1985 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Two human polls comprised the 1985 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
(#–#)
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 3[ 2] Week 2 Sep 10[ 2] Week 3 Sep 17[ 2] Week 4 Sep 24[ 2] Week 5 Oct 1[ 2] [ 3] Week 6 Oct 8[ 2] [ 4] Week 7 Oct 15[ 2] Week 8 Oct 22[ 2] Week 9 Oct 29[ 2] Week 10 Nov 5[ 2] Week 11 Nov 12[ 2] Week 12 Nov 19[ 2] Week 13 Nov 26[ 2] Week 14 Dec 3[ 2] Week 15 Dec 10[ 2] Week 16 (Final) Jan 2[ 5] 1. Oklahoma (23) Oklahoma (0–0) Auburn (1–0) (16) Auburn (2–0) (23) Auburn (2–0) (26) Iowa (3–0) (35) Iowa (4–0) (34) Iowa (5–0) (27) Iowa (6–0) (60) Iowa (7–0) (58) Florida (7–0–1) (42) Penn State (9–0) Penn State (10–0) (46) Penn State (11–0) (49) Penn State (11–0) (47) Penn State (11–0) (47) Oklahoma (11–1) (55) 1. 2. Auburn (13) Auburn (0–0) Oklahoma (0–0) (28) Oklahoma (0–0) (23) Oklahoma (0–0) (21) Oklahoma (1–0) (13) Oklahoma (2–0) Michigan (5–0) (20) Florida (5–0–1) Florida (6–0–1) Penn State (8–0) (15) Nebraska (8–1) Nebraska (9–1) (12) Iowa (10–1) (3) Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) Miami (FL) (10–1) (3) Michigan (10–1–1) (1) 2. 3. SMU (3) SMU (0–0) Florida (1–0) (3) USC (1–0) (6) Iowa (2–0) (5) SMU (2–0) (6) Michigan (4–0) Oklahoma (3–0) (12) Penn State (6–0) Penn State (7–0) Nebraska (7–1) Ohio State (8–1) Iowa (9–1) Oklahoma (8–1) (6) Iowa (10–1) (3) Oklahoma (10–1) (5) Penn State (11–1) 3. 4. Iowa (7) Iowa (0–0) USC (1–0) (6) Iowa (1–0) (5) Florida State (3–0) Florida State (4–0) (1) Florida State (4–0) Arkansas (5–0) Michigan (5–1) Michigan (6–1) Ohio State (7–1) (1) Air Force (10–0) Miami (FL) (8–1) Miami (FL) (9–1) (1) Oklahoma (9–1) (5) Iowa (10–1) (3) Tennessee (9–1–2) (1) 4. 5. Florida (4) Florida (0–0) Iowa (0–0) (5) SMU (1–0) (3) Ohio State (2–0) Ohio State (3–0) Oklahoma State (4–0) Florida (4–0–1) Nebraska (5–1) Nebraska (6–1) Air Force (9–0) Iowa (7–1) Oklahoma (7–1) (2) Michigan (9–1–1) (1) Michigan (9–1–1) (1) Michigan (9–1–1) (1) Florida (9–1–1) 5. 6. USC (2) USC (0–0) SMU (1–0) (2) Florida State (2–0) SMU (1–0) Oklahoma State (3–0) (1) Arkansas (4–0) Penn State (5–0) (1) Auburn (5–1) Auburn (6–1) Iowa (7–1) Miami (FL) (7–1) Michigan (8–1–1) Florida (8–1–1) Florida (9–1–1) Florida (9–1–1) Texas A&M (10–2) 6. 7. Maryland (3) Maryland (0–0) Florida State (2–0) Ohio State (1–0) Oklahoma State (2–0) Michigan (3–0) (3) Florida (3–0–1) Nebraska (4–1) BYU (6–1) Air Force (8–0) Oklahoma (5–1) (1) Oklahoma (6–1) Oklahoma State (8–1) Auburn (8–2) Nebraska (9–2) Nebraska (9–2) UCLA (9–2–1) 7. 