1997 Final College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Season
1997 Post-Season Week 3 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Post-Season Week 2 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Regular Season Final College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 15 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 14 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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 | 3 | 0.861 |  Michigan (MICHIGAN) |  B10 | 11–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +63 | Beat Ohio State 20–14 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.861 |  Florida State (FLORIDA STATE) |  ACC | 10–1 | 0.909 | 3 | +53 | Lost to Florida 29–32 |
| 3 | -1 | 0.879 |  Tennessee (TENNESSEE) |  SEC | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +53 | Beat Kentucky 59–31 |
| 4 | -1 | 0.899 |  Nebraska (NEBRASKA) |  B12 | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +49 | BYE |
| 5 | 2 | 1.036 |  Florida (FLORIDA) | SEC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +50 | Beat Florida State 32–29 |
| 6 | -1 | 1.113 |  Kansas State (KANSAS STATE) | B12 | 10–1 | 0.909 | 3 | +47 | Beat Iowa State 28–3 |
| 7 | -1 | 1.147 |  Auburn (AUBURN) | SEC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +49 | Beat Alabama 18–17 |
| 8 | 1 | 1.203 |  Washington State (WASHINGTON STATE) |  PAC | 10–1 | 0.909 | 3 | +44 | Beat Washington 41–35 |
| 9 | 4 | 1.271 |  Penn State (PENN STATE) | B10 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 7 | +43 | Beat Wisconsin 35–10 |
| 10 | 0 | 1.292 |  North Carolina (NORTH CAROLINA) | ACC | 10–1 | 0.909 | 3 | +41 | Beat Duke 50–14 |
| 11 | 0 | 1.304 |  UCLA | PAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +40 | Beat USC 31–24 |
| 12 | 0 | 1.340 |  Georgia (GEORGIA) | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 19 | +39 | Beat Ole Miss 21–14 |
| 13 | -5 | 1.352 |  Ohio State (OHIO STATE) | B10 | 10–2 | 0.833 | 9 | +44 | Lost to Michigan 14–20 |
| 14 | 2 | 1.588 |  Colorado State (COLORADO STATE) | IND WAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +34 | Beat San Diego State 38–17 |
| 15 | 0 | 1.654 |  Arizona State (ARIZONA STATE) | PAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 19 | +31 | BYE |
| 16 | 2 | 1.693 |  Air Force (AIR FORCE) | IND WAC | 10–2 | 0.833 | 9 | +36 | BYE |
| 17 | 3 | 1.776 |  Marshall (MARSHALL) |  MAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +25 | BYE |
| 18 | -4 | 1.791 |  Toledo (TOLEDO) | MAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +28 | Lost to UCF 17–34 |
| 19 | 2 | 1.836 |  Miami (OH) (MIAMI (OH)) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +24 | BYE |
| 20 | -3 | 1.852 |  Washington (WASHINGTON) | PAC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +28 | Lost to Washington State 35–41 |
| 21 | 2 | 1.862 |  New Mexico (NEW MEXICO) | IND WAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +23 | Beat Tulsa 51–13 |
| 22 | 6 | 1.869 |  Purdue (PURDUE) | B10 | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +28 | Beat Indiana 56–7 |
| 23 | 4 | 1.877 |  Syracuse (SYRACUSE) | IND BE | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +23 | BYE |
| 24 | -2 | 1.884 |  Texas A&M (TEXAS A & M) | B12 | 8–2 | 0.800 | 19 | +19 | BYE |
| 25 | 0 | 1.924 |  LSU | SEC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +23 | BYE |
