1996 Final College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Season
1996 Post-Season Week 3 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Post-Season Week 2 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Regular Season Final College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 15 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 14 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
| Rank | Change | Rating | Team | Conf | Record | Win % | Place | NOW | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0.740 |  Florida State (FLORIDA STATE) |  ACC | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +54 | Beat Maryland 48–10 |
| 2 | 1 | 0.792 |  Arizona State (ARIZONA STATE) |  PAC | 11–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +60 | Beat Arizona 56–14 |
| 3 | 1 | 0.839 |  Florida (FLORIDA) |  SEC | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +48 | BYE |
| 4 | 1 | 0.889 |  Nebraska (NEBRASKA) |  B12 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +47 | BYE |
| 5 | -3 | 0.958 |  Ohio State (OHIO STATE) |  B10 | 10–1 | 0.909 | 5 | +51 | Lost to Michigan 9–13 |
| 6 | 1 | 1.119 |  Colorado (COLORADO) | B12 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +46 | BYE |
| 7 | 1 | 1.146 |  BYU | IND WAC | 12–1 | 0.923 | 4 | +53 | Beat Utah 37–17 |
| 8 | 1 | 1.274 |  Washington (WASHINGTON) | PAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +47 | Beat Washington State 31–24 |
| 9 | -3 | 1.282 |  North Carolina (NORTH CAROLINA) | ACC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +40 | Beat Duke 27–10 |
| 10 | 3 | 1.291 |  Virginia Tech (VIRGINIA TECH) | IND BE | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +40 | Beat West Virginia 31–14 |
| 11 | 3 | 1.387 |  Penn State (PENN STATE) | B10 | 10–2 | 0.833 | 11 | +43 | Beat Michigan State 32–29 |
| 12 | 0 | 1.439 |  Kansas State (KANSAS STATE) | B12 | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +38 | Beat Iowa State 35–20 |
| 13 | -3 | 1.443 |  Notre Dame (NOTRE DAME) | IND FBSI | 8–2 | 0.800 | 17 | +33 | Beat Rutgers 62–0 |
| 14 | 1 | 1.521 |  Wyoming (WYOMING) | IND WAC | 10–1 | 0.909 | 5 | +35 | BYE |
| 15 | 3 | 1.533 |  Tennessee (TENNESSEE) | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 17 | +31 | Beat Kentucky 56–10 |
| 16 | 3 | 1.554 |  Alabama (ALABAMA) | SEC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +37 | Beat Auburn 24–23 |
| 17 | -6 | 1.559 |  Syracuse (SYRACUSE) | IND BE | 8–2 | 0.800 | 17 | +30 | Beat Temple 36–15 |
| 18 | -2 | 1.644 |  Army (ARMY) | IND FBSI | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +25 | BYE |
| 19 | -2 | 1.700 |  LSU | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 17 | +30 | Beat Tulane 35–17 |
| 20 | 0 | 1.751 |  Southern Miss (SOUTHERN MISS) |  USA | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +33 | BYE |
| 21 | 7 | 1.795 |  Michigan (MICHIGAN) | B10 | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +32 | Beat Ohio State 13–9 |
| 22 | -1 | 1.821 |  Northwestern (NORTHWESTERN) | B10 | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +30 | BYE |
| 23 | 2 | 1.928 |  East Carolina (EAST CAROLINA) | IND FBSI | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +25 | Beat Memphis 20–10 |
| 24 | -2 | 1.943 |  Virginia (VIRGINIA) | ACC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +22 | BYE |
| 25 | 1 | 1.969 |  Iowa (IOWA) | B10 | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +28 | Beat Minnesota 43–24 |
