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1973 NCAA Division I football rankings

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FieldValue
season1973
preseason_number_1[USC](1973-usc-trojans-football-team)
champions[Notre Dame](1973-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-team) (AP)
[Alabama](1973-alabama-crimson-tide-football-team) (Coaches)

Alabama (Coaches)

Two human polls comprised the 1973 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 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

Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

AP Poll

|Week1-1 = USC (55) |Week1-2 = Ohio State (2) |Week1-3 = Texas (1) |Week1-4 = Nebraska (2) |Week1-5 = Michigan (2) |Week1-6 = Alabama |Week1-7 = Penn State (1) |Week1-8 = Notre Dame |Week1-9 = Tennessee |Week1-10 = UCLA |Week1-11 = Colorado т |Week1-11-Color = tw |Week1-12 = Oklahoma т |Week1-13 = Auburn |Week1-14 = Arizona State |Week1-15 = Florida |Week1-16 = LSU |Week1-17 = NC State |Week1-18 = Houston |Week1-19 = North Carolina |Week1-20 = Texas Tech |Week2-1 = USC (0–0) (49) |Week2-1-Color = |Week2-2 = Nebraska (1–0) (8) |Week2-2-Color = u |Week2-3 = Ohio State (0–0) (2) |Week2-3-Color = d |Week2-4 = Texas (0–0) |Week2-4-Color = d |Week2-5 = Michigan (0–0) (1) |Week2-5-Color = |Week2-6 = Alabama (0–0) |Week2-6-Color = |Week2-7 = Penn State (0–0) (1) |Week2-7-Color = |Week2-8 = Notre Dame (0–0) |Week2-8-Color = |Week2-9 = Tennessee (0–0) |Week2-9-Color = |Week2-10 = Colorado (0–0) |Week2-10-Color = u |Week2-11 = Oklahoma (0–0) |Week2-11-Color = |Week2-12 = Auburn (0–0) |Week2-12-Color = u |Week2-13 = Arizona State (0–0) |Week2-13-Color = u |Week2-14 = Florida (0–0) |Week2-14-Color = u |Week2-15 = LSU (0–0) |Week2-15-Color = u |Week2-16 = UCLA (0–1) |Week2-16-Color = d |Week2-17 = NC State (2–0) |Week2-17-Color = |Week2-18 = Houston (0–0) |Week2-18-Color = |Week2-19 = North Carolina (0–0) |Week2-19-Color = |Week2-20 = Texas Tech (0–0) |Week2-20-Color = |Week3-1 = USC (1–0) (38) |Week3-1-Color = |Week3-2 = Nebraska (1–0) (8) |Week3-2-Color = |Week3-3 = Ohio State (1–0) (11) |Week3-3-Color = |Week3-4 = Alabama (1–0) (2) |Week3-4-Color = u |Week3-5 = Michigan (1–0) |Week3-5-Color = |Week3-6 = Texas (0–0) |Week3-6-Color = d |Week3-7 = Penn State (1–0) (1) |Week3-7-Color = |Week3-8 = Notre Dame (0–0) |Week3-8-Color = |Week3-9 = Oklahoma (1–0) |Week3-9-Color = u |Week3-10 = Tennessee (1–0) |Week3-10-Color = d |Week3-11 = LSU (1–0) |Week3-11-Color = u |Week3-12 = Auburn (1–0) |Week3-12-Color = |Week3-13 = Arizona State (1–0) |Week3-13-Color = |Week3-14 = NC State (2–0) |Week3-14-Color = u |Week3-15 = Florida (1–0) |Week3-15-Color = d |Week3-16 = Houston (1–0) |Week3-16-Color = u |Week3-17 = Oklahoma State (1–0) |Week3-17-Color = npr |Week3-18 = UCLA (0–1) |Week3-18-Color = d |Week3-19 = Colorado (0–1) |Week3-19-Color = d |Week3-20 = |Week3-20-Color = npr |Week4-1 = USC (2–0) (36) |Week4-1-Color = |Week4-2 = Nebraska (2–0) (12) |Week4-2-Color = |Week4-3 = Ohio State (1–0) (8) |Week4-3-Color = |Week4-4 = Michigan (2–0) (1) |Week4-4-Color = u |Week4-5 = Alabama (2–0) (1) |Week4-5-Color = d |Week4-6 = Penn State (2–0) (2) |Week4-6-Color = u |Week4-7 = Notre Dame (1–0) |Week4-7-Color = u |Week4-8 = Oklahoma (1–0) (1) |Week4-8-Color = u |Week4-9 = Tennessee (2–0) |Week4-9-Color = u |Week4-10 = LSU (2–0) |Week4-10-Color = u |Week4-11 = Auburn (2–0) |Week4-11-Color = u |Week4-12 = Oklahoma State (2–0) |Week4-12-Color = u |Week4-13 = Arizona State (2–0) |Week4-13-Color = |Week4-14 = Texas (0–1) |Week4-14-Color = u |Week4-15 = Houston (2–0) |Week4-15-Color = u |Week4-16 = Florida (2–0) |Week4-16-Color = d |Week4-17 = UCLA (1–1) |Week4-17-Color = u |Week4-18 = Miami (FL) (1–0) |Week4-18-Color = npr |Week4-19 = NC State (2–1) |Week4-19-Color = d |Week4-20 = Missouri (2–0) |Week4-20-Color = |Week5-1 = Ohio State (2–0) (35) |Week5-1-Color = u |Week5-2 = Nebraska (3–0) (10) |Week5-2-Color = |Week5-3 = Alabama (3–0) (6) |Week5-3-Color = u |Week5-4 = USC (2–0–1) (3.5) |Week5-4-Color = d |Week5-5 = Michigan (3–0) (2) |Week5-5-Color = d |Week5-6 = Oklahoma (1–0–1) (1.5) |Week5-6-Color = u |Week5-7 = Penn State (3–0) (3) |Week5-7-Color = d |Week5-8 = Notre Dame (2–0) |Week5-8-Color = d |Week5-9 = Tennessee (3–0) |Week5-9-Color = |Week5-10 = LSU (3–0) |Week5-10-Color = |Week5-11 = Oklahoma State (3–0) |Week5-11-Color = u |Week5-12 = Arizona State (3–0) |Week5-12-Color = u |Week5-13 = Texas (1–1) |Week5-13-Color = u |Week5-14 = Houston (3–0) |Week5-14-Color = u |Week5-15 = Missouri (3–0) |Week5-15-Color = u |Week5-16 = UCLA (2–1) |Week5-16-Color = u |Week5-17 = Miami (FL) (2–0) |Week5-17-Color = u |Week5-18 = Colorado (2–1) |Week5-18-Color = npr |Week5-19 = SMU (3–0) |Week5-19-Color = npr |Week5-20 = West Virginia (3–0) |Week5-20-Color = npr |Week6-1 = Ohio State (3–0) (41) |Week6-1-Color = |Week6-2 = Nebraska (4–0) (9) |Week6-2-Color = |Week6-3 = Alabama (4–0) (6) |Week6-3-Color = |Week6-4 = USC (3–0–1) (1) |Week6-4-Color = |Week6-5 = Michigan (4–0) (1) |Week6-5-Color = |Week6-6 = Oklahoma (2–0–1) |Week6-6-Color = |Week6-7 = Penn State (4–0) (3) |Week6-7-Color = |Week6-8 = Tennessee (4–0) |Week6-8-Color = u |Week6-9 = Notre Dame (3–0) |Week6-9-Color = d |Week6-10 = LSU (4–0) |Week6-10-Color = |Week6-11 = Arizona State (4–0) |Week6-11-Color = u |Week6-12 = Missouri (4–0) |Week6-12-Color = u |Week6-13 = Texas (2–1) |Week6-13-Color = |Week6-14 = Houston (4–0) |Week6-14-Color = |Week6-15 = UCLA (3–1) |Week6-15-Color = u |Week6-16 = Miami (FL) (2–1) |Week6-16-Color = u |Week6-17 = Colorado (3–1) |Week6-17-Color = u |Week6-18 = Tulane (3–0) |Week6-18-Color = npr |Week6-19 = Kansas (3–1) |Week6-19-Color = npr |Week6-20 = Miami (OH) (4–0) |Week6-20-Color = npr |Week7-1 = Ohio State (4–0) (39) |Week7-1-Color = |Week7-2 = Alabama (5–0) (6) |Week7-2-Color = u |Week7-3 = Oklahoma (3–0–1) (8) |Week7-3-Color = u |Week7-4 = Michigan (5–0) (1) |Week7-4-Color = u |Week7-5 = Penn State (5–0) (4) |Week7-5-Color = u |Week7-6 = USC (4–0–1) |Week7-6-Color = d |Week7-7 = Missouri (5–0) (1) |Week7-7-Color = u |Week7-8 = Notre Dame (4–0) |Week7-8-Color = u |Week7-9 = LSU (5–0) |Week7-9-Color = u |Week7-10 = Tennessee (5–0) |Week7-10-Color = d |Week7-11 = Nebraska (4–1) |Week7-11-Color = d |Week7-12 = Arizona State (5–0) |Week7-12-Color = d |Week7-13 = UCLA (4–1) |Week7-13-Color = u |Week7-14 = Houston (5–0) |Week7-14-Color = |Week7-15 = Miami (FL) (3–1) |Week7-15-Color = u |Week7-16 = Colorado (4–1) |Week7-16-Color = u |Week7-17 = Tulane (4–0) |Week7-17-Color = u |Week7-18 = Kansas (4–1) |Week7-18-Color = u |Week7-19 = Arizona (5–0) |Week7-19-Color = npr |Week7-20 = Miami (OH) (5–0) |Week7-20-Color = |Week8-1 = Ohio State (5–0) (35) |Week8-1-Color = |Week8-2 = Alabama (6–0) (12) |Week8-2-Color = |Week8-3 = Oklahoma (4–0–1) (8) |Week8-3-Color = |Week8-4 = Michigan (6–0) (1) |Week8-4-Color = |Week8-5 = Penn State (6–0) (4) |Week8-5-Color = |Week8-6 = USC (5–0–1) |Week8-6-Color = |Week8-7 = Missouri (6–0) (1) |Week8-7-Color = |Week8-8 = Notre Dame (5–0) |Week8-8-Color = |Week8-9 = LSU (6–0) |Week8-9-Color = |Week8-10 = Nebraska (5–1) |Week8-10-Color = u |Week8-11 = Arizona State (6–0) |Week8-11-Color = u |Week8-12 = Houston (6–0) |Week8-12-Color = u |Week8-13 = UCLA (5–1) |Week8-13-Color = |Week8-14 = Tennessee (5–1) |Week8-14-Color = d |Week8-15 = Tulane (5–0) |Week8-15-Color = u |Week8-16 = Miami (OH) (6–0) |Week8-16-Color = u |Week8-17 = Kansas (4–2) |Week8-17-Color = u |Week8-18 = Texas Tech (5–1) |Week8-18-Color = npr |Week8-19 = Texas (3–2) |Week8-19-Color = npr |Week8-20 = Richmond (6–0) |Week8-20-Color = npr |Week9-1 = Ohio State (6–0) (36) |Week9-1-Color = |Week9-2 = Alabama (7–0) (12) |Week9-2-Color = |Week9-3 = Oklahoma (5–0–1) (9) |Week9-3-Color = |Week9-4 = Michigan (7–0) (1) |Week9-4-Color = |Week9-5 = Notre Dame (6–0) |Week9-5-Color = u |Week9-6 = Penn State (7–0) (4) |Week9-6-Color = d |Week9-7 = LSU (7–0) |Week9-7-Color = u |Week9-8 = Arizona State (7–0) |Week9-8-Color = u |Week9-9 = USC (5–1–1) |Week9-9-Color = d |Week9-10 = UCLA (6–1) |Week9-10-Color = u |Week9-11 = Tennessee (6–1) |Week9-11-Color = u |Week9-12 = Missouri (6–1) |Week9-12-Color = d |Week9-13 = Nebraska (5–1–1) |Week9-13-Color = d |Week9-14 = Tulane (6–0) |Week9-14-Color = u |Week9-15 = Texas Tech (6–1) |Week9-15-Color = u |Week9-16 = Miami (OH) (7–0) |Week9-16-Color = |Week9-17 = Colorado (5–2) |Week9-17-Color = npr |Week9-18 = Houston (6–1) |Week9-18-Color = d |Week9-19 = Auburn (5–2) т |Week9-19-Color = tnpr |Week9-20 = Texas (4–2) т |Week9-20-Color = |Week10-1 = Ohio State (7–0) (35) |Week10-1-Color = |Week10-2 = Alabama (8–0) (14) |Week10-2-Color = |Week10-3 = Oklahoma (6–0–1) (7) |Week10-3-Color = |Week10-4 = Michigan (8–0) (1) |Week10-4-Color = |Week10-5 = Notre Dame (7–0) (1) |Week10-5-Color = |Week10-6 = Penn State (8–0) (4) |Week10-6-Color = |Week10-7 = LSU (8–0) |Week10-7-Color = |Week10-8 = USC (6–1–1) |Week10-8-Color = u |Week10-9 = UCLA (7–1) |Week10-9-Color = u |Week10-10 = Missouri (7–1) |Week10-10-Color= u |Week10-11 = Nebraska (6–1–1) |Week10-11-Color= u |Week10-12 = Texas Tech (7–1) |Week10-12-Color= u |Week10-13 = Texas (5–2) |Week10-13-Color= u |Week10-14 = Arizona State (7–1) |Week10-14-Color= d |Week10-15 = Houston (7–1) |Week10-15-Color= u |Week10-16 = Tennessee (6–2) |Week10-16-Color= d |Week10-17 = Miami (OH) (8–0) |Week10-17-Color= d |Week10-18 = Kansas (5–2–1) |Week10-18-Color= npr |Week10-19 = Kent State (7–1) |Week10-19-Color= npr |Week10-20 = Pittsburgh (5–2–1) |Week10-20-Color= npr |Week11-1 = Ohio State (8–0) (35) |Week11-1-Color = |Week11-2 = Alabama (8–0) (13) |Week11-2-Color = |Week11-3 = Oklahoma (7–0–1) (10) |Week11-3-Color = |Week11-4 = Michigan (9–0) (1) |Week11-4-Color = |Week11-5 = Notre Dame (8–0) (1) |Week11-5-Color = |Week11-6 = Penn State (9–0) (1) |Week11-6-Color = |Week11-7 = LSU (8–0) |Week11-7-Color = |Week11-8 = UCLA (8–1) |Week11-8-Color = u |Week11-9 = USC (7–1–1) |Week11-9-Color = d |Week11-10 = Nebraska (7–1–1) |Week11-10-Color= u |Week11-11 = Texas (6–2) |Week11-11-Color= u |Week11-12 = Texas Tech (8–1) |Week11-12-Color= |Week11-13 = Arizona State (8–1) |Week11-13-Color= u |Week11-14 = Missouri (7–2) |Week11-14-Color= d |Week11-15 = Houston (8–1) |Week11-15-Color= |Week11-16 = Tennessee (6–2) |Week11-16-Color= |Week11-17 = Miami (OH) (9–0) |Week11-17-Color= |Week11-18 = Kansas (6–2–1) |Week11-18-Color= |Week11-19 = Arizona (8–1) |Week11-19-Color= npr |Week11-20 = NC State (6–3) |Week11-20-Color= npr |Week12-1 = Ohio State (9–0) (34) |Week12-1-Color = |Week12-2 = Alabama (9–0) (16) |Week12-2-Color = |Week12-3 = Oklahoma (8–0–1) (9) |Week12-3-Color = |Week12-4 = Michigan (10–0) (1) |Week12-4-Color = |Week12-5 = Notre Dame (8–0) (1) |Week12-5-Color = |Week12-6 = Penn State (10–0) (1) |Week12-6-Color = |Week12-7 = LSU (9–0) |Week12-7-Color = |Week12-8 = UCLA (9–1) |Week12-8-Color = |Week12-9 = USC (8–1–1) |Week12-9-Color = |Week12-10 = Nebraska (8–1–1) |Week12-10-Color= |Week12-11 = Texas (7–2) |Week12-11-Color= |Week12-12 = Texas Tech (9–1) |Week12-12-Color= |Week12-13 = Arizona State (9–1) |Week12-13-Color= |Week12-14 = Houston (8–1) |Week12-14-Color= u |Week12-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0) |Week12-15-Color= u |Week12-16 = NC State (7–3) |Week12-16-Color= u |Week12-17 = Tulane (8–1) |Week12-17-Color= npr |Week12-18 = Oklahoma State (5–2–2) |Week12-18-Color= npr |Week12-19 = Missouri (7–3) |Week12-19-Color= d |Week12-20 = |Week12-20-Color= npr |Week13-1 = Alabama (10–0) (36) |Week13-1-Color = u |Week13-2 = Oklahoma (9–0–1) (20) |Week13-2-Color = u |Week13-3 = Ohio State (9–0–1) (2) |Week13-3-Color = d |Week13-4 = Michigan (10–0–1) (1) |Week13-4-Color = |Week13-5 = Notre Dame (9–0) (2) |Week13-5-Color = |Week13-6 = Penn State (11–0) (2) |Week13-6-Color = |Week13-7 = USC (9–1–1) |Week13-7-Color = u |Week13-8 = LSU (9–1) |Week13-8-Color = d |Week13-9 = Texas (8–2) |Week13-9-Color = u |Week13-10 = UCLA (9–2) |Week13-10-Color= d |Week13-11 = Arizona State (10–1) |Week13-11-Color= u |Week13-12 = Texas Tech (10–1) |Week13-12-Color= |Week13-13 = Nebraska (8–2–1) |Week13-13-Color= d |Week13-14 = Houston (9–1) |Week13-14-Color= |Week13-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0) |Week13-15-Color= |Week13-16 = NC State (8–3) |Week13-16-Color= |Week13-17 = Kansas (7–3–1) |Week13-17-Color= u |Week13-18 = Maryland (8–3) |Week13-18-Color= npr |Week13-19 = Tennessee (7–3) |Week13-19-Color= npr |Week13-20 = Missouri (7–4) |Week13-20-Color= d |Week14-1 = Alabama (11–0) (34) |Week14-1-Color = |Week14-2 = Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16) |Week14-2-Color = |Week14-3 = Notre Dame (10–0) (2) |Week14-3-Color = u |Week14-4 = Ohio State (9–0–1) (2) |Week14-4-Color = d |Week14-5 = Michigan (10–0–1) (1) |Week14-5-Color = d |Week14-6 = Penn State (11–0) (3) |Week14-6-Color = |Week14-7 = USC (9–1–1) |Week14-7-Color = |Week14-8 = Texas (8–2) |Week14-8-Color = u |Week14-9 = UCLA (9–2) |Week14-9-Color = u |Week14-10 = Arizona State (10–1) |Week14-10-Color= u |Week14-11 = Texas Tech (10–1) |Week14-11-Color= u |Week14-12 = Nebraska (8–2–1) |Week14-12-Color= u |Week14-13 = LSU (9–2) |Week14-13-Color= d |Week14-14 = Houston (10–1) |Week14-14-Color= |Week14-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0) |Week14-15-Color= |Week14-16 = NC State (8–3) |Week14-16-Color= |Week14-17 = Tulane (9–2) |Week14-17-Color= npr |Week14-18 = Maryland (8–3) |Week14-18-Color= |Week14-19 = Kansas (7–3–1) |Week14-19-Color= d |Week14-20 = Tennessee (8–3) |Week14-20-Color= d |Week15-1 = Notre Dame (11–0) (33) |Week15-1-Color = nc |Week15-2 = Ohio State (10–0–1) (11) |Week15-2-Color = u |Week15-3 = Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16) |Week15-3-Color = d |Week15-4 = Alabama (11–1) |Week15-4-Color = d |Week15-5 = Penn State (12–0) |Week15-5-Color = u |Week15-6 = Michigan (10–0–1) |Week15-6-Color = d |Week15-7 = Nebraska (9–2–1) |Week15-7-Color = u |Week15-8 = USC (9–2–1) |Week15-8-Color = d |Week15-9 = Arizona State (11–1) т |Week15-9-Color = tu |Week15-10 = Houston (11–1) т |Week15-10-Color= u |Week15-11 = Texas Tech (11–1) |Week15-11-Color= |Week15-12 = UCLA (9–2) |Week15-12-Color= d |Week15-13 = LSU (9–3) |Week15-13-Color= |Week15-14 = Texas (8–3) |Week15-14-Color= d |Week15-15 = Miami (OH) (11–0) |Week15-15-Color= |Week15-16 = NC State (9–3) |Week15-16-Color= |Week15-17 = Missouri (8–4) |Week15-17-Color= npr |Week15-18 = Kansas (7–4–1) |Week15-18-Color= u |Week15-19 = Tennessee (8–4) |Week15-19-Color= u |Week15-20 = |Week15-20-Color= d

