| AP Top 25 |
| Rankings updated (11/20/2011) |
| Rank | Teams |
| Points | Prev |
| 1 |
LSU
Overall: 11-0
Conference: 7-0
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1500 | 1 |
| 2 |
Alabama
Overall: 10-1
Conference: 6-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1440 | 3 |
| 3 |
Arkansas
Overall: 10-1
Conference: 6-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1376 | 6 |
| 4 |
Stanford
Overall: 10-1
Conference: 8-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1224 | 8 |
| 5 |
Oklahoma State
Overall: 10-1
Conference: 7-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1206 | 2 |
| 6 |
Virginia Tech
Overall: 10-1
Conference: 6-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1133 | 9 |
| 7 |
Boise State
Overall: 9-1
Conference: 4-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1025 | 10 |
| 8 |
Houston
Overall: 11-0
Conference: 7-0
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1018 | 11 |
| 9 |
Oregon
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 7-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 1008 | 4 |
| 10 |
Southern California
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 964 | 18 |
| 11 |
Michigan State
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 876 | 12 |
| 12 |
Oklahoma
Overall: 8-2
Conference: 5-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 819 | 5 |
| 13 |
Georgia
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 7-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 815 | 13 |
| 14 |
South Carolina
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 762 | 14 |
| 15 |
Wisconsin
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 5-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 714 | 15 |
| 16 |
Kansas State
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 682 | 16 |
| 17 |
Michigan
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 5-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 527 | 20 |
| 18 |
Clemson
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 515 | 7 |
| 19 |
TCU
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-0
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 456 | 19 |
| 20 |
Penn State
Overall: 9-2
Conference: 6-1
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 398 | 21 |
| 21 |
Baylor
Overall: 7-3
Conference: 4-3
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 383 | 25 |
| 22 |
Nebraska
Overall: 8-3
Conference: 4-3
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 155 | 17 |
| 22 |
Notre Dame
Overall: 8-3
Conference: 1-0
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 155 | 24 |
| 24 |
Virginia
Overall: 8-3
Conference: 5-2
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 147 | 28 |
| 25 |
Georgia Tech
Overall: 8-3
Conference: 5-3
Statistics | Schedule | Roster |
| 77 | 26 |
| Others Receiving Votes: West Virginia (7-3) 37; Tulane (2-10) 34; Auburn (7-4) 28; Southern Mississippi (9-2) 12; Rutgers (8-3) 6; Arkansas State (9-2) 4; Iowa State (6-4) 3; Cincinnati (7-3) 1 |