AP Polls
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Final | 1 | USC | 1 | 62 | Pac-10 | |
| 16 | Final | 2 | Auburn | 3 | 1 | 3 | SEC (West) |
| 16 | Final | 3 | Oklahoma | 2 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 16 | Final | 4 | Utah | 5 | 1 | MWC | |
| 16 | Final | 5 | Texas | 6 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 16 | Final | 6 | Louisville | 7 | 1 | CUSA | |
| 16 | Final | 7 | Georgia | 8 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 16 | Final | 8 | Iowa | 11 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 16 | Final | 9 | California | 4 | 5 | Pac-10 | |
| 16 | Final | 10 | Virginia Tech | 9 | 1 | ACC | |
| 16 | Final | 11 | Miami (FL) | 14 | 3 | ACC | |
| 16 | Final | 12 | Boise State | 10 | 2 | WAC | |
| 16 | Final | 13 | Tennessee | 15 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 16 | Final | 14 | Michigan | 13 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 16 | Final | 15 | Florida State | 17 | 2 | ACC | |
| 16 | Final | 16 | LSU | 12 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 16 | Final | 17 | Wisconsin | 16 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 16 | Final | 18 | Texas Tech | 23 | 5 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 16 | Final | 19 | Arizona State | 21 | 2 | Pac-10 | |
| 16 | Final | 20 | Ohio State | 24 | 4 | Big Ten | |
| 16 | Final | 21 | Boston College | 25 | 4 | Big East | |
| 16 | Final | 22 | Fresno State | WAC | |||
| 16 | Final | 23 | Virginia | 18 | 5 | ACC | |
| 16 | Final | 24 | Navy | Ind | |||
| 16 | Final | 25 | Pitt | 19 | 6 | Big East | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 1 | USC (12-0) | 1 | 44 | Pac-10 | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 2 | Oklahoma (12-0) | 2 | 14 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 3 | Auburn (12-0) | 3 | 7 | SEC (West) | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 4 | California (10-1) | 4 | Pac-10 | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 5 | Utah (11-0) | 5 | MWC | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 6 | Texas (10-1) | 6 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 7 | Louisville (10-1) | 7 | CUSA | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 8 | Georgia (9-2) | 8 | SEC (East) | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 9 | Virginia Tech (10-2) | 10 | 1 | ACC | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 10 | Boise State (11-0) | 11 | 1 | WAC | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 11 | Iowa (9-2) | 12 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 12 | LSU (9-2) | 13 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 13 | Michigan (9-2) | 14 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 14 | Miami (FL) (8-3) | 9 | 5 | ACC | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 15 | Tennessee (9-3) | 15 | SEC (East) | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 16 | Wisconsin (9-2) | 17 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 17 | Florida State (8-3) | 16 | 1 | ACC | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 18 | Virginia (8-3) | 18 | ACC | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 19 | Pitt (8-3) | 19 | Big East | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 20 | Florida (7-4) | 20 | SEC (East) | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 21 | Arizona State (8-3) | 21 | Pac-10 | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 22 | Texas A&M (7-4) | 22 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 23 | Texas Tech (7-4) | 24 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 24 | Ohio State (7-4) | 25 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 15 | 2004-12-05 | 25 | Boston College (8-3) | 23 | 2 | Big East | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 1 | USC (11-0) | 1 | 52 | Pac-10 | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 2 | Oklahoma (11-0) | 2 | 7 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 3 | Auburn (11-0) | 3 | 6 | SEC (West) | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 4 | California (9-1) | 4 | Pac-10 | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 5 | Utah (11-0) | 5 | MWC | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 6 | Texas (10-1) | 6 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 7 | Louisville (9-1) | 7 | CUSA | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 8 | Georgia (9-2) | 8 | SEC (East) | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 9 | Miami (FL) (8-2) | 9 | ACC | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 10 | Virginia Tech (9-2) | 11 | 1 | ACC | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 11 | Boise State (11-0) | 10 | 1 | WAC | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 12 | Iowa (9-2) | 12 | Big Ten | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 13 | LSU (9-2) | 14 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 14 | Michigan (9-2) | 13 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 15 | Tennessee (9-2) | 15 | SEC (East) | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 16 | Florida State (8-3) | 19 | 3 | ACC | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 17 | Wisconsin (9-2) | 20 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 18 | Virginia (8-3) | 16 | 2 | ACC | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 19 | Pitt (7-3) | Big East | |||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 20 | Florida (7-4) | 25 | 5 | SEC (East) | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 21 | Arizona State (8-3) | 18 | 3 | Pac-10 | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 22 | Texas A&M (7-4) | 22 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 23 | Boston College (8-3) | 17 | 6 | Big East | |
