Writers' poll taken before bowl games.
| | | Regular Season | Head Coach | After Bowls |
|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 8–1–0 | Murray Warmath | 8–2–0 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 9–0–1 | Johnny Vaught | 10–0–1 |
| 3 | Iowa | 8–1–0 | Forest Evashevski | same |
| 4 | Navy | 9–1–0 | Wayne Hardin | 9–2–0 |
| 5 | Missouri | 9–1–0 | Dan Devine | 10–1–0 |
| 6 | Washington | 9–1–0 | Jim Owens | 10–1–0 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 8–2–0 | Frank Broyles | 8–3–0 |
| 8 | Ohio St. | 7–2–0 | Woody Hayes | same |
| 9 | Alabama | 8–1–1 | Bear Bryant | 8–1–2 |
| 10 | Duke | 7–3–0 | Bill Murray | 8–3–0 |
| 11 | Kansas | 7–2–1 | Jack Mitchell | same |
| 12 | Baylor | 8–2–0 | John Bridgers | 8–3–0 |
| 13 | Auburn | 8–2–0 | Shug Jordan | same |
| 14 | Yale | 9–0–0 | Jordan Olivar | same |
| 15 | Michigan St. | 6–2–1 | Duffy Daugherty | same |
| 16 | Penn St. | 6–3–0 | Rip Engle | 7–3–0 |
| 17 | New Mex.St. | 10–0–0 | Warren Woodson | 11–0–0 |
| 18 | Florida | 8–2–0 | Ray Graves | 9–2–0 |
| 19 | Syracuse | 7–2–0 | Ben Schwartzwalder | same |
| | Purdue | 4–4–1 | Jack Mollenkopf | same |
Cite