After waiting until the bowl games were played last year, the writers' poll returned to a final vote before the bowl games in 1966. From 1962–67, AP ranked only 10 teams.
| | | Regular Season | Head Coach | After Bowls |
|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | 9–0–1 | Ara Parseghian | same |
| 2 | Michigan St. | 9–0–1 | Duffy Daugherty | same |
| 3 | Alabama | 10–0–0 | Bear Bryant | 11–0–0 |
| 4 | Georgia | 9–1–0 | Vince Dooley | 10–1–0 |
| 5 | UCLA | 9–1–0 | Tommy Prothro | same |
| 6 | Nebraska | 9–1–0 | Bob Devaney | 9–2–0 |
| 7 | Purdue | 8–2–0 | Jack Mollenkopf | 9–2–0 |
| 8 | Georgia Tech | 9–1–0 | Bobby Dodd | 9–2–0 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | 7–2–1 | Charlie Tate | 8–2–1 |
| 10 | SMU | 8–2–0 | Hayden Fry | 8–3–0 |
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