1971 NCAA University Division football rankings
Two human polls comprised the 1971 National Collegiate Athletic Association football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll.Legend
AP Poll
The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.
Nebraska received 29 of the 31 first place votes; Alabama received the other two.
| Ranking | Team | Conference | Bowl |
| 1 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Won Orange, 38–6 |
| 2 | Alabama | SEC | Lost Orange, 6–38 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | Won Sugar, 40–22 |
| 4 | Michigan | Big Ten | Lost Rose, 12–13 |
| 5 | Auburn | SEC | Lost Sugar, 22–40 |
| 6 | Arizona State | WAC | Won Fiesta, 45–38 |
| 7 | Colorado | Big Eight | Won Bluebonnet, 31–21 |
| 8 | Georgia | SEC | Won Gator, 7–3 |
| 9 | Tennessee | SEC | Won Liberty, 14–13 |
| 10 | LSU | SEC | Won Sun, 33–15 |
| 11 | Penn State | Independent | Won Cotton, 30–6 |
| 12 | Texas | Southwest | Lost Cotton, 6–30 |
| 13 | Toledo | Mid-American | Won Tangerine, 28–3 |
| 14 | | Independent | Lost Bluebonnet, 21–31 |
| 15 | Notre Dame | Independent | none |
| 16 | Stanford | Pac-8 | Won Rose, 13–12 |
| 17 | Iowa State | Big Eight | Lost Sun, 15–33 |
| 18 | North Carolina | ACC | Lost Gator, 3–7 |
| 19 | Florida State | Independent | Lost Fiesta, 38–45 |
| 20 | Arkansas | Southwest | Lost Liberty, 13–14 |
| 20 | Mississippi | SEC | Won Peach, 13–12 |
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