Final Coaches Poll

This was the last season in which the final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.

Alabama received 21 of the 34 first-place votes; Oklahoma received nine, Ohio State two, Notre Dame one, and Michigan one.

RankingTeamConferenceBowl
1[Alabama](1973-alabama-crimson-tide-football-team)SECLost [Sugar](1973-sugar-bowl), 23–24
2[Oklahoma](1973-oklahoma-sooners-football-team)Big Eight*none*
3[Ohio State](1973-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-team)Big Ten**Won** [Rose](1974-rose-bowl), 42–21
4[Notre Dame](1973-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-team)Independent**Won** [Sugar](1973-sugar-bowl), 24–23
5[Penn State](1973-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-team)Independent**Won** [Orange](1974-orange-bowl), 16–9
6[Michigan](1973-michigan-wolverines-football-team)Big Ten*none*
7[USC](1973-usc-trojans-football-team)Pac-8Lost [Rose](1974-rose-bowl), 21–42
8[Texas](1973-texas-longhorns-football-team)SouthwestLost [Cotton](1974-cotton-bowl-classic), 3–19
9[UCLA](1973-ucla-bruins-football-team)Pac-8*none*
10[Arizona State](1973-arizona-state-sun-devils-football-team)WAC**Won** [Fiesta](1973-fiesta-bowl), 28–7
11[Nebraska](1973-nebraska-cornhuskers-football-team)Big Eight**Won** [Cotton](1974-cotton-bowl-classic), 19–3
[Texas Tech](1973-texas-tech-red-raiders-football-team)Southwest**Won** [Gator](1973-gator-bowl), 28–19
13[Houston](1973-houston-cougars-football-team)Independent**Won** [Bluebonnet](1973-astro-bluebonnet-bowl), 47–7
14[LSU](1973-lsu-tigers-football-team)SECLost [Orange](1974-orange-bowl), 9–16
15[Kansas](1973-kansas-jayhawks-football-team)Big EightLost [Liberty](1973-liberty-bowl), 18–31
[Tulane](1973-tulane-green-wave-football-team)IndependentLost [Bluebonnet](1973-astro-bluebonnet-bowl), 7–47
17[Miami (OH)](1973-miami-redskins-football-team)Mid-American**Won** [Tangerine](1973-tangerine-bowl), 16–7
18[Maryland](1973-maryland-terrapins-football-team)ACCLost [Peach](1973-peach-bowl), 16–17
19[San Diego State](1973-san-diego-state-aztecs-football-team)PCAA*none*
[Florida](1973-florida-gators-football-team)SECLost [Tangerine](1973-tangerine-bowl), 7–16
  • Prior to the 1975 season, the Big Ten and Pac-8 conferences allowed only one postseason participant each, for the Rose Bowl.

References

References

  1. (December 4, 1973). "Tide tops both polls". Reading Eagle.
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