| 26 | 4 | 2.085 |  Southern Miss (SOUTHERN MISS) |  USA | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +22 | Beat Memphis 42–18 |
| 27 | 4 | 2.139 |  Louisiana Tech (LOUISIANA TECH) | IND FBSI | 9–2 | 0.818 | 11 | +21 | BYE |
| 28 | -9 | 2.195 |  Mississippi State (MISSISSIPPI STATE) | SEC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +26 | Lost to Arkansas 7–17 |
| 29 | 4 | 2.200 |  Ohio (OHIO) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +16 | BYE |
| 30 | -6 | 2.200 |  Virginia Tech (VIRGINIA TECH) | IND BE | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +16 | Lost to Pittsburgh 23–30 |
| 31 | -5 | 2.255 |  West Virginia (WEST VIRGINIA) | IND BE | 7–3 | 0.700 | 29 | +16 | Lost to Notre Dame 14–21 |
| 32 | 4 | 2.270 |  Oklahoma State (OKLAHOMA STATE) | B12 | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +17 | Beat Baylor 24–14 |
| 33 | -4 | 2.318 |  Ole Miss (MISSISSIPPI) | SEC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 41 | +20 | Lost to Georgia 14–21 |
| 34 | 20 | 2.406 |  Notre Dame (NOTRE DAME) | IND FBSI | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +17 | Beat West Virginia 21–14 |
| 35 | 3 | 2.415 |  Western Michigan (WESTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 22 | +16 | BYE |
| 36 | -4 | 2.443 |  Wisconsin (WISCONSIN) | B10 | 8–4 | 0.667 | 33 | +23 | Lost to Penn State 10–35 |
| 37 | 0 | 2.444 |  Missouri (MISSOURI) | B12 | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +17 | BYE |
| 38 | 1 | 2.472 |  Tulane (TULANE) | USA | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +11 | Beat Houston 44–10 |
| 39 | 8 | 2.494 |  Clemson (CLEMSON) | ACC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +14 | Beat South Carolina 47–21 |
| 40 | 0 | 2.534 |  Virginia (VIRGINIA) | ACC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 41 | +13 | BYE |
| 41 | 5 | 2.549 |  Rice (RICE) | IND WAC | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +16 | Beat UTEP 31–13 |
| 42 | 9 | 2.550 |  Georgia Tech (GEORGIA TECH) | ACC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 41 | +15 | Beat Maryland 37–18 |
| 43 | 2 | 2.575 |  Iowa (IOWA) | B10 | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +3 | Beat Minnesota 31–0 |
| 44 | -1 | 2.576 |  Michigan State (MICHIGAN STATE) | B10 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 41 | +11 | Beat Illinois 27–17 |
| 45 | 4 | 2.590 |  Oregon (OREGON) | PAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +16 | Beat Oregon State 48–30 |
| 46 | -11 | 2.596 |  USC | PAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +16 | Lost to UCLA 24–31 |
| 47 | -5 | 2.674 |  Colorado (COLORADO) | B12 | 5–5 | 0.500 | 56 | +16 | BYE |
| 48 | 4 | 2.789 |  Cincinnati (CINCINNATI) | USA | 7–4 | 0.636 | 34 | +8 | BYE |
| 49 | 7 | 2.819 |  NC State (NORTH CAROLINA STATE) | ACC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +7 | Beat East Carolina 37–24 |
| 50 | -16 | 2.836 |  Texas Tech (TEXAS TECH) | B12 | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +11 | Lost to Oklahoma 21–32 |
| 51 | -7 | 3.088 |  BYU | IND WAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +4 | Lost to Utah 14–20 |
| 52 | 3 | 3.106 |  Arizona (ARIZONA) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 56 | +7 | BYE |
| 53 | -3 | 3.140 |  South Carolina (SOUTH CAROLINA) | SEC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | +8 | Lost to Clemson 21–47 |
