Poll Archive

AP Top 25 1972 Postseason Rankings

Explore the canonical weekly archive for AP Top 25 Postseason, including movement, chaos, leaders, and rankings context.

Open Interactive RankingsCanonical Weekly URL

1972

USC

Postseason

Points

—

1st Place Votes

—

Top Team

USC

AP Top 25 • Postseason • Pac-8

Ranked Teams

20

Teams currently listed after any conference filtering.

Avg Points

0.0

Average poll points for teams in the current view.

First-Place Votes

0

Combined first-place votes in the selected week.

Biggest Riser

Nebraska ▲5

Nebraska moved from No. 9 to No. 4.

Biggest Faller

Ohio State ▼6

Ohio State moved from No. 3 to No. 9.

Most Consistent

USC

Lowest rank variance across 14 ranked weeks.

Most Volatile

Arkansas

Range of 16 ranking spots across 6 ranked weeks.

Chaos Index

88

Chaos

What changed this week?

This week's ranking story

AP Top 25 1972 Postseason: USC is No. 1, Nebraska ▲5 is the biggest riser, Ohio State ▼6 is the biggest faller, West Virginia and Purdue dropped out, and SEC leads with 4 ranked teams.

Dropped out: West Virginia and Purdue.

AP Top 25 — 1972 (Postseason)

Hover rows to compare the current ranking, previous spot, and movement context.

RankSchoolRecordPrevChangePoints1st PlaceConferenceWhy moved
1
USC
12-0No. 1———Pac-8Held position after W 42-17 vs Ohio State.W 42-17 vs Ohio State
2
Oklahoma
11-1No. 2———Big 8Held position after W 14-0 vs Penn State.W 14-0 vs Penn State
3
Texas
10-1No. 7▲4——SouthwestMoved up 4 spots after W 17-13 vs Alabama.W 17-13 vs Alabama
4
Nebraska
9-2-1No. 9▲5——Big 8Moved up 5 spots after W 40-6 vs Notre Dame.W 40-6 vs Notre Dame
5
Auburn
10-1No. 6▲1——SECMoved up 1 spot after W 24-3 vs Colorado.W 24-3 vs Colorado
6
Michigan
10-1No. 8▲2——Big TenMoved up 2 spots after L 11-14 at Ohio State.L 11-14 at Ohio State
7
Alabama
10-2No. 4▼3——SECFell 3 spots after L 13-17 vs Texas.L 13-17 vs Texas
8
Tennessee
10-2No. 11▲3——SECMoved up 3 spots after W 24-17 vs LSU.W 24-17 vs LSU
9
Ohio State
9-2No. 3▼6——Big TenFell 6 spots after L 17-42 vs USC.L 17-42 vs USC
10
Penn State
10-2No. 5▼5——FBS IndependentsFell 5 spots after L 0-14 vs Oklahoma.L 0-14 vs Oklahoma
11
LSU
9-2-1No. 10▼1——SECFell 1 spot after L 17-24 vs Tennessee.L 17-24 vs Tennessee
12
North Carolina
11-1No. 16▲4——ACCMoved up 4 spots after W 32-28 vs Texas Tech.W 32-28 vs Texas Tech
13
Arizona State
10-2No. 15▲2——Western AthleticMoved up 2 spots after W 49-35 vs Missouri.W 49-35 vs Missouri
14
Notre Dame
8-3No. 12▼2——FBS IndependentsFell 2 spots after L 6-40 vs Nebraska.L 6-40 vs Nebraska
15
UCLA
8-3No. 14▼1——Pac-8Fell 1 spot after L 7-24 vs USC.L 7-24 vs USC
16
Colorado
8-4No. 13▼3——Big 8Fell 3 spots after L 3-24 vs Auburn.L 3-24 vs Auburn
17
NC State
8-3-1URNEW——ACCEntered the poll after W 49-13 vs West Virginia.W 49-13 vs West Virginia
18
Louisville
9-1No. 17▼1——Missouri ValleyFell 1 spot after W 27-0 vs Drake.W 27-0 vs Drake
19
Washington State
7-4No. 19———Pac-8Held position after W 27-10 vs Washington.W 27-10 vs Washington
20
Georgia Tech
7-4-1URNEW——FBS IndependentsEntered the poll after W 31-30 vs Iowa State.W 31-30 vs Iowa State

Dropped Out

  • West Virginia (was No. 18)
  • Purdue (was No. 20)

Conference Snapshot

Representation within the selected poll and week.

SEC4 • Avg rank 7.8

Average points —

Big 83 • Avg rank 7.3

Average points —

Pac-83 • Avg rank 11.7

Average points —

FBS Independents3 • Avg rank 14.7

Average points —

Big Ten2 • Avg rank 7.5

Average points —

ACC2 • Avg rank 14.5

Average points —

Southwest1 • Avg rank 3.0

Average points —

Western Athletic1 • Avg rank 13.0

Average points —

Missouri Valley1 • Avg rank 18.0

Average points —

Stability & Volatility

Identify which teams stayed steady and which teams had the wildest ranking swings.