8. Ohio State BYU (1–0) Oklahoma State (1–0) Oklahoma State (2–0) LSU (2–0) LSU (2–0) Penn State (4–0) Auburn (4–1) Air Force (7–0) Ohio State (6–1) Miami (FL) (7–1) Michigan (7–1–1) UCLA (8–1–1) Nebraska (9–2) Tennessee (8–1–2) Tennessee (8–1–2) Air Force (12–1) 8. 9. Nebraska Ohio State (0–0) Ohio State (0–0) LSU (1–0) Penn State (3–0) Penn State (4–0) Nebraska (3–1) BYU (5–1) Ohio State (5–1) Oklahoma (4–1) Michigan (6–1–1) Arkansas (8–1) Florida (8–1–1) BYU (10–2) BYU (10–2) BYU (11–2) Miami (FL) (10–2) 9. 10. BYU (1) Nebraska (0–0) UCLA (1–0) Penn State (2–0) Arkansas (2–0) Arkansas (3–0) Alabama (4–0) Air Force (6–0) Oklahoma (3–1) Florida State (6–1) Oklahoma State (6–1) Oklahoma State (7–1) Auburn (8–2) Tennessee (7–1–2) Air Force (11–1) Air Force (11–1) Iowa (10–2) 10. 11. Illinois (2) Illinois (0–0) Penn State (1–0) Florida (1–0–1) Florida (1–0–1) Florida (2–0–1) BYU (4–1) Ohio State (4–1) Florida State (5–1) Miami (FL) (6–1) Baylor (7–1) UCLA (7–1–1) BYU (9–2) Air Force (11–1) Texas A&M (9–2) Texas A&M (9–2) Nebraska (9–3) 11. 12. Washington (2) Washington (0–0) LSU (0–0) UCLA (1–0–1) Michigan (2–0) Alabama (4–0) Auburn (3–1) Oklahoma State (4–1) Oklahoma State (4–1) Oklahoma State (5–1) Arkansas (7–1) Georgia (7–1–1) Ohio State (8–2) Florida State (8–2) LSU (8–1–1) LSU (8–1–1) Arkansas (10–2) 12. 13. LSU LSU (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) BYU (2–1) UCLA (2–0–1) Nebraska (2–1) Air Force (5–0) Florida State (4–1) Baylor (6–1) Baylor (7–1) Auburn (6–2) Florida (7–1–1) Air Force (10–1) LSU (7–1–1) Arkansas (9–2) UCLA (8–2–1) Alabama (9–2–1) 13. 14. Notre Dame Notre Dame (0–0) Arkansas (0–0) Arkansas (1–0) BYU (3–1) Auburn (2–1) Tennessee (2–0–1) Baylor (5–1) Arkansas (5–1) Arkansas (6–1) UCLA (6–1–1) Auburn (7–2) Florida State (8–2) Arkansas (9–2) UCLA (8–2–1) Arkansas (9–2) Ohio State (9–3) 14. 15. Arkansas Arkansas (0–0) South Carolina (2–0) South Carolina (2–0) Alabama (3–0) BYU (3–1) Ohio State (3–1) Alabama (4–1) Miami (FL) (5–1)UCLA (6–1–1) LSU (5–1) BYU (8–2) Baylor (8–2) Texas A&M (8–2) Alabama (8–2–1) Alabama (8–2–1) Florida State (9–3) 15. 16. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State (0–0) BYU (1–1) Alabama (2–0) Nebraska (1–1) Tennessee (1–0–1)SMU (2–1) Georgia (4–1) Tennessee (3–1–1) LSU (4–1) Florida State (6–2) Florida State (7–2) Tennessee (6–1–2) UCLA (8–2–1) Auburn (8–3) Auburn (8–3) BYU (11–3) 16. 17. South Carolina Florida State (1–0) Maryland (0–1) Maryland (1–1) Maryland (2–1) Air Force (4–0) Texas (3–0) LSU (3–1) UCLA (5–1–1) BYU (6–2) Georgia (6–1–1) Baylor (7–2) LSU (6–1–1) Oklahoma State (8–2) Ohio State (8–3) Ohio State (8–3) Baylor (9–3) 17. 