| 54 | -13 | 3.168 |  SMU | IND WAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | +5 | Lost to TCU 18–21 |
| 55 | -7 | 3.201 |  Utah State (UTAH STATE) | IND BW | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | -2 | Lost to North Texas 48–51 |
| 56 | 7 | 3.260 |  Utah (UTAH) | IND WAC | 6–5 | 0.545 | 46 | -2 | Beat BYU 20–14 |
| 57 | 3 | 3.305 |  Stanford (STANFORD) | PAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | +6 | Beat California 21–20 |
| 58 | -5 | 3.338 |  Wyoming (WYOMING) | IND WAC | 7–6 | 0.538 | 55 | -1 | Lost to Fresno State 7–24 |
| 59 | 6 | 3.377 |  Navy (NAVY) | IND FBSI | 6–4 | 0.600 | 41 | -11 | Beat Kent State 62–29 |
| 60 | 8 | 3.438 |  UCF (CENTRAL FLORIDA) | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -1 | Beat Toledo 34–17 |
| 61 | -2 | 3.569 |  Miami (MIAMI) | IND BE | 5–5 | 0.500 | 56 | -3 | BYE |
| 62 | 8 | 3.624 |  Arkansas (ARKANSAS) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 75 | +5 | Beat Mississippi State 17–7 |
| 63 | -1 | 3.630 |  Nevada (NEVADA) | IND BW | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -5 | BYE |
| 64 | 7 | 3.672 |  Fresno State (FRESNO STATE) | IND WAC | 6–6 | 0.500 | 56 | -4 | Beat Wyoming 24–7 |
| 65 | 1 | 3.713 |  Northwestern (NORTHWESTERN) | B10 | 5–7 | 0.417 | 72 | -1 | BYE |
| 66 | -8 | 3.734 |  Kentucky (KENTUCKY) | SEC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -2 | Lost to Tennessee 31–59 |
| 67 | 9 | 3.797 |  Pittsburgh (PITTSBURGH) | IND BE | 5–5 | 0.500 | 56 | -8 | Beat Virginia Tech 30–23 |
| 68 | -1 | 3.839 |  Wake Forest (WAKE FOREST) | ACC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -5 | BYE |
| 69 | -12 | 3.843 |  East Carolina (EAST CAROLINA) | USA | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -4 | Lost to NC State 24–37 |
| 70 | -6 | 3.886 |  Alabama (ALABAMA) | SEC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -3 | Lost to Auburn 17–18 |
| 71 | -10 | 3.901 |  San Diego State (SAN DIEGO STATE) | IND WAC | 5–7 | 0.417 | 72 | -3 | Lost to Colorado State 17–38 |
| 72 | -3 | 4.000 |  Kansas (KANSAS) | B12 | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -3 | BYE |
| 73 | -1 | 4.137 |  Ball State (BALL STATE) | MAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -14 | BYE |
| 74 | 1 | 4.561 |  Texas (TEXAS) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 75 | -12 | BYE |
| 75 | 8 | 4.600 |  UL Monroe (LOUISIANA MONROE) | IND FBSI | 5–7 | 0.417 | 72 | -16 | Beat Hawai'i 23–20 |
| 76 | 3 | 4.675 |  Bowling Green (BOWLING GREEN) | MAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -13 | BYE |
| 77 | 3 | 4.681 |  Eastern Michigan (EASTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -19 | BYE |
| 78 | 6 | 4.687 |  UAB | IND FBSI | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -24 | Beat Arkansas State 13–7 |
| 79 | 6 | 4.704 |  Boston College (BOSTON COLLEGE) | IND BE | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -16 | Beat Army 24–20 |
| 80 | -6 | 4.911 |  Idaho (IDAHO) | IND BW | 5–6 | 0.455 | 61 | -20 | Lost to Boise State 23–30 |
| 81 | -8 | 4.917 |  California (CALIFORNIA) | PAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -17 | Lost to Stanford 20–21 |
| 82 | -4 | 4.973 |  Memphis (MEMPHIS) | USA | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -22 | Lost to Southern Miss 18–42 |
