (10–3)Clemson (10–3)16.
17.IndianaWisconsin (0–1)Wisconsin (1–1)Coastal Carolina (3–0)Coastal Carolina (4–0) тOle Miss (3–1)Florida (4–2)Texas A&M (5–2)Penn State (5–2)Kentucky (6–2)Houston (8–1)Houston (9–1)Pittsburgh (9–2)Utah (9–3)Louisiana (12–1)Houston (12–2)17.
18.IowaUtah (1–0)Coastal Carolina (2–0)Arkansas (3–0)Oklahoma State (4–0)Florida (3–2)Texas A&M (4–2)NC State (5–1)Baylor (6–1)UTSA (8–0)Baylor (7–2)UTSA (10–0)Wisconsin (8–3)Wake Forest (10–2)NC State (9–3)Louisiana (13–1)18.
19.TexasCoastal Carolina (1–0)North Carolina (1–1)Michigan (3–0)Clemson (2–2)Auburn (4–1)Arkansas (4–2)SMU (6–0)Pittsburgh (6–1)Houston (7–1)NC State (7–2)Pittsburgh (8–2)Utah (8–3)San Diego State (11–1)Wake Forest (10–3)NC State (9–3)19.
20.Penn StateOle Miss (1–0)Auburn (2–0)North Carolina (2–1)UCLA (3–1)Wake Forest (5–0)BYU (5–1)Baylor (6–1)San Diego State (7–0)BYU (7–2)Auburn (6–3)Wisconsin (7–3)UTSA (11–0)NC State (9–3)Kentucky (9–3)Arkansas (9–4)20.
21.WashingtonVirginia Tech (1–0)Arizona State (2–0)Michigan State (3–0)Fresno State (4–1)Clemson (3–2)NC State (4–1)San Diego State (6–0)Auburn (5–2)Coastal Carolina (7–1)Coastal Carolina (8–1)Louisiana (9–1)Wake Forest (9–2)Louisiana (11–1)Houston (11–2)Oregon (10–4)21.
22.Oklahoma StateNorth Carolina (0–1)Oklahoma State (2–0)Oklahoma State (3–0)Auburn (3–1)NC State (4–1)Arizona State (5–1)Auburn (5–2)UTSA (8–0)NC State (6–2)Pittsburgh (7–2)Arkansas (7–3)San Diego State (10–1)Kentucky (9–3)Clemson (9–3)BYU (10–3)22.
23.LouisianaOklahoma State (1–0)BYU (2–0)Auburn (2–1)Kentucky (4–0)Texas (4–1)SMU (6–0)Pittsburgh (5–1)Iowa State (5–2)Penn State (5–3)Penn State (6–3)San Diego State (9–1)Louisiana (10–1)Texas A&M (8–4)Texas A&M (8–4)Iowa (10–4)23.
24.Coastal CarolinaMiami (FL) (0–1)Arkansas (2–0)UCLA (2–1)Baylor (4–0)SMU (5–0)San Diego State (5–0)Clemson (4–2)Coastal Carolina (6–1)SMU (7–1)Wisconsin (6–3)NC State (7–3)NC State (8–3)Clemson (9–3)Arkansas (8–4)Utah State (11–3)24.
25.Ole MissArizona State (1–0)Michigan (2–0)Fresno State (3–1)Wake Forest (4–0)Arizona State (4–1)Clemson (3–2)UTSA (7–0)NC State (5–2)Pittsburgh (6–2)Louisiana (8–1)Utah (7–3)Kentucky (8–3)Arkansas (8–4)UTSA (12–1)Texas A&M (8–4)25.
Preseason
Aug 10[18]
Week 1
Sep 7[19]
Week 2
Sep 12[20]
Week 3
Sep 19[21]
Week 4
Sep 26[22]
Week 5
Oct 3[23]
Week 6
Oct 10[24]
Week 7
Oct 17[25]
Week 8
Oct 24[26]
Week 9
Oct 31[27]
Week 10
Nov 7[28]
Week 11
Nov 14[29]
Week 12
Nov 21[30]
Week 13
Nov 28[31]
Week 14
Dec 5[32]
Week 15 (Final)
Jan 11[33]
Dropped:
  • LSU
  • Indiana
  • Washington
  • Louisiana
Dropped:
  • USC
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Miami (FL)
Dropped:
  • Virginia Tech
  • Arizona State
Dropped:
  • Iowa State
  • Wisconsin
  • North Carolina
Dropped:
  • Texas A&M
  • UCLA
  • Fresno State
  • Baylor
Dropped:
  • Auburn
  • Texas
Dropped:
  • Florida
  • Arkansas
  • BYU
  • Arizona State
Dropped:
  • Clemson
Dropped:
  • San Diego State
  • Iowa State
Dropped:
  • Kentucky
  • SMU
Dropped:
  • Auburn
  • Coastal Carolina
  • Penn State
Dropped:
Arkansas
Dropped:
  • Wisconsin
  • UTSA
Dropped:
  • San Diego State
Dropped:
UTSA

