2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Human polls and a committee's selections comprise the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship at the FBS level. Instead, that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseasonÃ¢ÂÂthe AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is usually released starting midway through the season. The CFP rankings determine who makes the four-team playoff that determines the College Football Playoff National Champion.

Legend

AP Poll

Ranking highlights

Preseason

Iowa State received its highest ranking (No. 7) in program history.
Coastal Carolina and Louisiana, respectively No. 22 and No. 23, were the first Sun Belt Conference teams ever ranked in the preseason.

Week 5

Clemson's long streak of poll rankings ends.

Week 6

Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 3) in program history.

Week 7

UTSA was ranked for the first time in program history at No. 24.
Cincinnati received its highest ranking (No. 2) in program history.

Week 8

UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 23) in program history.

Week 9

Wake Forest received its highest ranking (No. 10) in program history.
UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 16) in program history.

Week 10

UTSA received its highest ranking (No. 15) in program history.

Final Poll

Cincinnati received its highest final ranking (No. 4). Its previous high was No. 8 in 2009 and 2020.
Baylor received its highest final ranking (No. 5). Its previous high was No. 7 in 2014.
Wake Forest received its highest final ranking (No. 15). Its previous high was No. 18 in 2006.

Coaches Poll

CFP rankings

The initial 2021 College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll

The joint poll of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation is a human poll which the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book designates as being one of the "major selectors" of national championships. The NFF automatically awards its MacArthur Bowl National Championship Trophy to the winner of the College Football Playoff National Championship.