AP Polls
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Final | 1 | Alabama (13-1) | 2 | 1 | 59 | SEC (West) |
| 16 | Final | 2 | Oregon (12-1) | 5 | 3 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 16 | Final | 3 | Ohio State (12-0) | 3 | Big Ten (Leaders) | ||
| 16 | Final | 4 | Notre Dame (12-1) | 1 | 3 | Ind | |
| 16 | Final | 5 | Georgia (12-2) | 6 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 16 | Final | 5 | Texas A&M (11-2) | 10 | 5 | SEC (West) | |
| 16 | Final | 7 | Stanford (12-2) | 8 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 16 | Final | 8 | South Carolina (11-2) | 11 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 16 | Final | 9 | Florida (11-2) | 4 | 5 | SEC (East) | |
| 16 | Final | 10 | Florida State (12-2) | 13 | 3 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 16 | Final | 11 | Clemson (11-2) | 14 | 3 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 16 | Final | 12 | Kansas State (11-2) | 7 | 5 | Big 12 | |
| 16 | Final | 13 | Louisville (11-2) | 22 | 9 | Big East | |
| 16 | Final | 14 | LSU (10-3) | 9 | 5 | SEC (West) | |
| 16 | Final | 15 | Oklahoma (10-3) | 12 | 3 | Big 12 | |
| 16 | Final | 16 | Utah State (11-2) | 18 | 2 | WAC | |
| 16 | Final | 17 | Northwestern (10-3) | 21 | 4 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 16 | Final | 18 | Boise State (11-2) | 20 | 2 | MWC | |
| 16 | Final | 19 | Texas (9-4) | Big 12 | |||
| 16 | Final | 20 | Oregon State (9-4) | 15 | 5 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 16 | Final | 21 | San Jose State (11-2) | 24 | 3 | WAC | |
| 16 | Final | 22 | Northern Illinois (12-2) | 16 | 6 | MAC (West) | |
| 16 | Final | 23 | Vanderbilt (9-4) | SEC (East) | |||
| 16 | Final | 24 | Michigan (8-5) | 19 | 5 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 16 | Final | 25 | Nebraska (10-4) | 23 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 1 | Notre Dame (12-0) | 1 | 60 | Ind | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 2 | Alabama (12-1) | 2 | SEC (West) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 3 | Ohio State (12-0) | 4 | 1 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 4 | Florida (11-1) | 5 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 5 | Oregon (11-1) | 6 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 6 | Georgia (11-2) | 3 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 7 | Kansas State (11-1) | 7 | Big 12 | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 8 | Stanford (11-2) | 8 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 9 | LSU (10-2) | 9 | SEC (West) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 10 | Texas A&M (10-2) | 10 | SEC (West) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 11 | South Carolina (10-2) | 11 | SEC (East) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 12 | Oklahoma (10-2) | 12 | Big 12 | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 13 | Florida State (11-2) | 13 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 14 | Clemson (10-2) | 15 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 15 | Oregon State (9-3) | 16 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 16 | Northern Illinois (12-1) | 19 | 3 | MAC (West) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 17 | UCLA (9-4) | 17 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 18 | Utah State (10-2) | 20 | 2 | WAC | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 19 | Michigan (8-4) | 21 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 20 | Boise State (10-2) | 25 | 5 | MWC | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 21 | Northwestern (9-3) | 22 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 22 | Louisville (10-2) | Big East | |||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 23 | Nebraska (10-3) | 14 | 9 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 24 | San Jose State (10-2) | WAC | |||
| 15 | 2012-12-02 | 25 | Kent State (11-2) | 18 | 7 | MAC (East) | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 1 | Notre Dame (12-0) | 1 | 60 | Ind | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 2 | Alabama (11-1) | 2 | SEC (West) | ||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 3 | Georgia (11-1) | 3 | SEC (East) | ||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 4 | Ohio State (12-0) | 4 | Big Ten (Leaders) | ||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 5 | Florida (11-1) | 6 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 6 | Oregon (11-1) | 5 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 7 | Kansas State (10-1) | 7 | Big 12 | ||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 8 | Stanford (10-2) | 11 | 3 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 9 | LSU (10-2) | 8 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 10 | Texas A&M (10-2) | 9 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 11 | South Carolina (10-2) | 13 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 12 | Oklahoma (9-2) | 14 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 13 | Florida State (10-2) | 10 | 3 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 14 | Nebraska (10-2) | 17 | 3 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 15 | Clemson (10-2) | 12 | 3 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 16 | Oregon State (8-3) | 16 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 17 | UCLA (9-3) | 15 | 2 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 18 | Kent State (11-1) | 23 | 5 | MAC (East) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 19 | Northern Illinois (11-1) | 24 | 5 | MAC (West) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 20 | Utah State (10-2) | 25 | 5 | WAC | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 21 | Michigan (8-4) | 20 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 22 | Northwestern (9-3) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 23 | Texas (8-3) | 18 | 5 | Big 12 | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 24 | Oklahoma State (7-4) | 22 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 14 | 2012-11-25 | 25 | Boise State (9-2) | MWC | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 1 | Notre Dame (11-0) | 3 | 2 | 60 | Ind |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 2 | Alabama (10-1) | 4 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 3 | Georgia (10-1) | 5 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 4 | Ohio State (11-0) | 6 | 2 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 5 | Oregon (10-1) | 1 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 6 | Florida (10-1) | 7 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 7 | Kansas State (10-1) | 2 | 5 | Big 12 | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 8 | LSU (9-2) | 8 | SEC (West) | ||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 9 | Texas A&M (9-2) | 9 | SEC (West) | ||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 