| 26 | -2 | 2.070 |  Utah (UTAH) | IND WAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +25 | Lost to BYU 17–37 |
| 27 | 0 | 2.113 |  Auburn (AUBURN) | SEC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +23 | Lost to Alabama 23–24 |
| 28 | -5 | 2.118 |  West Virginia (WEST VIRGINIA) | IND BE | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +22 | Lost to Virginia Tech 14–31 |
| 29 | 1 | 2.195 |  Miami (MIAMI) | IND BE | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +19 | Beat Boston College 43–26 |
| 30 | 2 | 2.217 |  Navy (NAVY) | IND FBSI | 8–2 | 0.800 | 17 | +14 | Beat Georgia Tech 36–26 |
| 31 | -2 | 2.230 |  Texas Tech (TEXAS TECH) | B12 | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +20 | Beat Oklahoma 22–12 |
| 32 | -1 | 2.280 |  Air Force (AIR FORCE) | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 39 | +16 | BYE |
| 33 | 1 | 2.306 |  Rice (RICE) | IND WAC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +23 | Beat Tulsa 42–14 |
| 34 | 4 | 2.370 |  San Diego State (SAN DIEGO STATE) | IND WAC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +13 | Beat Fresno State 31–21 |
| 35 | 1 | 2.392 |  Nevada (NEVADA) | IND BW | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +6 | BYE |
| 36 | -1 | 2.408 |  Ball State (BALL STATE) |  MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +15 | BYE |
| 37 | 2 | 2.504 |  Texas A&M (TEXAS A & M) | B12 | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +11 | BYE |
| 38 | -1 | 2.540 |  Texas (TEXAS) | B12 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 39 | +12 | BYE |
| 39 | 2 | 2.594 |  Houston (HOUSTON) | USA | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +12 | BYE |
| 40 | 4 | 2.629 |  Oregon (OREGON) | PAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +13 | Beat Oregon State 49–13 |
| 41 | -8 | 2.684 |  Clemson (CLEMSON) | ACC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +10 | Lost to South Carolina 31–34 |
| 42 | 9 | 2.785 |  Stanford (STANFORD) | PAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +11 | Beat California 42–21 |
| 43 | 0 | 2.847 |  Michigan State (MICHIGAN STATE) | B10 | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +6 | Lost to Penn State 29–32 |
| 44 | 5 | 2.856 |  UCLA | PAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | +9 | Beat USC 48–41 |
| 45 | 8 | 2.866 |  South Carolina (SOUTH CAROLINA) | SEC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +11 | Beat Clemson 34–31 |
| 46 | 1 | 2.874 |  Wisconsin (WISCONSIN) | B10 | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +6 | Beat Illinois 35–15 |
| 47 | -1 | 2.903 |  Colorado State (COLORADO STATE) | IND WAC | 7–5 | 0.583 | 41 | +8 | BYE |
| 48 | -8 | 2.918 |  California (CALIFORNIA) | PAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +8 | Lost to Stanford 21–42 |
| 49 | -1 | 2.975 |  Utah State (UTAH STATE) | IND BW | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +5 | BYE |
| 50 | 0 | 3.038 |  Miami (OH) (MIAMI (OH)) | MAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +3 | BYE |
| 51 | 4 | 3.052 |  Cincinnati (CINCINNATI) | USA | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | +4 | Beat UL Monroe 35–13 |
| 52 | 8 | 3.159 |  Toledo (TOLEDO) | MAC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 33 | +3 | Beat Ohio 24–23 |
| 53 | 3 | 3.190 |  New Mexico (NEW MEXICO) | IND WAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | -1 | Beat UTEP 44–17 |