| 83 | -6 | 5.052 |  Army (ARMY) | IND FBSI | 4–6 | 0.400 | 75 | -23 | Lost to Boston College 20–24 |
| 84 | -3 | 5.057 |  UTEP | IND WAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -19 | Lost to Rice 13–31 |
| 85 | 6 | 5.084 |  Oklahoma (OKLAHOMA) | B12 | 4–8 | 0.333 | 86 | -16 | Beat Texas Tech 32–21 |
| 86 | 3 | 5.203 |  San José State (SAN JOSE STATE) | IND WAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -19 | Beat UNLV 55–48 |
| 87 | 7 | 5.325 |  Boise State (BOISE STATE) | IND BW | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -16 | Beat Idaho 30–23 |
| 88 | -6 | 5.423 |  Oregon State (OREGON STATE) | PAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -23 | Lost to Oregon 30–48 |
| 89 | 1 | 5.510 |  Temple (TEMPLE) | IND BE | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -22 | BYE |
| 90 | -4 | 5.607 |  Vanderbilt (VANDERBILT) | SEC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 87 | -25 | BYE |
| 91 | -4 | 5.668 |  Minnesota (MINNESOTA) | B10 | 3–9 | 0.250 | 96 | -27 | Lost to Iowa 0–31 |
| 92 | 9 | 5.709 |  North Texas (NORTH TEXAS) | IND BW | 4–7 | 0.364 | 78 | -28 | Beat Utah State 51–48 |
| 93 | 0 | 5.965 |  Maryland (MARYLAND) | ACC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -26 | Lost to Georgia Tech 18–37 |
| 94 | 2 | 5.997 |  Tulsa (TULSA) | IND WAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -30 | Lost to New Mexico 13–51 |
| 95 | -7 | 6.020 |  UNLV | IND WAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -37 | Lost to San José State 48–55 |
| 96 | 4 | 6.072 |  Duke (DUKE) | ACC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -31 | Lost to North Carolina 14–50 |
| 97 | 1 | 6.084 |  Kent State (KENT STATE) | MAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -21 | Lost to Navy 29–62 |
| 98 | -3 | 6.163 |  Indiana (INDIANA) | B10 | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -28 | Lost to Purdue 7–56 |
| 99 | 0 | 6.167 |  Baylor (BAYLOR) | B12 | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -27 | Lost to Oklahoma State 14–24 |
| 100 | -8 | 6.237 |  Hawai'i (HAWAII) | IND WAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -35 | Lost to UL Monroe 20–23 |
| 101 | -4 | 6.281 |  Houston (HOUSTON) | USA | 3–8 | 0.273 | 88 | -31 | Lost to Tulane 10–44 |
| 102 | 0 | 6.323 |  Akron (AKRON) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -29 | BYE |
| 103 | 0 | 6.705 |  Central Michigan (CENTRAL MICHIGAN) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -37 | BYE |
| 104 | 0 | 7.308 |  Iowa State (IOWA STATE) | B12 | 1–10 | 0.091 | 106 | -38 | Lost to Kansas State 3–28 |
| 105 | 5 | 7.731 |  TCU | IND WAC | 1–10 | 0.091 | 106 | -48 | Beat SMU 21–18 |
| 106 | -1 | 7.752 |  New Mexico State (NEW MEXICO STATE) | IND BW | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -40 | BYE |
| 107 | 1 | 7.893 |  Illinois (ILLINOIS) | B10 | 0–11 | 0.000 | 110 | -48 | Lost to Michigan State 17–27 |
| 108 | -1 | 7.938 |  Louisville (LOUISVILLE) | USA | 1–10 | 0.091 | 106 | -52 | BYE |
| 109 | 0 | 8.045 |  Louisiana (LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE) | IND FBSI | 1–10 | 0.091 | 106 | -33 | BYE |
| 110 | -4 | 8.055 |  Arkansas State (ARKANSAS STATE) | IND FBSI | 2–9 | 0.182 | 97 | -44 | Lost to UAB 7–13 |
| 111 | 0 | 8.611 |  Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS) | MAC | 0–11 | 0.000 | 110 | -54 | BYE |