Most Consistent

USC

Lowest rank variance across 14 ranked weeks.

Most Volatile

Arkansas

Range of 16 ranking spots across 6 ranked weeks.

Season Ranking Movement

Compare how teams climbed, fell, or stayed steady week by week.

#1#5#10#15#20#25USC • Regular • Week 1 • UnrankedUSC • Regular • Week 2 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 3 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 4 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 5 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 6 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 7 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 8 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 9 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 10 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 11 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 12 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 13 • No. 1USC • Regular • Week 14 • No. 1USC • Postseason • No. 1Oklahoma • Regular • Week 1 • UnrankedOklahoma • Regular • Week 2 • No. 4Oklahoma • Regular • Week 3 • No. 2Oklahoma • Regular • Week 4 • No. 2Oklahoma • Regular • Week 5 • No. 2Oklahoma • Regular • Week 6 • No. 2Oklahoma • Regular • Week 7 • No. 2Oklahoma • Regular • Week 8 • No. 8Oklahoma • Regular • Week 9 • No. 7Oklahoma • Regular • Week 10 • No. 7Oklahoma • Regular • Week 11 • No. 4Oklahoma • Regular • Week 12 • No. 4Oklahoma • Regular • Week 13 • No. 3Oklahoma • Regular • Week 14 • No. 2Oklahoma • Postseason • No. 2Texas • Regular • Week 1 • UnrankedTexas • Regular • Week 2 • No. 15Texas • Regular • Week 3 • No. 14Texas • Regular • Week 4 • No. 12Texas • Regular • Week 5 • No. 9Texas • Regular • Week 6 • No. 10Texas • Regular • Week 7 • No. 14Texas • Regular • Week 8 • No. 10Texas • Regular • Week 9 • No. 9Texas • Regular • Week 10 • No. 9Texas • Regular • Week 11 • No. 7Texas • Regular • Week 12 • No. 7Texas • Regular • Week 13 • No. 6Texas • Regular • Week 14 • No. 7Texas • Postseason • No. 3Nebraska • Regular • Week 1 • UnrankedNebraska • Regular • Week 2 • No. 10Nebraska • Regular • Week 3 • No. 9Nebraska • Regular • Week 4 • No. 7Nebraska • Regular • Week 5 • No. 6Nebraska • Regular • Week 6 • No. 6Nebraska • Regular • Week 7 • No. 5Nebraska • Regular • Week 8 • No. 3Nebraska • Regular • Week 9 • No. 3Nebraska • Regular • Week 10 • No. 3Nebraska • Regular • Week 11 • No. 5Nebraska • Regular • Week 12 • No. 5Nebraska • Regular • Week 13 • No. 8Nebraska • Regular • Week 14 • No. 9Nebraska • Postseason • No. 4Auburn • Regular • Week 1 • UnrankedAuburn • Regular • Week 2 • UnrankedAuburn • Regular • Week 3 • UnrankedAuburn • Regular • Week 4 • UnrankedAuburn • Regular • Week 5 • No. 17Auburn • Regular • Week 6 • No. 9Auburn • Regular • Week 7 • No. 14Auburn • Regular • Week 8 • No. 12Auburn • Regular • Week 9 • No. 11Auburn • Regular • Week 10 • No. 11Auburn • Regular • Week 11 • No. 11Auburn • Regular • Week 12 • No. 10Auburn • Regular • Week 13 • No. 9Auburn • Regular • Week 14 • No. 6Auburn • Postseason • No. 5

Chaos Meter

This score estimates how turbulent each week was across the rankings.

Peak Chaos Week

Postseason

88 points (Chaos)

Season Chaos Average

50.4

Average weekly turbulence for this season.

Regular • Week 18 • Calm

Ranked losses 1 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 0 • Movement 0

Regular • Week 252 • Wild

Ranked losses 1 • Top-10 losses 0 • New teams 14 • Movement 21

Regular • Week 348 • Shaky

Ranked losses 3 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 2 • Movement 30

Regular • Week 463 • Wild

Ranked losses 4 • Top-10 losses 3 • New teams 2 • Movement 32

Regular • Week 560 • Wild

Ranked losses 3 • Top-10 losses 0 • New teams 3 • Movement 45

Regular • Week 646 • Shaky

Ranked losses 5 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 2 • Movement 22

Regular • Week 772 • Wild

Ranked losses 7 • Top-10 losses 2 • New teams 1 • Movement 39

Regular • Week 857 • Wild

Ranked losses 2 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 3 • Movement 40

Regular • Week 948 • Shaky

Ranked losses 5 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 4 • Movement 20