| 54 | -12 | 3.203 |  USC | PAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | +1 | Lost to UCLA 41–48 |
| 55 | -10 | 3.221 |  Georgia Tech (GEORGIA TECH) | ACC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 55 | +4 | Lost to Navy 26–36 |
| 56 | 11 | 3.336 |  SMU | IND WAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | +3 | Beat TCU 27–24 |
| 57 | -5 | 3.400 |  Ohio (OHIO) | MAC | 6–6 | 0.500 | 55 | -1 | Lost to Toledo 23–24 |
| 58 | 5 | 3.485 |  Louisiana (LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | +3 | BYE |
| 59 | -5 | 3.581 |  Arizona (ARIZONA) | PAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -5 | Lost to Arizona State 14–56 |
| 60 | 8 | 3.698 |  Louisiana Tech (LOUISIANA TECH) | IND FBSI | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | -9 | BYE |
| 61 | 9 | 3.702 |  Missouri (MISSOURI) | B12 | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | +1 | Beat Kansas 42–25 |
| 62 | 7 | 3.708 |  Idaho (IDAHO) | IND BW | 6–5 | 0.545 | 42 | -4 | Beat Boise State 64–19 |
| 63 | 10 | 3.732 |  Arkansas (ARKANSAS) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 74 | +1 | Beat Mississippi State 16–13 |
| 64 | 2 | 3.749 |  Louisville (LOUISVILLE) | USA | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -6 | BYE |
| 65 | -3 | 3.809 |  Washington State (WASHINGTON STATE) | PAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -8 | Lost to Washington 24–31 |
| 66 | -5 | 3.854 |  Maryland (MARYLAND) | ACC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -5 | Lost to Florida State 10–48 |
| 67 | 12 | 3.900 |  Ole Miss (MISSISSIPPI) | SEC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 55 | -6 | Beat Georgia 31–27 |
| 68 | -11 | 3.917 |  Georgia (GEORGIA) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 74 | -2 | Lost to Ole Miss 27–31 |
| 69 | -5 | 4.012 |  Boston College (BOSTON COLLEGE) | IND BE | 5–7 | 0.417 | 73 | -2 | Lost to Miami 26–43 |
| 70 | -5 | 4.016 |  Minnesota (MINNESOTA) | B10 | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -4 | Lost to Iowa 24–43 |
| 71 | -13 | 4.051 |  Kansas (KANSAS) | B12 | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -4 | Lost to Missouri 25–42 |
| 72 | -13 | 4.149 |  Mississippi State (MISSISSIPPI STATE) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 74 | -6 | Lost to Arkansas 13–16 |
| 73 | 1 | 4.200 |  UCF (CENTRAL FLORIDA) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -18 | BYE |
| 74 | 2 | 4.217 |  Central Michigan (CENTRAL MICHIGAN) | MAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -14 | BYE |
| 75 | 7 | 4.246 |  Oklahoma State (OKLAHOMA STATE) | B12 | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -12 | Beat Baylor 37–17 |
| 76 | 2 | 4.368 |  North Texas (NORTH TEXAS) | IND BW | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -12 | BYE |
| 77 | -5 | 4.394 |  Memphis (MEMPHIS) | USA | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -10 | Lost to East Carolina 10–20 |
| 78 | -3 | 4.550 |  Tulsa (TULSA) | IND WAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -12 | Lost to Rice 14–42 |
| 79 | 10 | 4.646 |  UAB | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -25 | Beat Charleston Southern 49–13 |
| 80 | -3 | 4.650 |  Kentucky (KENTUCKY) | SEC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -9 | Lost to Tennessee 10–56 |
| 81 | 6 | 4.785 |  Indiana (INDIANA) | B10 | 3–8 | 0.273 | 90 | -16 | Beat Purdue 33–16 |
| 82 | -11 | 4.852 |  Purdue (PURDUE) | B10 | 3–8 | 0.273 | 90 | -13 | Lost to Indiana 16–33 |