| 112 | 0 | 9.376 |  Rutgers (RUTGERS) | IND BE | 0–11 | 0.000 | 110 | -56 | BYE |
1997 Week 13 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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 | 1 | 0.764 | Florida State (FLORIDA STATE) | ACC | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +51 | Beat Wake Forest 58–7 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.867 | Tennessee (TENNESSEE) | SEC | 8–1 | 0.889 | 9 | +44 | Beat Arkansas 30–22 |
| 3 | 0 | 0.935 | Nebraska (NEBRASKA) | B12 | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +46 | Beat Iowa State 77–14 |
| 4 | 0 | 0.943 | Michigan (MICHIGAN) | B10 | 10–0 | 1.000 | 1 | +49 | Beat Wisconsin 26–16 |
| 5 | 0 | 1.045 | Kansas State (KANSAS STATE) | B12 | 9–1 | 0.900 | 5 | +45 | Beat Colorado 37–20 |
| 6 | 3 | 1.099 | Auburn (AUBURN) | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +43 | Beat Georgia 45–34 |
| 7 | 1 | 1.207 | Florida (FLORIDA) | SEC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +36 | Beat South Carolina 48–21 |
| 8 | -1 | 1.236 | Ohio State (OHIO STATE) | B10 | 10–1 | 0.909 | 4 | +42 | Beat Illinois 41–6 |
| 9 | 1 | 1.292 | Washington State (WASHINGTON STATE) | PAC | 9–1 | 0.900 | 5 | +33 | Beat Stanford 38–28 |
| 10 | 2 | 1.345 | North Carolina (NORTH CAROLINA) | ACC | 9–1 | 0.900 | 5 | +35 | Beat Clemson 17–10 |
| 11 | 3 | 1.361 | UCLA | PAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +32 | Beat Washington 52–28 |
| 12 | -6 | 1.371 | Georgia (GEORGIA) | SEC | 7–2 | 0.778 | 21 | +31 | Lost to Auburn 34–45 |
| 13 | 4 | 1.444 | Penn State (PENN STATE) | B10 | 8–1 | 0.889 | 9 | +33 | Beat Purdue 42–17 |
| 14 | -1 | 1.543 | Toledo (TOLEDO) | MAC | 9–1 | 0.900 | 5 | +33 | Beat Akron 42–10 |
| 15 | 3 | 1.562 | Arizona State (ARIZONA STATE) | PAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +30 | Beat Oregon 52–31 |
| 16 | 0 | 1.605 | Colorado State (COLORADO STATE) | IND WAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +27 | BYE |
| 17 | -6 | 1.619 | Washington (WASHINGTON) | PAC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 30 | +29 | Lost to UCLA 28–52 |
| 18 | 4 | 1.680 | Air Force (AIR FORCE) | IND WAC | 10–2 | 0.833 | 11 | +33 | Beat Wyoming 14–3 |
| 19 | 1 | 1.729 | Mississippi State (MISSISSIPPI STATE) | SEC | 7–2 | 0.778 | 21 | +29 | Beat Alabama 32–20 |
| 20 | 7 | 1.801 | Marshall (MARSHALL) | MAC | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +26 | Beat Ohio 27–0 |
| 21 | 0 | 1.852 | Miami (OH) (MIAMI (OH)) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 25 | +25 | Beat Northern Illinois 42–0 |
| 22 | 1 | 1.852 | Texas A&M (TEXAS A & M) | B12 | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +17 | Beat Oklahoma 51–7 |
| 23 | 8 | 1.862 | New Mexico (NEW MEXICO) | IND WAC | 8–2 | 0.800 | 14 | +20 | Beat BYU 38–28 |
| 24 | 1 | 1.865 | Virginia Tech (VIRGINIA TECH) | IND BE | 7–2 | 0.778 | 21 | +20 | BYE |
| 25 | -10 | 1.866 | LSU | SEC | 7–3 | 0.700 | 30 | +23 | Lost to Notre Dame 6–24 |
| 26 | 3 | 1.887 | West Virginia (WEST VIRGINIA) | IND BE | 7–2 | 0.778 | 21 | +21 | Beat Temple 41–21 |
| 27 | 1 | 1.931 | Syracuse (SYRACUSE) | IND BE | 8–3 | 0.727 | 25 | +21 | Beat Pittsburgh 32–27 |
| 28 | -9 | 1.993 | Purdue (PURDUE) | B10 | 7–3 | 0.700 | 30 | +25 | Lost to Penn State 17–42 |
| 29 | 8 | 2.133 | Ole Miss (MISSISSIPPI) | SEC | 6–3 | 0.667 | 35 | +20 | Beat Tulane 41–24 |