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 24 | Texas Tech (7-4) | Big 12 (South) | |||
| 14 | 2004-11-28 | 25 | Ohio State (7-4) | Big Ten | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 1 | USC (10-0) | 1 | 48 | Pac-10 | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 2 | Oklahoma (11-0) | 2 | 9 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 3 | Auburn (11-0) | 2 | 1 | 8 | SEC (West) |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 4 | California (9-1) | 4 | Pac-10 | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 5 | Utah (11-0) | 5 | MWC | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 6 | Texas (9-1) | 6 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 7 | Louisville (8-1) | 8 | 1 | CUSA | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 8 | Georgia (8-2) | 11 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 9 | Miami (FL) (8-2) | 12 | 3 | ACC | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 10 | Boise State (10-0) | 13 | 3 | WAC | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 11 | Virginia Tech (8-2) | 15 | 4 | ACC | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 12 | Iowa (9-2) | 17 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 13 | Michigan (9-2) | 7 | 6 | Big Ten | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 14 | LSU (8-2) | 14 | SEC (West) | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 15 | Tennessee (8-2) | 15 | SEC (East) | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 16 | Virginia (8-2) | 18 | 2 | ACC | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 17 | Boston College (8-2) | 19 | 2 | Big East | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 18 | Arizona State (8-2) | 20 | 2 | Pac-10 | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 19 | Florida State (8-3) | 10 | 9 | ACC | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 20 | Wisconsin (9-2) | 9 | 11 | Big Ten | |
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 21 | West Virginia (8-2) | 21 | Big East | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 22 | Texas A&M (7-3) | 22 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 23 | Oklahoma State (7-3) | 23 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 24 | UTEP (8-2) | 24 | WAC | ||
| 13 | 2004-11-21 | 25 | Florida (7-4) | SEC (East) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 1 | USC (10-0) | 1 | 51 | Pac-10 | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 2 | Auburn (10-0) | 3 | 1 | 6 | SEC (West) |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 2 | Oklahoma (10-0) | 2 | 8 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 4 | California (8-1) | 5 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 5 | Utah (10-0) | 7 | 2 | MWC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 6 | Texas (9-1) | 6 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 7 | Michigan (9-1) | 9 | 2 | Big Ten | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 8 | Louisville (7-1) | 12 | 4 | CUSA | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 9 | Wisconsin (9-1) | 4 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 10 | Florida State (8-2) | 11 | 1 | ACC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 11 | Georgia (8-2) | 8 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 12 | Miami (FL) (7-2) | 18 | 6 | ACC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 13 | Boise State (9-0) | 14 | 1 | WAC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 14 | LSU (7-2) | 17 | 3 | SEC (West) | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 15 | Tennessee (7-2) | 15 | SEC (East) | ||
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 15 | Virginia Tech (7-2) | 16 | 1 | ACC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 17 | Iowa (8-2) | 19 | 2 | Big Ten | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 18 | Virginia (7-2) | 10 | 8 | ACC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 19 | Boston College (7-2) | 21 | 2 | Big East | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 20 | Arizona State (8-2) | 20 | Pac-10 | ||
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 21 | West Virginia (8-2) | 13 | 8 | Big East | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 22 | Texas A&M (7-3) | 22 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 23 | Oklahoma State (7-3) | 25 | 2 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 24 | UTEP (7-2) | 23 | 1 | WAC | |
| 12 | 2004-11-14 | 25 | Bowling Green (8-2) | MAC (West) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 1 | USC (9-0) | 1 | 52 | Pac-10 | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 2 | Oklahoma (9-0) | 2 | 10 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 3 | Auburn (9-0) | 3 | 3 | SEC (West) | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 4 | Wisconsin (9-0) | 5 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 5 | California (7-1) | 4 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 6 | Texas (8-1) | 6 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 7 | Utah (9-0) | 7 | MWC | ||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 8 | Georgia (8-1) | 8 | SEC (East) | ||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 9 | Michigan (8-1) | 10 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 10 | Virginia (7-1) | 12 | 2 | ACC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 11 | Florida State (7-2) | 13 | 2 | ACC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 12 | Louisville (6-1) | 14 | 2 | CUSA | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 13 | West Virginia (8-1) | 15 | 2 | Big East | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 14 | Boise State (8-0) | 16 | 2 | WAC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 15 | Tennessee (7-2) | 9 | 6 | SEC (East) | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 16 | Virginia Tech (7-2) | 18 | 2 | ACC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 17 | LSU (6-2) | 17 | SEC (West) | ||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 18 | Miami (FL) (6-2) | 11 | 7 | ACC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 19 | Iowa (7-2) | 20 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 20 | Arizona State (7-2) | 23 | 3 | Pac-10 | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 21 | Boston College (6-2) | 24 | 3 | Big East | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 22 | Texas A&M (6-3) | 22 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 23 | UTEP (6-2) | 25 | 2 | WAC | |
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 24 | Notre Dame (6-3) | Ind | |||
| 11 | 2004-11-07 | 25 | Oklahoma State (6-3) | 19 | 6 | Big 12 (South) | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 1 | USC (8-0) | 1 | 56 | Pac-10 | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 2 | Oklahoma (8-0) | 2 | 8 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 3 | Auburn (9-0) | 3 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 4 | California (6-1) | 7 | 3 | Pac-10 | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 5 | Wisconsin (8-0) | 6 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 6 | Texas (7-1) | 8 | 2 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 7 | Utah (8-0) | 9 | 2 | MWC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 8 | Georgia (7-1) | 10 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 9 | Tennessee (7-1) | 11 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 10 | Michigan (8-1) | 12 | 2 | Big Ten | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 11 | Miami (FL) (6-1) | 4 | 7 | ACC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 12 | Virginia (6-1) | 13 | 1 | ACC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 13 | Florida State (6-2) | 5 | 8 | ACC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 14 | Louisville (5-1) | 14 | CUSA | ||
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 15 | West Virginia (7-1) | 15 | Big East | ||
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 16 | Boise State (8-0) | 18 | 2 | WAC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 17 | LSU (6-2) | 19 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 18 | Virginia Tech (6-2) | 22 | 4 | ACC | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 19 | Oklahoma State (6-2) | 20 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 20 | Iowa (6-2) | 23 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 21 | Southern Mississippi (5-1) | 25 | 4 | CUSA | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 22 | Texas A&M (6-2) | 16 | 6 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 23 | Arizona State (6-2) | 20 | 3 | Pac-10 | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 24 | Boston College (5-2) | 25 | 1 | Big East | |
| 10 | 2004-10-31 | 25 | UTEP (6-2) | WAC | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 1 | USC (7-0) | 1 | 50 | Pac-10 | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 2 | Oklahoma (7-0) | 2 | 13 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 3 | Auburn (8-0) | 3 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 4 | Miami (FL) (6-0) | 4 | ACC | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 5 | Florida State (6-1) | 5 | ACC | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 6 | Wisconsin (8-0) | 6 | Big Ten | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 7 | California (5-1) | 7 | Pac-10 | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 8 | Texas (6-1) | 8 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 9 | Utah (7-0) | 9 | MWC | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 10 | Georgia (6-1) | 10 | SEC (East) | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 11 | Tennessee (6-1) | 11 | SEC (East) | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 12 | Michigan (7-1) | 13 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 13 | Virginia (6-1) | 14 | 1 | ACC | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 14 | Louisville (5-1) | 15 | 1 | CUSA | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 15 | West Virginia (6-1) | 15 | Big East | ||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 16 | Texas A&M (6-1) | 17 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 17 | Purdue (5-2) | 12 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 18 | Boise State (7-0) | 19 | 1 | WAC | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 19 | LSU (5-2) | 18 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 20 | Arizona State (6-1) | 21 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 20 | Oklahoma State (6-1) | 22 | 2 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 22 | Virginia Tech (5-2) | 23 | 1 | ACC | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 23 | Iowa (5-2) | 25 | 2 | Big Ten | |
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 24 | Minnesota (6-2) | Big Ten | |||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 25 | Boston College (5-2) | Big East | |||