Regular • Week 1053 • Wild

Ranked losses 7 • Top-10 losses 3 • New teams 4 • Movement 9

Regular • Week 1158 • Wild

Ranked losses 3 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 2 • Movement 40

Regular • Week 1239 • Shaky

Ranked losses 4 • Top-10 losses 2 • New teams 1 • Movement 15

Regular • Week 1344 • Shaky

Ranked losses 3 • Top-10 losses 1 • New teams 3 • Movement 24

Regular • Week 1420 • Calm

Ranked losses 0 • Top-10 losses 0 • New teams 1 • Movement 18

Postseason88 • Chaos

Ranked losses 7 • Top-10 losses 4 • New teams 2 • Movement 43

Ratings Systems

No ratings data is available yet for 1972.

Weekly Leaders

Track which program held the top spot throughout the selected season.

Most Weeks at No. 1

USC

14 weeks at No. 1.

WeekLeaderConferencePoints1st Place
Regular • Week 1ArkansasSouthwest——
Regular • Week 2USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 3Streak 2USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 4Streak 3USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 5Streak 4USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 6Streak 5USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 7Streak 6USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 8Streak 7USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 9Streak 8USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 10Streak 9USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 11Streak 10USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 12Streak 11USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 13Streak 12USCPac-8——
Regular • Week 14Streak 13USCPac-8——
PostseasonStreak 14USCPac-8——

Poll Dominance

Show which teams controlled the No. 1 ranking the most.

USC14 weeks • streak 14

Single No. 1 run • Most recent season 1972

Entries & Exits

Show when teams entered the rankings, dropped out, and returned.

WeekTeamEventRank
Regular • Week 2USCEntered rankings1
Regular • Week 2ColoradoEntered rankings2
Regular • Week 2Ohio StateEntered rankings3
Regular • Week 2OklahomaEntered rankings4
Regular • Week 2AlabamaEntered rankings5
Regular • Week 2Penn StateEntered rankings6
Regular • Week 2TennesseeEntered rankings7
Regular • Week 2UCLAEntered rankings8
Regular • Week 2LSUEntered rankings9
Regular • Week 2NebraskaEntered rankings10
Regular • Week 2MichiganEntered rankings11
Regular • Week 2Arizona StateEntered rankings13
Regular • Week 2Notre DameEntered rankings14
Regular • Week 2TexasEntered rankings15
Regular • Week 2StanfordDropped out20
Regular • Week 3Michigan StateEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 3StanfordEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 3ArkansasDropped out17
Regular • Week 3PurdueDropped out18
Regular • Week 4TulaneEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 4West VirginiaEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 4GeorgiaDropped out16
Regular • Week 4Michigan StateDropped out18
Regular • Week 5AuburnEntered rankings17
Regular • Week 5Air ForceEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 5Iowa StateEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 5Arizona StateDropped out11
Regular • Week 5TulaneDropped out18
Regular • Week 5West VirginiaDropped out20
Regular • Week 6Oklahoma StateEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 6ArkansasEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 6Florida StateDropped out13
Regular • Week 6Ole MissDropped out18
Regular • Week 7Arizona StateEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 7Oklahoma StateDropped out19
Regular • Week 8Florida StateEntered rankings17
Regular • Week 8SMUEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 8West VirginiaEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 8StanfordDropped out13
Regular • Week 8Air ForceDropped out16
Regular • Week 8WashingtonDropped out18
Regular • Week 9MissouriEntered rankings16
Regular • Week 9LouisvilleEntered rankings17
Regular • Week 9Texas TechEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 9Air ForceEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 9Arizona StateDropped out16
Regular • Week 9Florida StateDropped out17
Regular • Week 9SMUDropped out18
Regular • Week 9West VirginiaDropped out18
Regular • Week 10North CarolinaEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 10Arizona StateEntered rankings19
Regular • Week 10StanfordEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 10YaleEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 10LouisvilleDropped out17
Regular • Week 10Air ForceDropped out19
Regular • Week 10ArkansasDropped out20
Regular • Week 11WashingtonEntered rankings17
Regular • Week 11Washington StateEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 11Texas TechDropped out15
Regular • Week 11StanfordDropped out20
Regular • Week 11YaleDropped out20
Regular • Week 12Texas TechEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 12WashingtonDropped out17
Regular • Week 13LouisvilleEntered rankings17
Regular • Week 13West VirginiaEntered rankings18
Regular • Week 13Oklahoma StateEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 13MissouriDropped out16
Regular • Week 13Iowa StateDropped out17
Regular • Week 13Texas TechDropped out20
Regular • Week 14PurdueEntered rankings20
Regular • Week 14Oklahoma StateDropped out20
PostseasonNC StateEntered rankings17
PostseasonGeorgia TechEntered rankings20
PostseasonWest VirginiaDropped out18
PostseasonPurdueDropped out20