First it was the coaches who had their say and now the Associated Press gives their thoughts on the new college football season before it even arrives.
(First place votes in parentheses)
| Number | School | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1. | Georgia (22) | 0-0 | 1528 | 2 |
| 2. | Ohio State (21) | 0-0 | 1506 | 5 |
| 3. | USC (12) | 0-0 | 1490 | 3 |
| 4. | Oklahoma (4) | 0-0 | 1444 | 8 |
| 5. | Florida (6) | 0-0 | 1415 | 13 |
| 6. | Missouri | 0-0 | 1266 | 4 |
| 7. | LSU | 0-0 | 1135 | 1 |
| 8. | West Virginia | 0-0 | 1116 | 21 |
| 9. | Clemson | 0-0 | 1105 | 6 |
| 10. | Auburn | 0-0 | 968 | 10 |
| 11. | Texas | 0-0 | 966 | 15 |
| 12. | Texas Tech | 0-0 | 786 | 22 |
| 13. | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 771 | 24 |
| 14. | Kansas | 0-0 | 707 | 7 |
| 15. | Arizona State | 0-0 | 631 | 16 |
| 16. | BYU | 0-0 | 590 | 14 |
| 17. | Virginia Tech | 0-0 | 578 | 9 |
| 18. | Tennessee | 0-0 | 509 | 12 |
| 19. | South Florida | 0-0 | 496 | NR |
| 20. | Illinois | 0-0 | 483 | 20 |
| 21. | Oregon | 0-0 | 366 | 23 |
| 22. | Penn State | 0-0 | 293 | NR |
| 23. | Wake Forest | 0-0 | 227 | NR |
| 24. | Alabama | 0-0 | 089 | NR |
| 25. | Pittsburgh | 0-0 | 085 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes:
South Carolina 84, Fresno State 83, California 59, Utah 53, Cincinnati 44, Florida State 41, Michigan 36, Boston College 32, Rutgers 32, Michigan State 21, Boise State 17, Arkansas 14, North Carolina 14, Connecticut 10, Tulsa 7, UCLA 6, Oregon State 5, Mississippi State 4, Virginia 4, Arizona 3, Nebraska 2, Notre Dame 2, Hawaii 1, Washington 1