| 83 | -2 | 4.852 |  Fresno State (FRESNO STATE) | IND WAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -17 | Lost to San Diego State 21–31 |
| 84 | -4 | 4.856 |  Baylor (BAYLOR) | B12 | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -19 | Lost to Oklahoma State 17–37 |
| 85 | 6 | 5.060 |  Bowling Green (BOWLING GREEN) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -23 | BYE |
| 86 | -1 | 5.067 |  Pittsburgh (PITTSBURGH) | IND BE | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -8 | BYE |
| 87 | 1 | 5.223 |  Tulane (TULANE) | USA | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -21 | Lost to LSU 17–35 |
| 88 | 4 | 5.226 |  NC State (NORTH CAROLINA STATE) | ACC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -16 | Beat Wake Forest 37–22 |
| 89 | -5 | 5.257 |  UL Monroe (LOUISIANA MONROE) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 58 | -29 | Lost to Cincinnati 13–35 |
| 90 | -7 | 5.362 |  TCU | IND WAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -25 | Lost to SMU 24–27 |
| 91 | 3 | 5.383 |  Arkansas State (ARKANSAS STATE) | IND FBSI | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -28 | BYE |
| 92 | -2 | 5.457 |  Oklahoma (OKLAHOMA) | B12 | 3–8 | 0.273 | 90 | -21 | Lost to Texas Tech 12–22 |
| 93 | 2 | 5.574 |  Vanderbilt (VANDERBILT) | SEC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 96 | -19 | BYE |
| 94 | 2 | 5.674 |  Akron (AKRON) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 77 | -30 | BYE |
| 95 | -9 | 5.695 |  Wake Forest (WAKE FOREST) | ACC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 90 | -20 | Lost to NC State 22–37 |
| 96 | 1 | 5.791 |  Iowa State (IOWA STATE) | B12 | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -28 | Lost to Kansas State 20–35 |
| 97 | -4 | 5.898 |  Rutgers (RUTGERS) | IND BE | 2–8 | 0.200 | 96 | -20 | Lost to Notre Dame 0–62 |
| 98 | 1 | 6.082 |  Eastern Michigan (EASTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 90 | -36 | BYE |
| 99 | -1 | 6.279 |  Illinois (ILLINOIS) | B10 | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -31 | Lost to Wisconsin 15–35 |
| 100 | 1 | 6.295 |  San José State (SAN JOSE STATE) | IND WAC | 3–9 | 0.250 | 95 | -33 | Beat UNLV 31–28 |
| 101 | 2 | 6.930 |  Western Michigan (WESTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -32 | BYE |
| 102 | -2 | 6.931 |  Oregon State (OREGON STATE) | PAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -30 | Lost to Oregon 13–49 |
| 103 | 1 | 7.211 |  Hawai'i (HAWAII) | IND WAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -40 | BYE |
| 104 | -2 | 7.218 |  UTEP | IND WAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -46 | Lost to New Mexico 17–44 |
| 105 | 1 | 7.528 |  Duke (DUKE) | ACC | 0–11 | 0.000 | 111 | -40 | Lost to North Carolina 10–27 |
| 106 | 1 | 7.650 |  Temple (TEMPLE) | IND BE | 1–10 | 0.091 | 107 | -43 | Lost to Syracuse 15–36 |
| 107 | -2 | 7.657 |  UNLV | IND WAC | 1–11 | 0.083 | 110 | -46 | Lost to San José State 28–31 |
| 108 | 0 | 7.963 |  Kent State (KENT STATE) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 98 | -50 | BYE |
| 109 | 0 | 8.377 |  Boise State (BOISE STATE) | IND BW | 2–10 | 0.167 | 106 | -40 | Lost to Idaho 19–64 |
| 110 | 0 | 8.731 |  New Mexico State (NEW MEXICO STATE) | IND BW | 1–10 | 0.091 | 107 | -49 | BYE |
| 111 | 0 | 9.194 |  Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS) | IND FBSI | 1–10 | 0.091 | 107 | -52 | BYE |
