1961 season · final
Polls
AP Top 25
20 ranked
- Big Ten4
- SEC4
- FBS Independents3
- Other9
- 1–AlabamaSEC—
- 2–Ohio StateBig Ten—
- 3▲1TexasSouthwest—
- 4▼1LSUSEC—
- 5–Ole MissSEC—
- 6▲1MinnesotaBig Ten—
- 7▼1ColoradoBig 8—
- 8–Michigan StateBig Ten—
- 9–ArkansasSouthwest—
- 10NewUtah StateSkyline—
- 11▼1MissouriBig 8—
- 12NewPurdueBig Ten—
- 13NewGeorgia TechSEC—
- 14NewSyracuseFBS Independents—
- 15NewRutgersMiddle Atlantic University—
- 16NewUCLAAAWU—
- 17NewArizonaFBS Independents—
- 17NewPenn StateFBS Independents—
- 17NewRiceSouthwest—
- 20NewDukeACC—