| 30 | 5 | 2.225 | Southern Miss (SOUTHERN MISS) | USA | 7–3 | 0.700 | 30 | +18 | Beat Houston 33–0 |
| 31 | 2 | 2.229 | Louisiana Tech (LOUISIANA TECH) | IND FBSI | 9–2 | 0.818 | 12 | +18 | Beat Louisiana 63–24 |
| 32 | -2 | 2.261 | Wisconsin (WISCONSIN) | B10 | 8–3 | 0.727 | 25 | +21 | Lost to Michigan 16–26 |
| 33 | -7 | 2.280 | Ohio (OHIO) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 25 | +16 | Lost to Marshall 0–27 |
| 34 | 15 | 2.368 | Texas Tech (TEXAS TECH) | B12 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +18 | Beat Oklahoma State 27–3 |
| 35 | 6 | 2.381 | USC | PAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +17 | Beat Oregon State 23–0 |
| 36 | -12 | 2.389 | Oklahoma State (OKLAHOMA STATE) | B12 | 7–3 | 0.700 | 30 | +13 | Lost to Texas Tech 3–27 |
| 37 | 5 | 2.475 | Missouri (MISSOURI) | B12 | 7–4 | 0.636 | 36 | +17 | Beat Baylor 42–24 |
| 38 | 8 | 2.523 | Western Michigan (WESTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 8–3 | 0.727 | 25 | +16 | Beat UL Monroe 32–19 |
| 39 | -1 | 2.575 | Tulane (TULANE) | USA | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +9 | Lost to Ole Miss 24–41 |
| 40 | -6 | 2.580 | Virginia (VIRGINIA) | ACC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +12 | Lost to NC State 24–31 |
| 41 | 9 | 2.594 | SMU | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +14 | Beat Tulsa 42–41 |
| 42 | -6 | 2.617 | Colorado (COLORADO) | B12 | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +15 | Lost to Kansas State 20–37 |
| 43 | 4 | 2.637 | Michigan State (MICHIGAN STATE) | B10 | 5–4 | 0.556 | 49 | +11 | BYE |
| 44 | -1 | 2.653 | BYU | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +10 | Lost to New Mexico 28–38 |
| 45 | -13 | 2.654 | Iowa (IOWA) | B10 | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +1 | Lost to Northwestern 14–15 |
| 46 | -7 | 2.691 | Rice (RICE) | IND WAC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +10 | Lost to Utah 14–31 |
| 47 | 1 | 2.744 | Clemson (CLEMSON) | ACC | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +9 | Lost to North Carolina 10–17 |
| 48 | 5 | 2.746 | Utah State (UTAH STATE) | IND BW | 6–4 | 0.600 | 38 | +5 | Beat Nevada 38–19 |
| 49 | -9 | 2.752 | Oregon (OREGON) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +12 | Lost to Arizona State 31–52 |
| 50 | -6 | 2.755 | South Carolina (SOUTH CAROLINA) | SEC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +11 | Lost to Florida 21–48 |
| 51 | 1 | 2.762 | Georgia Tech (GEORGIA TECH) | ACC | 5–4 | 0.556 | 49 | +11 | Beat Duke 41–38 |
| 52 | -7 | 2.856 | Cincinnati (CINCINNATI) | USA | 7–4 | 0.636 | 36 | +8 | Lost to East Carolina 7–14 |
| 53 | -2 | 2.902 | Wyoming (WYOMING) | IND WAC | 7–5 | 0.583 | 48 | +6 | Lost to Air Force 3–14 |
| 54 | 3 | 2.966 | Notre Dame (NOTRE DAME) | IND FBSI | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +7 | Beat LSU 24–6 |
| 55 | -1 | 3.051 | Arizona (ARIZONA) | PAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +7 | Beat California 41–38 |
| 56 | 5 | 3.144 | NC State (NORTH CAROLINA STATE) | ACC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +3 | Beat Virginia 31–24 |
| 57 | 10 | 3.433 | East Carolina (EAST CAROLINA) | USA | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | +3 | Beat Cincinnati 14–7 |
| 58 | 1 | 3.446 | Kentucky (KENTUCKY) | SEC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | 0 | Beat Vanderbilt 21–10 |