1996 Week 13 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
| Rank | Change | Rating | Team | Conf | Record | Win % | Place | NOW | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0.715 | Florida State (FLORIDA STATE) | ACC | 9–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +46 | Beat Southern Miss 54–14 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.820 | Ohio State (OHIO STATE) | B10 | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +48 | Beat Indiana 27–17 |
| 3 | 2 | 0.824 | Arizona State (ARIZONA STATE) | PAC | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +51 | BYE |
| 4 | 0 | 0.858 | Florida (FLORIDA) | SEC | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +44 | Beat South Carolina 52–25 |
| 5 | -3 | 0.879 | Nebraska (NEBRASKA) | B12 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +44 | Beat Iowa State 49–14 |
| 6 | 0 | 1.116 | North Carolina (NORTH CAROLINA) | ACC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +38 | Lost to Virginia 17–20 |
| 7 | 0 | 1.161 | Colorado (COLORADO) | B12 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +43 | Beat Kansas State 12–0 |
| 8 | 0 | 1.289 | BYU | IND WAC | 11–1 | 0.917 | 5 | +42 | Beat Hawai'i 45–14 |
| 9 | 3 | 1.345 | Washington (WASHINGTON) | PAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +37 | Beat San José State 53–10 |
| 10 | 3 | 1.382 | Notre Dame (NOTRE DAME) | IND FBSI | 7–2 | 0.778 | 19 | +30 | Beat Pittsburgh 60–6 |
| 11 | 9 | 1.391 | Syracuse (SYRACUSE) | IND BE | 7–2 | 0.778 | 19 | +29 | Beat Army 42–17 |
| 12 | -2 | 1.436 | Kansas State (KANSAS STATE) | B12 | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +32 | Lost to Colorado 0–12 |
| 13 | 5 | 1.465 | Virginia Tech (VIRGINIA TECH) | IND BE | 8–1 | 0.889 | 10 | +30 | Beat Miami 21–7 |
| 14 | 1 | 1.474 | Penn State (PENN STATE) | B10 | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +35 | Beat Michigan 29–17 |
| 15 | 2 | 1.589 | Wyoming (WYOMING) | IND WAC | 10–1 | 0.909 | 6 | +32 | Beat Colorado State 25–24 |
| 16 | -5 | 1.621 | Army (ARMY) | IND FBSI | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +25 | Lost to Syracuse 17–42 |
| 17 | 4 | 1.665 | LSU | SEC | 7–2 | 0.778 | 19 | +27 | Beat Ole Miss 39–7 |
| 18 | 1 | 1.701 | Tennessee (TENNESSEE) | SEC | 7–2 | 0.778 | 19 | +23 | Beat Arkansas 55–14 |
| 19 | -10 | 1.755 | Alabama (ALABAMA) | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +27 | Lost to Mississippi State 16–17 |
| 20 | -4 | 1.806 | Southern Miss (SOUTHERN MISS) | USA | 8–3 | 0.727 | 24 | +31 | Lost to Florida State 14–54 |
| 21 | 2 | 1.809 | Northwestern (NORTHWESTERN) | B10 | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +27 | Beat Purdue 27–24 |
| 22 | 7 | 1.845 | Virginia (VIRGINIA) | ACC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 27 | +22 | Beat North Carolina 20–17 |
| 23 | 3 | 1.865 | West Virginia (WEST VIRGINIA) | IND BE | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +22 | BYE |
| 24 | 1 | 1.880 | Utah (UTAH) | IND WAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 13 | +23 | BYE |
| 25 | 3 | 1.999 | East Carolina (EAST CAROLINA) | IND FBSI | 6–3 | 0.667 | 32 | +20 | Beat Ohio 55–45 |
| 26 | 5 | 2.009 | Iowa (IOWA) | B10 | 7–3 | 0.700 | 27 | +23 | Beat Wisconsin 31–0 |
| 27 | -13 | 2.023 | Auburn (AUBURN) | SEC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 27 | +22 | Lost to Georgia 49–56 |
| 28 | -4 | 2.050 | Michigan (MICHIGAN) | B10 | 7–3 | 0.700 | 27 | +21 | Lost to Penn State 17–29 |