| 9 | 2004-10-24 | 25 | Southern Mississippi (5-1) | CUSA | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 1 | USC (6-0) | 1 | 50 | Pac-10 | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 2 | Oklahoma (6-0) | 2 | 13 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 3 | Auburn (7-0) | 4 | 1 | 2 | SEC (West) |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 4 | Miami (FL) (5-0) | 3 | 1 | ACC | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 5 | Florida State (5-1) | 7 | 2 | ACC | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 6 | Wisconsin (7-0) | 10 | 4 | Big Ten | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 7 | California (4-1) | 8 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 8 | Texas (5-1) | 9 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 9 | Utah (6-0) | 11 | 2 | MWC | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 10 | Georgia (5-1) | 12 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 11 | Tennessee (5-1) | 13 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 12 | Purdue (5-1) | 5 | 7 | Big Ten | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 13 | Michigan (6-1) | 14 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 14 | Virginia (5-1) | 6 | 8 | ACC | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 15 | Louisville (4-1) | 18 | 3 | CUSA | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 15 | West Virginia (5-1) | 17 | 2 | Big East | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 17 | Texas A&M (5-1) | 23 | 6 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 18 | LSU (4-2) | 20 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 19 | Boise State (6-0) | 21 | 2 | WAC | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 20 | Florida (4-2) | 22 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 21 | Arizona State (5-1) | 15 | 6 | Pac-10 | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 22 | Oklahoma State (5-1) | 16 | 6 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 23 | Virginia Tech (5-2) | ACC | |||
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 24 | Notre Dame (5-2) | Ind | |||
| 8 | 2004-10-17 | 25 | Iowa (4-2) | Big Ten | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 1 | USC (5-0) | 1 | 41 | Pac-10 | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 2 | Oklahoma (5-0) | 2 | 23 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 3 | Miami (FL) (4-0) | 4 | 1 | ACC | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 4 | Auburn (6-0) | 6 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 5 | Purdue (5-0) | 9 | 4 | Big Ten | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 6 | Virginia (5-0) | 10 | 4 | ACC | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 7 | Florida State (4-1) | 8 | 1 | ACC | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 8 | California (3-1) | 7 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 9 | Texas (4-1) | 5 | 4 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 10 | Wisconsin (6-0) | 15 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 11 | Utah (5-0) | 11 | MWC | ||
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 12 | Georgia (4-1) | 3 | 9 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 13 | Tennessee (4-1) | 17 | 4 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 14 | Michigan (5-1) | 14 | Big Ten | ||
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 15 | Arizona State (5-0) | 19 | 4 | Pac-10 | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 16 | Oklahoma State (5-0) | 22 | 6 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 17 | West Virginia (4-1) | 16 | 1 | Big East | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 18 | Louisville (4-0) | 20 | 2 | CUSA | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 19 | Minnesota (5-1) | 13 | 6 | Big Ten | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 20 | LSU (4-2) | 24 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 21 | Boise State (5-0) | 21 | WAC | ||
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 22 | Florida (3-2) | 12 | 10 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 23 | Texas A&M (4-1) | Big 12 (South) | |||
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 24 | Southern Mississippi (4-0) | CUSA | |||
| 7 | 2004-10-10 | 25 | Ohio State (3-2) | 18 | 7 | Big Ten | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 1 | USC (4-0) | 1 | 48 | Pac-10 | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 2 | Oklahoma (4-0) | 2 | 15 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 3 | Georgia (4-0) | 3 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 4 | Miami (FL) (4-0) | 4 | ACC | ||
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 5 | Texas (4-0) | 5 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 6 | Auburn (5-0) | 8 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 7 | California (3-0) | 10 | 3 | Pac-10 | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 8 | Florida State (3-1) | 9 | 1 | ACC | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 9 | Purdue (4-0) | 15 | 6 | Big Ten | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 10 | Virginia (4-0) | 12 | 2 | ACC | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 11 | Utah (5-0) | 14 | 3 | MWC | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 12 | Florida (3-1) | 16 | 4 | SEC (East) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 13 | Minnesota (5-0) | 18 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 14 | Michigan (4-1) | 19 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 15 | Wisconsin (5-0) | 20 | 5 | Big Ten | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 16 | West Virginia (4-1) | 6 | 10 | Big East | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 17 | Tennessee (3-1) | 10 | 7 | SEC (East) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 18 | Ohio State (3-1) | 7 | 11 | Big Ten | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 19 | Arizona State (5-0) | 21 | 2 | Pac-10 | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 20 | Louisville (4-0) | 22 | 2 | CUSA | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 21 | Boise State (5-0) | 23 | 2 | WAC | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 22 | Oklahoma State (4-0) | 25 | 3 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 23 | Maryland (3-1) | 24 | 1 | ACC | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 24 | LSU (3-2) | 13 | 11 | SEC (West) | |