18. Penn State South Carolina (1–0) Nebraska (0–1) Nebraska (0–1) USC (1–1) Georgia (3–1)Georgia (3–1) UCLA (4–1–1) LSU (4–1) Georgia (5–1–1) BYU (7–2) Tennessee (5–1–2) Arkansas (8–2) Texas (8–2) Florida State (8–3) Florida State (8–3) Maryland (9–3) 18. 19. Florida State Penn State (0–0) Illinois (0–1) Michigan (1–0)Air Force (3–0)Baylor (3–1)Baylor (4–1) Army (5–0)Texas (4–1) Tennessee (3–1–2) Tennessee (4–1–2) LSU (5–1–1) Texas A&M (7–2)Ohio State (8–3) Oklahoma State (8–3) Oklahoma State (8–3) Georgia Tech (9–2–1)19. 20. UCLA UCLA (0–0) Alabama (1–0)Illinois (1–1) Virginia (2–0)Texas (2–0)LSU (2–1) Tennessee (2–1–1) Minnesota (5–1)SMU (4–2) Alabama (6–2) Alabama (6–2–1) Georgia (7–2–1) Georgia (7–2–1) Bowling Green (11–0)Maryland (8–3) т Bowling Green (11–0) т LSU (9–2–1) 20. Preseason Aug[ 1] Week 1 Sep 3[ 2] Week 2 Sep 10[ 2] Week 3 Sep 17[ 2] Week 4 Sep 24[ 2] Week 5 Oct 1[ 2] [ 3] Week 6 Oct 8[ 2] [ 4] Week 7 Oct 15[ 2] Week 8 Oct 22[ 2] Week 9 Oct 29[ 2] Week 10 Nov 5[ 2] Week 11 Nov 12[ 2] Week 12 Nov 19[ 2] Week 13 Nov 26[ 2] Week 14 Dec 3[ 2] Week 15 Dec 10[ 2] Week 16 (Final) Jan 2[ 5] None Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: None Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: None Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: None Dropped: Auburn Oklahoma State Bowling Green
Coaches Poll
Preseason Aug[ 6] Week 1 Sep 3 Week 2 Sep 10[ 7] Week 3 Sep 17[ 8] Week 4 Sep 24[ 9] Week 5 Oct 1[ 10] Week 6 Oct 8[ 11] Week 7 Oct 15[ 12] Week 8 Oct 22[ 13] Week 9 Oct 29[ 14] Week 10 Nov 5[ 15] Week 11 Nov 12[ 16] Week 12 Nov 19[ 17] Week 13 Nov 26[ 18] Week 14 Dec 3[ 19] Week 15 Dec 10[ 20] Week 16 (Final) Jan 2[ 21] 1. Oklahoma (14) Oklahoma (0–0) (14) Oklahoma (0–0) (18) Auburn (2–0) Auburn (2–0) (32) Iowa (3–0) (19) Iowa (4–0) (16) Iowa (5–0) (16) Iowa (6–0) (42) Iowa (7–0) (42) Penn State (8–0) (34) Penn State (9–0) (34) Penn State (10–0) (41) Penn State (11–0) (39) Penn State (11–0) (37) Penn State (11–0) (36) Oklahoma (11–1) (41) 1. 2. Auburn (8) Auburn (0–0) (8) Auburn (1–0) (16) Oklahoma (0–0) Oklahoma (0–0) (8) Oklahoma (1–0) (14) Oklahoma (2–0) (14) Oklahoma (3–0) (14) Penn State (6–0) Penn State (7–0) Nebraska (7–1) (5) Nebraska (8–1) (4) Nebraska (9–1) (1) Oklahoma (8–1) (2) Oklahoma (9–1) (2) Oklahoma (10–1) (1) Michigan (10–1–1) 2. 3. Ohio State Ohio State (0–0) USC (1–0) (5) USC (1–0) Iowa (2–0) Ohio State (3–0) (1) Michigan (4–0) (10) Michigan (5–0) (11) Nebraska (5–1) Nebraska (6–1) Ohio State (7–1) (1) Ohio State (8–1) Oklahoma (7–1) Iowa (10–1) Iowa (10–1) Iowa (10–1) Penn State (11–1) 3. 