| 29 | 4 | 2.262 | Texas Tech (TEXAS TECH) | B12 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +17 | Beat Louisiana 56–21 |
| 30 | -3 | 2.266 | Miami (MIAMI) | IND BE | 6–3 | 0.667 | 32 | +14 | Lost to Virginia Tech 7–21 |
| 31 | 1 | 2.286 | Air Force (AIR FORCE) | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +13 | Beat Fresno State 44–38 |
| 32 | 2 | 2.369 | Navy (NAVY) | IND FBSI | 7–2 | 0.778 | 19 | +9 | Beat Tulane 35–21 |
| 33 | 2 | 2.398 | Clemson (CLEMSON) | ACC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 27 | +14 | Beat NC State 40–17 |
| 34 | 3 | 2.404 | Rice (RICE) | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +18 | Beat TCU 30–17 |
| 35 | 4 | 2.458 | Ball State (BALL STATE) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 24 | +16 | Beat Toledo 24–14 |
| 36 | 2 | 2.487 | Nevada (NEVADA) | IND BW | 8–3 | 0.727 | 24 | +7 | Beat Arkansas State 66–14 |
| 37 | 7 | 2.555 | Texas (TEXAS) | B12 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +10 | Beat Kansas 38–17 |
| 38 | -16 | 2.562 | San Diego State (SAN DIEGO STATE) | IND WAC | 6–3 | 0.667 | 32 | +8 | Lost to UNLV 42–44 |
| 39 | 2 | 2.625 | Texas A&M (TEXAS A & M) | B12 | 6–5 | 0.545 | 45 | +10 | Beat Oklahoma 33–16 |
| 40 | -10 | 2.630 | California (CALIFORNIA) | PAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +12 | Lost to Oregon 23–40 |
| 41 | 4 | 2.637 | Houston (HOUSTON) | USA | 7–4 | 0.636 | 35 | +13 | Beat Louisville 38–7 |
| 42 | 5 | 2.711 | USC | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +8 | BYE |
| 43 | -3 | 2.771 | Michigan State (MICHIGAN STATE) | B10 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | +6 | BYE |
| 44 | 8 | 2.785 | Oregon (OREGON) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +12 | Beat California 40–23 |
| 45 | -9 | 2.895 | Georgia Tech (GEORGIA TECH) | ACC | 5–4 | 0.556 | 44 | +7 | Lost to Maryland 10–13 |
| 46 | 0 | 2.955 | Colorado State (COLORADO STATE) | IND WAC | 7–5 | 0.583 | 43 | +7 | Lost to Wyoming 24–25 |
| 47 | -4 | 3.009 | Wisconsin (WISCONSIN) | B10 | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +5 | Lost to Iowa 0–31 |
| 48 | 3 | 3.111 | Utah State (UTAH STATE) | IND BW | 6–5 | 0.545 | 45 | +4 | BYE |
| 49 | -7 | 3.211 | UCLA | PAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | +4 | Lost to Arizona 17–35 |
| 50 | 0 | 3.217 | Miami (OH) (MIAMI (OH)) | MAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 45 | +2 | BYE |
| 51 | 9 | 3.222 | Stanford (STANFORD) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +4 | Beat Washington State 33–17 |
| 52 | -4 | 3.242 | Ohio (OHIO) | MAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 45 | +3 | Lost to East Carolina 45–55 |
| 53 | 1 | 3.263 | South Carolina (SOUTH CAROLINA) | SEC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +5 | Lost to Florida 25–52 |
| 54 | 8 | 3.349 | Arizona (ARIZONA) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -4 | Beat UCLA 35–17 |
| 55 | 9 | 3.417 | Cincinnati (CINCINNATI) | USA | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | +1 | Beat UAB 34–14 |
| 56 | 2 | 3.446 | New Mexico (NEW MEXICO) | IND WAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -2 | BYE |
| 57 | 16 | 3.503 | Georgia (GEORGIA) | SEC | 4–5 | 0.444 | 68 | +3 | Beat Auburn 56–49 |
| 58 | -9 | 3.535 | Kansas (KANSAS) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | +3 | Lost to Texas 17–38 |