| 6 | 2004-10-03 | 25 | South Carolina (4-1) | SEC (East) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 1 | USC (4-0) | 1 | 46 | Pac-10 | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 2 | Oklahoma (3-0) | 2 | 18 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 3 | Georgia (3-0) | 3 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 4 | Miami (FL) (3-0) | 4 | ACC | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 5 | Texas (3-0) | 5 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 6 | West Virginia (4-0) | 6 | Big East | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 7 | Ohio State (3-0) | 7 | Big Ten | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 8 | Auburn (4-0) | 9 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 9 | Florida State (2-1) | 8 | 1 | ACC | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 10 | California (2-0) | 10 | Pac-10 | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 10 | Tennessee (3-0) | 11 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 12 | Virginia (4-0) | 12 | ACC | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 13 | LSU (3-1) | 13 | SEC (West) | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 14 | Utah (4-0) | 14 | MWC | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 15 | Purdue (3-0) | 15 | Big Ten | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 16 | Florida (2-1) | 16 | SEC (East) | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 17 | Fresno State (3-0) | 17 | WAC | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 18 | Minnesota (4-0) | 19 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 19 | Michigan (3-1) | 18 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 20 | Wisconsin (4-0) | 20 | Big Ten | ||
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 21 | Arizona State (4-0) | 22 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 22 | Louisville (3-0) | 24 | 2 | CUSA | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 23 | Boise State (4-0) | 21 | 2 | WAC | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 24 | Maryland (3-1) | 23 | 1 | ACC | |
| 5 | 2004-09-26 | 25 | Oklahoma State (3-0) | 25 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 1 | USC (3-0) | 1 | 54 | Pac-10 | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 2 | Oklahoma (3-0) | 2 | 10 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 3 | Georgia (3-0) | 3 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 4 | Miami (FL) (2-0) | 4 | ACC | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 5 | Texas (2-0) | 6 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 6 | West Virginia (3-0) | 7 | 1 | Big East | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 7 | Ohio State (3-0) | 9 | 2 | Big Ten | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 8 | Florida State (1-1) | 8 | ACC | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 9 | Auburn (3-0) | 14 | 5 | SEC (West) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 10 | California (2-0) | 10 | Pac-10 | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 11 | Tennessee (2-0) | 13 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 12 | Virginia (3-0) | 12 | ACC | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 13 | LSU (2-1) | 5 | 8 | SEC (West) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 14 | Utah (3-0) | 15 | 1 | MWC | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 15 | Purdue (2-0) | 18 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 16 | Florida (1-1) | 11 | 5 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 17 | Fresno State (3-0) | 19 | 2 | WAC | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 18 | Michigan (2-1) | 17 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 19 | Minnesota (3-0) | 22 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 20 | Wisconsin (3-0) | 20 | Big Ten | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 21 | Boise State (3-0) | 23 | 2 | WAC | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 22 | Arizona State (3-0) | Pac-10 | |||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 23 | Maryland (2-1) | 21 | 2 | ACC | |
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 24 | Louisville (2-0) | 24 | CUSA | ||
