1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Two human polls comprised the 1981 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A 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
Coaches' Poll
, SMU, and Miami were on probation by the NCAA during the 1981 season; they were therefore ineligible to receive votes in the Coaches' Poll.
