1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
| 1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1981 |
| Bowl season | 1981–82 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | Clemson |
Final AP poll
| Ranking | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson |
| 2 | Texas |
| 3 | Penn State |
| 4 | Pittsburgh |
| 5 | SMU |
| 6 | Georgia |
| 7 | Alabama |
| 8 | Miami (FL) |
| 9 | North Carolina |
| 10 | Washington |
| 11 | Nebraska |
| 12 | Michigan |
| 13 | BYU |
| 14 | USC |
| 15 | Ohio State |
| 16 | Arizona State |
| 17 | West Virginia |
| 18 | Iowa |
| 19 | Missouri |
| 20 | Oklahoma |
Final Coaches' poll
| Ranking | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson |
| 2 | Pittsburgh |
| 3 | Penn State |
| 4 | Texas |
| 5 | Georgia |
| 6 | Alabama |
| 7 | Washington |
| 8 | North Carolina |
| 9 | Nebraska |
| 10 | Michigan |
| 11 | BYU |
| 12 | Ohio State |
| 13 | USC |
| 14 | Oklahoma |
| 15 | Iowa |
| 16 | Arkansas |
| 17 | Mississippi State |
| 18 | West Virginia |
| 19 | Southern Miss |
| 20 | Missouri |