| 4 | 2004-09-19 | 25 | Oklahoma State (3-0) | Big 12 (South) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 1 | USC (2-0) | 1 | 52 | Pac-10 | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 2 | Oklahoma (2-0) | 2 | 10 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 3 | Georgia (2-0) | 3 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 4 | Miami (FL) (1-0) | 5 | 1 | ACC | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 5 | LSU (2-0) | 6 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 6 | Texas (2-0) | 7 | 1 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 7 | West Virginia (2-0) | 10 | 3 | Big East | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 8 | Florida State (0-1) | 4 | 4 | ACC | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 9 | Ohio State (2-0) | 9 | Big Ten | ||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 10 | California (2-0) | 12 | 2 | Pac-10 | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 11 | Florida (1-0) | 11 | SEC (East) | ||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 12 | Virginia (2-0) | 15 | 3 | ACC | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 13 | Tennessee (1-0) | 14 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 14 | Auburn (2-0) | 18 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 15 | Utah (2-0) | 17 | 2 | MWC | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 16 | Iowa (2-0) | 16 | Big Ten | ||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 17 | Michigan (1-1) | 8 | 9 | Big Ten | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 18 | Purdue (2-0) | 25 | 7 | Big Ten | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 19 | Fresno State (2-0) | WAC | |||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 20 | Wisconsin (2-0) | 21 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 21 | Maryland (2-0) | 23 | 2 | ACC | |
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 22 | Minnesota (2-0) | 22 | Big Ten | ||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 23 | Boise State (2-0) | WAC | |||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 24 | Louisville (2-0) | CUSA | |||
| 3 | 2004-09-12 | 25 | Memphis (2-0) | CUSA | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 1 | USC (1-0) | 1 | 51 | Pac-10 | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 2 | Oklahoma (1-0) | 2 | 10 | Big 12 (South) | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 3 | Georgia (1-0) | 3 | 4 | SEC (East) | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 4 | Florida State | 5 | 1 | ACC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 5 | Miami (FL) | 6 | 1 | ACC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 6 | LSU (1-0) | 4 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 7 | Texas (1-0) | 7 | Big 12 (South) | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 8 | Michigan (1-0) | 8 | Big Ten | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 9 | Ohio State (1-0) | 9 | Big Ten | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 10 | West Virginia (1-0) | 10 | Big East | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 11 | Florida | 11 | SEC (East) | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 12 | California (1-0) | 12 | Pac-10 | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 13 | Kansas State (1-0) | 13 | Big 12 (North) | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 14 | Tennessee | 14 | SEC (East) | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 15 | Virginia (1-0) | 16 | 1 | ACC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 16 | Iowa (1-0) | 19 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 17 | Utah (1-0) | 20 | 3 | MWC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 18 | Auburn (1-0) | 17 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 19 | Missouri (1-0) | 18 | 1 | Big 12 (North) | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 20 | Clemson (1-0) | 15 | 5 | ACC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 21 | Wisconsin (1-0) | 21 | Big Ten | ||
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 22 | Minnesota (1-0) | 25 | 3 | Big Ten | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 23 | Maryland (1-0) | 22 | 1 | ACC | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 24 | Oregon | 23 | 1 | Pac-10 | |
| 2 | 2004-09-05 | 25 | Purdue | 24 | 1 | Big Ten | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 1 | Preseason | 1 | USC | NA | — | 48 | Pac-10 |
| 1 | Preseason | 2 | Oklahoma | NA | — | 11 | Big 12 (South) |
| 1 | Preseason | 3 | Georgia | NA | — | 5 | SEC (East) |
| 1 | Preseason | 4 | LSU | NA | — | 1 | SEC (West) |
| 1 | Preseason | 5 | Florida State | NA | — | ACC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 6 | Miami (FL) | NA | — | ACC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 7 | Texas | NA | — | Big 12 (South) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 8 | Michigan | NA | — | Big Ten | |
| 1 | Preseason | 9 | Ohio State | NA | — | Big Ten | |
| 1 | Preseason | 10 | West Virginia | NA | — | Big East | |
| 1 | Preseason | 11 | Florida | NA | — | SEC (East) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 12 | California | NA | — | Pac-10 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 13 | Kansas State | NA | — | Big 12 (North) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 14 | Tennessee | NA | — | SEC (East) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 15 | Clemson | NA | — | ACC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 16 | Virginia | NA | — | ACC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 17 | Auburn | NA | — | SEC (West) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 18 | Missouri | NA | — | Big 12 (North) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 19 | Iowa | NA | — | Big Ten | |
| 1 | Preseason | 20 | Utah | NA | — | MWC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 21 | Wisconsin | NA | — | Big Ten | |
| 1 | Preseason | 22 | Maryland | NA | — | ACC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 23 | Oregon | NA | — | Pac-10 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 24 | Purdue | NA | — | Big Ten | |
| 1 | Preseason | 25 | Minnesota | NA | — | Big Ten |
BCS Playoff Standings