Writers' poll taken before bowl games.
| | | Regular Season | Head Coach | After Bowls |
|---|
| 1 | Army | 9–0–0 | Red Blaik | same |
| 2 | Ohio St | 9–0–0 | Carroll Widdoes | same |
| 3 | Randolph Field | 11–0–0 | Frank Tritico | same |
| 4 | Navy | 6–3–0 | Oscar Hagberg | same |
| 5 | Bainbridge NTS | 9–0–0 | Joe Maniaci | same |
| 6 | Iowa Pre-Flight | 10–1–0 | Jack Meagher | same |
| 7 | Southern Cal | 7–0–2 | Jeff Cravath | 8–0–2 |
| 8 | Michigan | 8–2–0 | Fritz Crisler | same |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 8–2–0 | Ed McKeever | same |
| 10 | March Field | 7–1–2 | Paul Schissler | same |
| 11 | Duke | 5–4–0 | Eddie Cameron | 6–4–0 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 8–0–1 | John Barnhill | 8–1–1 |
| 13 | Georgia Tech | 8–2–0 | Bill Alexander | 8–3–0 |
| | Norman P-F | 6–0–0 | John Gregg | same |
| 15 | Illinois | 5–4–1 | Ray Eliot | same |
| 16 | El Toro Marines | 8–1–0 | Dick Hanley | same |
| 17 | Great Lakes | 9–2–1 | Paul Brown | same |
| 18 | Fort Pierce | 9–0–0 | Hamp Pool | same |
| 19 | St. Mary's P-F | 4–4–0 | Jules Sikes | same |
| 20 | 2nd Air Force | 7–2–1 | Bill Reese | same |
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