CFP rankings

The initial 2021 College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.[34]

Week 9
Nov. 2[35]
Week 10
Nov. 9 [36]
Week 11
Nov. 16[37]
Week 12
Nov. 23 [38]
Week 13
Nov. 30 [39]
Week 14 (Final)
Dec. 5 [40]
1.Georgia (8–0)Georgia (9–0)Georgia (10–0)Georgia (11–0)Georgia (12–0)Alabama (12–1)1.
2.Alabama (7–1)Alabama (8–1)Alabama (9–1)Ohio State (10–1)Michigan (11–1)Michigan (12–1)2.
3.Michigan State (8–0)Oregon (8–1)Oregon (9–1)Alabama (10–1)Alabama (11–1)Georgia (12–1)3.
4.Oregon (7–1)Ohio State (8–1)Ohio State (9–1)Cincinnati (11–0)Cincinnati (12–0)Cincinnati (13–0)4.
5.Ohio State (7–1)Cincinnati (9–0)Cincinnati (10–0)Michigan (10–1)Oklahoma State (11–1)Notre Dame (11–1)5.
6.Cincinnati (8–0)Michigan (8–1)Michigan (9–1)Notre Dame (10–1)Notre Dame (11–1)Ohio State (10–2)6.
7.Michigan (7–1)Michigan State (8–1)Michigan State (9–1)Oklahoma State (10–1)Ohio State (10–2)Baylor (11–2)7.
8.Oklahoma (9–0)Oklahoma (9–0)Notre Dame (9–1)Baylor (9–2)Ole Miss (10–2)Ole Miss (10–2)8.
9.Wake Forest (8–0)Notre Dame (8–1)Oklahoma State (9–1)Ole Miss (9–2)Baylor (10–2)Oklahoma State (11–2)9.
10.Notre Dame (7–1)Oklahoma State (8–1)Wake Forest (9–1)Oklahoma (10–1)Oregon (10–2)Michigan State (10–2)10.
11.Oklahoma State (7–1)Texas A&M (7–2)Baylor (8–2)Oregon (9–2)Michigan State (10–2)Utah (10–3)11.
12.Baylor (7–1)Wake Forest (8–1)Ole Miss (8–2)Michigan State (9–2)BYU (10–2)Pittsburgh (11–2)12.
13.Auburn (6–2)Baylor (7–2)Oklahoma (9–1)BYU (9–2)Iowa (10–2)BYU (10–2)13.
14.Texas A&M (6–2)BYU (8–2)BYU (8–2)Wisconsin (8–3)Oklahoma (10–2)Oregon (10–3)14.
15.BYU (7–2)Ole Miss (7–2)Wisconsin (7–3)Texas A&M (8–3)Pittsburgh (10–2)Iowa (10–3)15.
16.Ole Miss (6–2)NC State (7–2)Texas A&M (7–3)Iowa (9–2)Wake Forest (10–2)Oklahoma (10–2)16.
17.Mississippi State (5–3)Auburn (6–3)Iowa (8–2)Pittsburgh (9–2)Utah (9–3)Wake Forest (10–3)17.
18.Kentucky (6–2)Wisconsin (6–3)Pittsburgh (8–2)Wake Forest (9–2)NC State (9–3)NC State (9–3)18.
19.NC State (6–2)Purdue (6–3)San Diego State (9–1)Utah (8–3)San Diego State (11–1)Clemson (9–3)19.
20.Minnesota (6–2)Iowa (7–2)NC State (7–3)NC State (8–3)Clemson (9–3)Houston (11–2)20.
21.Wisconsin (5–3)Pittsburgh (7–2)Arkansas (7–3)San Diego State (10–1)Houston (11–1)Arkansas (8–4)21.
22.Iowa (6–2)San Diego State (8–1)UTSA (10–0)UTSA (11–0)Arkansas (8–4)Kentucky (9–3)22.
23.Fresno State (7–2)UTSA (9–0)Utah (7–3)Clemson (8–3)Kentucky (9–3)Louisiana (12–1)23.
24.San Diego State (7–1)Utah (6–3)Houston (9–1)Houston (10–1)Louisiana (11–1)San Diego State (11–2)24.
25.Pittsburgh (6–2)Arkansas (6–3)Mississippi State (6–4)Arkansas (7–4)Texas A&M (8–4)Texas A&M (8–4)25.
Week 9
Nov. 2[35]
Week 10
Nov. 9 [36]
Week 11
Nov. 16[37]
Week 12
Nov. 23 [38]
Week 13
Nov. 30 [39]
Week 14 (Final)
Dec. 5 [40]
Dropped:
  • Mississippi State
  • Kentucky
  • Minnesota
  • Fresno State
Dropped:
  • Auburn
  • Purdue
Dropped:
  • Mississippi State
Dropped:
UTSA
Wisconsin
None

Notes

References

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