Writers' poll taken after bowl games.
| | | Final Record | Head Coach | Before Bowls |
|---|
| 1 | Notre Dame | 11–1–0 | Dan Devine | 10–1–0 |
| 2 | Alabama | 11–1–0 | Bear Bryant | 10–1–0 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 11–1–0 | Lou Holtz | 10–1–0 |
| 4 | Texas | 11–1–0 | Fred Akers | 11–0–0 |
| 5 | Penn St. | 11–1–0 | Joe Paterno | 10–1–0 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 10–1–0 | Fran Curci | same |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 10–2–0 | Barry Switzer | 10–1–0 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh | 9–2–1 | Jackie Sherrill | 8–2–1 |
| 9 | Michigan | 10–2–0 | Bo Schembechler | 10–1–0 |
| 10 | Washington | 10–2–0 | Don James | 9–2–0 |
| 11 | Ohio St. | 9–3–0 | Woody Hayes | 9–2–0 |
| 12 | Nebraska | 9–3–0 | Tom Osborne | 8–3–0 |
| 13 | Southern Cal | 8–4–0 | John Robinson | 7–4–0 |
| 14 | Florida St. | 10–2–0 | Bobby Bowden | 9–2–0 |
| 15 | Stanford | 9–3–0 | Bill Walsh | 8–3–0 |
| 16 | S. Diego St. | 10–1–0 | Claude Gilbert | same |
| 17 | N. Carolina | 8–3–1 | Bill Dooley | 8–2–1 |
| 18 | Arizona St. | 9–3–0 | Frank Kush | 9–2–0 |
| 19 | Clemson | 8–3–1 | Charley Pell | 8–2–1 |
| 20 | BYU | 9–2–0 | LaVell Edwards | same |
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