| 59 | 4 | 3.488 | Miami (MIAMI) | IND BE | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | -1 | Beat Rutgers 51–23 |
| 60 | -2 | 3.553 | Stanford (STANFORD) | PAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | +1 | Lost to Washington State 28–38 |
| 61 | 7 | 3.619 | San Diego State (SAN DIEGO STATE) | IND WAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -1 | Beat Fresno State 20–19 |
| 62 | -7 | 3.644 | Nevada (NEVADA) | IND BW | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -4 | Lost to Utah State 19–38 |
| 63 | 9 | 3.656 | Utah (UTAH) | IND WAC | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | -8 | Beat Rice 31–14 |
| 64 | -8 | 3.671 | Alabama (ALABAMA) | SEC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | 0 | Lost to Mississippi State 20–32 |
| 65 | 5 | 3.702 | Navy (NAVY) | IND FBSI | 5–4 | 0.556 | 49 | -12 | Beat Colgate 52–24 |
| 66 | 0 | 3.781 | Northwestern (NORTHWESTERN) | B10 | 5–7 | 0.417 | 71 | -2 | Beat Iowa 15–14 |
| 67 | -3 | 3.893 | Wake Forest (WAKE FOREST) | ACC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -4 | Lost to Florida State 7–58 |
| 68 | 7 | 3.998 | UCF (CENTRAL FLORIDA) | IND FBSI | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | -7 | Beat Eastern Michigan 27–10 |
| 69 | -9 | 4.083 | Kansas (KANSAS) | B12 | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -5 | Lost to Texas 31–45 |
| 70 | -5 | 4.095 | Arkansas (ARKANSAS) | SEC | 3–6 | 0.333 | 81 | 0 | Lost to Tennessee 22–30 |
| 71 | -9 | 4.125 | Fresno State (FRESNO STATE) | IND WAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -10 | Lost to San Diego State 19–20 |
| 72 | -1 | 4.268 | Ball State (BALL STATE) | MAC | 5–6 | 0.455 | 63 | -13 | BYE |
| 73 | -4 | 4.411 | California (CALIFORNIA) | PAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -10 | Lost to Arizona 38–41 |
| 74 | 6 | 4.519 | Idaho (IDAHO) | IND BW | 5–5 | 0.500 | 52 | -13 | Beat New Mexico State 35–18 |
| 75 | 6 | 4.568 | Texas (TEXAS) | B12 | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | -12 | Beat Kansas 45–31 |
| 76 | -3 | 4.591 | Pittsburgh (PITTSBURGH) | IND BE | 4–5 | 0.444 | 69 | -15 | Lost to Syracuse 27–32 |
| 77 | 6 | 4.658 | Army (ARMY) | IND FBSI | 4–5 | 0.444 | 69 | -16 | Beat North Texas 25–14 |
| 78 | 4 | 4.771 | Memphis (MEMPHIS) | USA | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | -17 | Beat Louisville 21–20 |
| 79 | 0 | 4.792 | Bowling Green (BOWLING GREEN) | MAC | 3–8 | 0.273 | 93 | -10 | BYE |
| 80 | -6 | 4.804 | Eastern Michigan (EASTERN MICHIGAN) | MAC | 4–7 | 0.364 | 79 | -17 | Lost to UCF 10–27 |
| 81 | 4 | 4.873 | UTEP | IND WAC | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | -15 | Beat TCU 24–17 |
| 82 | -6 | 5.029 | Oregon State (OREGON STATE) | PAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -17 | Lost to USC 0–23 |
| 83 | -6 | 5.035 | UL Monroe (LOUISIANA MONROE) | IND FBSI | 4–7 | 0.364 | 79 | -18 | Lost to Western Michigan 19–32 |
| 84 | 4 | 5.090 | UAB | IND FBSI | 4–6 | 0.400 | 72 | -24 | Beat Tennessee Tech 38–14 |
| 85 | 2 | 5.193 | Boston College (BOSTON COLLEGE) | IND BE | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -20 | BYE |
| 86 | -8 | 5.382 | Vanderbilt (VANDERBILT) | SEC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -23 | Lost to Kentucky 10–21 |
| 87 | 4 | 5.394 | Minnesota (MINNESOTA) | B10 | 3–8 | 0.273 | 93 | -19 | Beat Indiana 24–12 |