4. Nebraska Nebraska (0–0) Ohio State (0–0) (1) Iowa (1–0) Ohio State (2–0) Florida State (4–0) (1) Florida State (4–0) Penn State (5–0) Michigan (5–1) Michigan (6–1) Air Force (9–0) (2) Air Force (10–0) (3) Iowa (9–1) Miami (FL) (9–1) Miami (FL) (10–1) Miami (FL) (10–1) Tennessee (9–1–2) 4. 5. USC (2) USC (0–0) (2) Florida State (2–0) (1) Ohio State (1–0) Florida State (3–0) Michigan (3–0) (5) Oklahoma State (4–0) (1) Arkansas (5–0) Auburn (5–1) Auburn (6–1) Oklahoma (5–1) Iowa (8–1) Miami (FL) (8–1) Michigan (9–1–1) Michigan (9–1–1) Michigan (9–1–1) Air Force (12–1) 5. 6. Washington (5) Washington (0–0) (5) Oklahoma State (1–0) (1) Florida State (2–0) (1) Penn State (3–0) Oklahoma State (3–0) Penn State (4–0) Nebraska (4–1) Air Force (7–0) Air Force (8–0) Iowa (7–1) Oklahoma (6–1) Michigan (8–1–1) Auburn (8–2) Nebraska (9–2) Nebraska (9–2) UCLA (9–2–1) 6. 7. BYU (9) BYU (1–0) (9) Iowa (0–0) Oklahoma State (1–0) (1) Oklahoma State (2–0) Penn State (4–0) Arkansas (4–0) Auburn (4–1) BYU (6–1) Ohio State (6–1) Miami (FL) (7–1) Miami (FL) (8–1) Oklahoma State (8–1) Air Force (11–1) Tennessee (8–1–2) Air Force (11–1) Texas A&M (10–2) 7. 8. Iowa (1) Iowa (0–0) (1) UCLA (1–0) Penn State (2–0) LSU (2–0) Alabama (4–0) Alabama (4–0) BYU (5–1) Ohio State (5–1) Oklahoma (4–1) Baylor (7–1) Michigan (7–1–1) UCLA (8–1–1) Nebraska (9–2) Air Force (11–1) Tennessee (8–1–2) Miami (FL) (10–2) 8. 9. Maryland (1) Maryland (0–0) (1) Penn State (1–0) LSU (1–0) Michigan (2–0) LSU (2–0) Nebraska (3–1) Air Force (6–0) Florida State (5–1) Florida State (6–1) Michigan (6–1–1) Arkansas (8–1) Auburn (8–2) Tennessee (7–1–2) BYU (10–2) BYU (11–2) Iowa (10–2) 9. 10. Illinois Illinois (0–0) LSU (0–0) BYU (2–1) Alabama (3–0) Nebraska (2–1) BYU (4–1) Ohio State (4–1) Oklahoma (3–1) Baylor (7–1) Arkansas (7–1) Oklahoma State (7–1) Air Force (10–1) BYU (10–2) LSU (8–1–1) LSU (9–1–1) Nebraska (9–3) 10. 11. LSU LSU (0–0) South Carolina (2–0) т South Carolina (2–0) UCLA (2–0–1) Arkansas (3–0) Auburn (3–1) Florida State (4–1) Baylor (6–1) Arkansas (6–1) Oklahoma State (6–1) UCLA (7–1–1) Ohio State (8–2) Florida State (8–2) Texas A&M (9–2) Texas A&M (9–2) Ohio State (9–3) 11. 12. Notre Dame Notre Dame (0–0) Notre Dame (0–0) т Alabama (2–0) BYU (3–1) BYU (3–1) Air Force (5–0) Oklahoma State (4–1) Oklahoma State (4–1) Miami (FL) (6–1) UCLA (7–1–1) Georgia (7–1–1) Florida State (8–2) LSU (7–1–1) Arkansas (9–2) Arkansas (9–2) Arkansas (10–2) 12. 13. Florida State (1) Florida State (1–0) (1) BYU (1–1) UCLA (1–0–1) Arkansas (2–0) Auburn (2–1) Tennessee (2–0–1) Baylor (5–1) Arkansas (5–1) Oklahoma State (5–1) LSU (5–1) Auburn (7–2) BYU (9–2) Arkansas (9–2) UCLA (8–2–1) UCLA (8–2–1) Florida State (9–3) 13. 14. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State (0–0) Nebraska (0–1) Arkansas (1–0) Nebraska (1–1) Tennessee (1–0–1)Texas (3–0) Alabama (4–1) т Miami (FL) (5–1)UCLA (6–1–1) Auburn (6–2) Florida State (7–2) Baylor (8–2) Texas A&M (7–2) Alabama (8–2–1) Alabama (8–2–1) Alabama (9–2–1) 14. 15. UCLA UCLA (0–0) Arkansas (0–0) Michigan (1–0)Maryland (2–1) Air Force (4–0) Ohio State (3–1) Georgia (4–1) т UCLA (5–1–1) LSU (4–1) Georgia (6–1–1) BYU (8–2) Tennessee (6–1–2) UCLA (8–2–1) Auburn (8–3) Auburn (8–3) Baylor (9–3) 15. 16. Arkansas Arkansas (0–0) Alabama (1–0)Maryland (1–1) USC (1–1) Texas (2–0) UCLA (3–1–1) UCLA (4–1–1) Tennessee (3–1–1) BYU (6–2) Florida State (6–2) Baylor (7–2) Arkansas (8–2) Texas (8–2) Ohio State (8–3) Florida State (8–3) Fresno State (11–0–1) (1) 16. 17. Penn State Penn State (0–0) West Virginia (1–0)Nebraska (0–1) Virginia (2–0)UCLA (2–1–1) Georgia (3–1) LSU (3–1) Texas (4–1) Georgia (5–1–1) Tennessee (4–1–2) Tennessee (5–1–2) LSU (6–1–1) Oklahoma State (8–2) Florida State (8–3) Ohio State (8–3) BYU (11–3) 17. 18. South Carolina South Carolina (1–0) Maryland (0–1) West Virginia (2–0) Air Force (3–0)Georgia (3–1) Baylor (4–1) Texas (3–1) LSU (4–1) Tennessee (3–1–2) BYU (7–2) LSU (5–1–1) Texas A&M (7–2) Ohio State (8–3) Fresno State (10–0–1) Fresno State (10–0–1) Georgia Tech (9–2–1)18. 19. Georgia Georgia (0–0) Pittsburgh (1–0)Arizona (2–0)Texas (1–0) Baylor (3–1)LSU (2–1) Tennessee (2–1–1) Arizona (5–1) Texas A&M (5–2)Texas A&M (6–2) Texas A&M (6–2) Texas (7–2) Fresno State (10–0–1)Maryland (8–3) Oklahoma State (8–3) Maryland (9–3) 19. 20. Boston College Boston College (0–1) Texas (0–0)Texas (0–0) Kansas (3–0)Indiana (3–0)Indiana (4–0) Army (5–0) т Arizona (4–1) тMinnesota (5–1)Alabama (5–2) Alabama (6–2) Texas (6–2) Arizona State (8–2) Georgia (7–2–1) Arizona (8–3) Arizona (8–3) LSU (9–2–1) 20. Preseason Aug[ 6] Week 1 Sep 3 Week 2 Sep 10[ 7] Week 3 Sep 17[ 8] Week 4 Sep 24[ 9] Week 5 Oct 1[ 10] Week 6 Oct 8[ 11] Week 7 Oct 15[ 12] Week 8 Oct 22[ 13] Week 9 Oct 29[ 14] Week 10 Nov 5[ 15] Week 11 Nov 12[ 16] Week 12 Nov 19[ 17] Week 13 Nov 26[ 18] Week 14 Dec 3[ 19] Week 15 Dec 10[ 20] Week 16 (Final) Jan 2[ 21] None Dropped: Washington Illinois Georgia Boston College Dropped: Dropped: South Carolina West Virginia Arizona Dropped: Maryland USC Virginia Kansas None Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: None Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: Dropped: Texas Oklahoma State Georgia Dropped: Dropped: Auburn Oklahoma State Arizona
USA/CNN Poll