| 59 | 17 | 3.557 | Mississippi State (MISSISSIPPI STATE) | SEC | 4–5 | 0.444 | 68 | +1 | Beat Alabama 17–16 |
| 60 | -4 | 3.594 | Toledo (TOLEDO) | MAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 36 | -3 | Lost to Ball State 14–24 |
| 61 | 9 | 3.611 | Maryland (MARYLAND) | ACC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -4 | Beat Georgia Tech 13–10 |
| 62 | -7 | 3.686 | Washington State (WASHINGTON STATE) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -6 | Lost to Stanford 17–33 |
| 63 | -10 | 3.700 | Louisiana (LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | +3 | Lost to Texas Tech 21–56 |
| 64 | 2 | 3.732 | Boston College (BOSTON COLLEGE) | IND BE | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | 0 | Beat Temple 21–20 |
| 65 | 3 | 3.744 | Minnesota (MINNESOTA) | B10 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | +1 | Beat Illinois 23–21 |
| 66 | -9 | 3.770 | Louisville (LOUISVILLE) | USA | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | -5 | Lost to Houston 7–38 |
| 67 | 0 | 3.818 | SMU | IND WAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -2 | BYE |
| 68 | -7 | 3.891 | Louisiana Tech (LOUISIANA TECH) | IND FBSI | 6–5 | 0.545 | 45 | -10 | BYE |
| 69 | -10 | 4.100 | Idaho (IDAHO) | IND BW | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -6 | Lost to North Texas 17–24 |
| 70 | 10 | 4.175 | Missouri (MISSOURI) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -3 | Beat Baylor 49–42 |
| 71 | 0 | 4.271 | Purdue (PURDUE) | B10 | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -4 | Lost to Northwestern 24–27 |
| 72 | 2 | 4.314 | Memphis (MEMPHIS) | USA | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -9 | BYE |
| 73 | -10 | 4.336 | Arkansas (ARKANSAS) | SEC | 3–6 | 0.333 | 87 | -3 | Lost to Tennessee 14–55 |
| 74 | 9 | 4.369 | UCF (CENTRAL FLORIDA) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | -17 | Beat Bowling Green 27–19 |
| 75 | 6 | 4.376 | Tulsa (TULSA) | IND WAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -7 | Beat UTEP 38–21 |
| 76 | -1 | 4.420 | Central Michigan (CENTRAL MICHIGAN) | MAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | -14 | BYE |
| 77 | 9 | 4.486 | Kentucky (KENTUCKY) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -8 | Beat Vanderbilt 25–0 |
| 78 | 10 | 4.500 | North Texas (NORTH TEXAS) | IND BW | 5–6 | 0.455 | 62 | -13 | Beat Idaho 24–17 |
| 79 | -14 | 4.510 | Ole Miss (MISSISSIPPI) | SEC | 4–5 | 0.444 | 68 | -9 | Lost to LSU 7–39 |
| 80 | -11 | 4.544 | Baylor (BAYLOR) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -12 | Lost to Missouri 42–49 |
| 81 | -9 | 4.632 | Fresno State (FRESNO STATE) | IND WAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -13 | Lost to Air Force 38–44 |
| 82 | 5 | 4.860 | Oklahoma State (OKLAHOMA STATE) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -15 | BYE |
| 83 | -6 | 4.943 | TCU | IND WAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -16 | Lost to Rice 17–30 |
| 84 | 10 | 5.011 | UL Monroe (LOUISIANA MONROE) | IND FBSI | 5–5 | 0.500 | 50 | -21 | Beat Jacksonville State 31–28 |
| 85 | -3 | 5.021 | Pittsburgh (PITTSBURGH) | IND BE | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -6 | Lost to Notre Dame 6–60 |
| 86 | 7 | 5.073 | Wake Forest (WAKE FOREST) | ACC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -10 | Beat Duke 17–16 |
| 87 | 4 | 5.084 | Indiana (INDIANA) | B10 | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -16 | Lost to Ohio State 17–27 |
