1972 NCAA University Division football rankings
| 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1972 |
| Bowl season | 1972–73 bowl games |
| Preseason No. 1 | |
| End of season champions | USC |
Final AP poll
| Ranking | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | USC |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Texas |
| 4 | Nebraska |
| 5 | Auburn |
| 6 | Michigan |
| 7 | Alabama |
| 8 | Tennessee |
| 9 | Ohio State |
| 10 | Penn State |
| 11 | LSU |
| 12 | North Carolina |
| 13 | Arizona State |
| 14 | Notre Dame |
| 15 | UCLA |
| 16 | Colorado |
| 17 | North Carolina State |
| 18 | Louisville |
| 19 | Washington State |
| 20 | Georgia Tech |
Final Coaches' poll
| Ranking | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | USC |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Ohio State |
| 4 | Alabama |
| 5 | Texas |
| 6 | Michigan |
| 7 | Auburn |
| 8 | Penn State |
| 9 | Nebraska |
| 10 | LSU |
| 11 | Tennessee |
| 12 | Notre Dame |
| 13 | Arizona State |
| 14 (t) | Colorado |
| 14 (t) | North Carolina |
| 16 | Louisville |
| 17 (t) | UCLA |
| 17 (t) | Washington State |
| 19 | Utah State |
| 20 | San Diego State |