Week 16 Final Jan 2 1. Oklahoma (11–1) (32) 1. 2. Penn State (11–1) 2. 3. Michigan (10–1–1) 3. 4. Tennessee (9–1–2) 4. 5. Florida (9–1–1) 5. 6. Miami (FL) (10–2) 6. 7. Air Force (12–1) 7. 8. Texas A&M (10–2) 8. 9. UCLA (9–2–1) 9. 10. Iowa (10–2) 10. 11. Nebraska (9–3) 11. 12. Alabama (9–2–1) 12. 13. Ohio State (9–3) 13. 14. Florida State (9–3) 14. 15. Arkansas (10–2) 15. 16. BYU (11–3) 16. 17. Maryland (9–3) 17. 18. Georgia Tech (9–2–1) 18. 19. Baylor (9–3) 19. 20. Auburn (8–4) 20. 21. LSU (9–2–1) 21. 22. Army (9–3) 22. 23. Fresno State (11–0–1) 23. 24. Georgia (7–3–2) 24. 25. Oklahoma State (8–4) 25. Week 16 Final Jan 2
References
^ "1985 Preseason A.P. Poll" . DatabaseFootball.com . Archived from the original on November 30, 2015.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "1985 College Football Polls" . Sports Reference . September 3, 1985.
^ "Hawks grab No. 1 spot in AP poll" . Des Moines Register . October 1, 1985. Retrieved October 29, 2017 .
^ "Hawks still ranked No. 1 despite fragile victory" . Des Moines Register . October 8, 1985. Retrieved October 29, 2017 .
^ "1985 Final AP Football Poll" . College Poll Archive . January 2, 1986.
^ "UPI Coaches Top 20 The United Press International Board of Coaches preseason Top 20 college football ratings" . Arizona Republic . August 25, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . September 10, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Daily Reporter . September 17, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Tyrone Daily Herald . September 24, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Iowa ranked #1" . Daily Chronicle . October 1, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . October 8, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Iowa hangs onto top grid rating" . Ukiah Daily Journal . October 15, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . October 22, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Ukiah Daily Journal . October 29, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Unimpressive Penn State #1" . Ukiah Daily Journal . November 5, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "Top 7 Spots Unchanged in UPI's Football Poll" . Tyrone Daily Herald . November 12, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Detroit Free Press . November 19, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Logansport Pharos-Tribune . November 26, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Tyrone Daily Herald . December 3, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 college football ratings" . Daily Chronicle . December 10, 1985. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
^ "UPI COACHES' TOP 20" . Indianapolis Star . January 3, 1986. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
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