| 88 | -3 | 5.198 | Tulane (TULANE) | USA | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -19 | Lost to Navy 21–35 |
| 89 | -11 | 5.204 | UAB | IND FBSI | 4–6 | 0.400 | 71 | -23 | Lost to Cincinnati 14–34 |
| 90 | -6 | 5.284 | Oklahoma (OKLAHOMA) | B12 | 3–7 | 0.300 | 88 | -15 | Lost to Texas A&M 16–33 |
| 91 | -12 | 5.315 | Bowling Green (BOWLING GREEN) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 84 | -22 | Lost to UCF 19–27 |
| 92 | 0 | 5.483 | NC State (NORTH CAROLINA STATE) | ACC | 2–7 | 0.222 | 93 | -16 | Lost to Clemson 17–40 |
| 93 | 2 | 5.615 | Rutgers (RUTGERS) | IND BE | 2–7 | 0.222 | 93 | -16 | BYE |
| 94 | -5 | 5.736 | Arkansas State (ARKANSAS STATE) | IND FBSI | 4–7 | 0.364 | 84 | -28 | Lost to Nevada 14–66 |
| 95 | -5 | 5.755 | Vanderbilt (VANDERBILT) | SEC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -18 | Lost to Kentucky 0–25 |
| 96 | 1 | 5.906 | Akron (AKRON) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 84 | -28 | BYE |
| 97 | 1 | 5.932 | Iowa State (IOWA STATE) | B12 | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -25 | Lost to Nebraska 14–49 |
| 98 | -2 | 5.997 | Illinois (ILLINOIS) | B10 | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -22 | Lost to Minnesota 21–23 |
| 99 | 0 | 6.232 | Eastern Michigan (EASTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 92 | -33 | BYE |
| 100 | 5 | 6.542 | Oregon State (OREGON STATE) | PAC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -21 | Beat Northern Illinois 67–28 |
| 101 | -1 | 6.705 | San José State (SAN JOSE STATE) | IND WAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 102 | -31 | Lost to Washington 10–53 |
| 102 | -1 | 7.046 | UTEP | IND WAC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 95 | -37 | Lost to Tulsa 21–38 |
| 103 | 4 | 7.098 | Western Michigan (WESTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 102 | -30 | Beat Kent State 76–27 |
| 104 | -1 | 7.176 | Hawai'i (HAWAII) | IND WAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 102 | -37 | Lost to BYU 14–45 |
| 105 | 3 | 7.308 | UNLV | IND WAC | 1–10 | 0.091 | 108 | -36 | Beat San Diego State 44–42 |
| 106 | -4 | 7.553 | Duke (DUKE) | ACC | 0–10 | 0.000 | 111 | -34 | Lost to Wake Forest 16–17 |
| 107 | -3 | 7.689 | Temple (TEMPLE) | IND BE | 1–9 | 0.100 | 107 | -37 | Lost to Boston College 20–21 |
| 108 | -2 | 8.198 | Kent State (KENT STATE) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 102 | -49 | Lost to Western Michigan 27–76 |
| 109 | 2 | 8.293 | Boise State (BOISE STATE) | IND BW | 2–9 | 0.182 | 102 | -34 | Beat New Mexico State 33–32 |
| 110 | -1 | 8.881 | New Mexico State (NEW MEXICO STATE) | IND BW | 1–10 | 0.091 | 108 | -47 | Lost to Boise State 32–33 |
| 111 | -1 | 9.325 | Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS) | IND FBSI | 1–10 | 0.091 | 108 | -49 | Lost to Oregon State 28–67 |
1996 Week 12 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 11 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 10 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 9 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 8 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 7 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 6 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.
1996 Week 5 College Football Team Rankings
1996 rankings calculated with the Classic formula (Ken's 2016-based hybrid, applied retroactively); records, NOW and game results come from James Howell's historical college football score archive.