| 88 | 2 | 5.505 | UNLV | IND WAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -28 | BYE |
| 89 | 9 | 5.513 | San José State (SAN JOSE STATE) | IND WAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -18 | Beat Hawai'i 38–14 |
| 90 | 2 | 5.687 | Temple (TEMPLE) | IND BE | 3–8 | 0.273 | 93 | -21 | Lost to West Virginia 21–41 |
| 91 | -2 | 5.738 | Oklahoma (OKLAHOMA) | B12 | 3–8 | 0.273 | 93 | -21 | Lost to Texas A&M 7–51 |
| 92 | -8 | 5.757 | Hawai'i (HAWAII) | IND WAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -25 | Lost to San José State 14–38 |
| 93 | 1 | 5.895 | Maryland (MARYLAND) | ACC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -20 | BYE |
| 94 | 2 | 5.947 | Boise State (BOISE STATE) | IND BW | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -20 | BYE |
| 95 | -9 | 6.008 | Indiana (INDIANA) | B10 | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -21 | Lost to Minnesota 12–24 |
| 96 | 1 | 6.021 | Tulsa (TULSA) | IND WAC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -27 | Lost to SMU 41–42 |
| 97 | -4 | 6.030 | Houston (HOUSTON) | USA | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -23 | Lost to Southern Miss 0–33 |
| 98 | 2 | 6.032 | Kent State (KENT STATE) | MAC | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -17 | BYE |
| 99 | 0 | 6.186 | Baylor (BAYLOR) | B12 | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -23 | Lost to Missouri 24–42 |
| 100 | 1 | 6.264 | Duke (DUKE) | ACC | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -29 | Lost to Georgia Tech 38–41 |
| 101 | -6 | 6.286 | North Texas (NORTH TEXAS) | IND BW | 3–7 | 0.300 | 82 | -31 | Lost to Army 14–25 |
| 102 | 0 | 6.541 | Akron (AKRON) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 103 | -28 | Lost to Toledo 10–42 |
| 103 | 0 | 6.909 | Central Michigan (CENTRAL MICHIGAN) | MAC | 2–9 | 0.182 | 103 | -36 | BYE |
| 104 | 0 | 7.518 | Iowa State (IOWA STATE) | B12 | 1–9 | 0.100 | 106 | -35 | Lost to Nebraska 14–77 |
| 105 | 0 | 7.810 | New Mexico State (NEW MEXICO STATE) | IND BW | 2–9 | 0.182 | 103 | -37 | Lost to Idaho 18–35 |
| 106 | 1 | 7.942 | Arkansas State (ARKANSAS STATE) | IND FBSI | 2–8 | 0.200 | 97 | -36 | BYE |
| 107 | -1 | 7.954 | Louisville (LOUISVILLE) | USA | 1–10 | 0.091 | 107 | -48 | Lost to Memphis 20–21 |
| 108 | 0 | 8.004 | Illinois (ILLINOIS) | B10 | 0–10 | 0.000 | 109 | -41 | Lost to Ohio State 6–41 |
| 109 | 0 | 8.306 | Louisiana (LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE) | IND FBSI | 1–10 | 0.091 | 107 | -32 | Lost to Louisiana Tech 24–63 |
| 110 | 0 | 8.731 | TCU | IND WAC | 0–10 | 0.000 | 109 | -50 | Lost to UTEP 17–24 |
| 111 | 0 | 8.734 | Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS) | MAC | 0–11 | 0.000 | 109 | -53 | Lost to Miami (OH) 0–42 |
| 112 | 0 | 9.390 | Rutgers (RUTGERS) | IND BE | 0–11 | 0.000 | 109 | -53 | Lost to Miami 23–51 |
1997 Week 12 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 11 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 10 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 9 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 8 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 7 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 6 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.
1997 Week 5 College Football Team Rankings
1997 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.