10 | Florida State (10-1) | 10 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 11 | Stanford (9-2) | 14 | 3 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 12 | Clemson (10-1) | 11 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 13 | South Carolina (9-2) | 12 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 14 | Oklahoma (8-2) | 13 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 15 | UCLA (9-2) | 17 | 2 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 16 | Oregon State (8-2) | 15 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 17 | Nebraska (9-2) | 16 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 18 | Texas (8-2) | 18 | Big 12 | ||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 19 | Louisville (9-1) | 20 | 1 | Big East | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 20 | Michigan (8-3) | 23 | 3 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 21 | Rutgers (9-1) | 22 | 1 | Big East | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 22 | Oklahoma State (7-3) | Big 12 | |||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 23 | Kent State (10-1) | 25 | 2 | MAC (East) | |
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 24 | Northern Illinois (10-1) | MAC (West) | |||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 25 | Mississippi State (8-3) | SEC (West) | |||
| 13 | 2012-11-18 | 25 | Utah State (9-2) | WAC | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 1 | Oregon (10-0) | 2 | 1 | 45 | Pac-12 (North) |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 2 | Kansas State (10-0) | 3 | 1 | 14 | Big 12 |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 3 | Notre Dame (10-0) | 4 | 1 | 1 | Ind |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 4 | Alabama (9-1) | 1 | 3 | SEC (West) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 5 | Georgia (9-1) | 5 | SEC (East) | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 6 | Ohio State (10-0) | 5 | 1 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 7 | Florida (9-1) | 7 | SEC (East) | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 8 | LSU (8-2) | 9 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 9 | Texas A&M (8-2) | 15 | 6 | SEC (West) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 10 | Florida State (9-1) | 8 | 2 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 11 | Clemson (9-1) | 10 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 12 | South Carolina (8-2) | 12 | SEC (East) | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 13 | Oklahoma (7-2) | 14 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 14 | Stanford (8-2) | 16 | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 15 | Oregon State (7-2) | 13 | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 16 | Nebraska (8-2) | 18 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 17 | UCLA (8-2) | 17 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 18 | Texas (8-2) | 19 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 19 | Louisiana Tech (9-1) | 19 | WAC | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 20 | Louisville (9-1) | 11 | 9 | Big East | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 21 | USC (7-3) | 21 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 22 | Rutgers (8-1) | 24 | 2 | Big East | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 23 | Michigan (7-3) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 23 | Texas Tech (7-3) | 25 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 12 | 2012-11-11 | 25 | Kent State (9-1) | MAC (East) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 1 | Alabama (9-0) | 1 | 60 | SEC (West) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 2 | Oregon (9-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 3 | Kansas State (9-0) | 3 | Big 12 | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 4 | Notre Dame (9-0) | 4 | Ind | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 5 | Georgia (8-1) | 7 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 5 | Ohio State (10-0) | 6 | 1 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 7 | Florida (8-1) | 8 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 8 | Florida State (8-1) | 9 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 9 | LSU (7-2) | 5 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 10 | Clemson (8-1) | 10 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 11 | Louisville (9-0) | 12 | 1 | Big East | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 12 | South Carolina (7-2) | 11 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 13 | Oregon State (7-1) | 13 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 14 | Oklahoma (6-2) | 14 | Big 12 | ||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 15 | Texas A&M (7-2) | 16 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 16 | Stanford (7-2) | 15 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 17 | UCLA (7-2) | 25 | 8 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 18 | Nebraska (7-2) | 21 | 3 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 19 | Louisiana Tech (8-1) | 22 | 3 | WAC | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 19 | Texas (7-2) | Big 12 | |||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 21 | USC (6-3) | 18 | 3 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 22 | Mississippi State (7-2) | 17 | 5 | SEC (West) | |
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 23 | Toledo (8-1) | MAC (West) | |||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 24 | Rutgers (7-1) | Big East | |||
| 11 | 2012-11-04 | 25 | Texas Tech (6-3) | 20 | 5 | Big 12 | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 1 | Alabama (8-0) | 1 | 60 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 2 | Oregon (8-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 3 | Kansas State (8-0) | 4 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 4 | Notre Dame (8-0) | 5 | 1 | Ind | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 5 | LSU (7-1) | 6 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 6 | Ohio State (9-0) | 9 | 3 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 7 | Georgia (7-1) | 12 | 5 | SEC (East) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 8 | Florida (7-1) | 3 | 5 | SEC (East) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 9 | Florida State (8-1) | 11 | 2 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 10 | Clemson (7-1) | 14 | 4 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 11 | South Carolina (7-2) | 17 | 6 | SEC (East) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 12 | Louisville (8-0) | 16 | 4 | Big East | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 13 | Oregon State (6-1) | 7 | 6 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 14 | Oklahoma (5-2) | 8 | 6 | Big 12 | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 15 | Stanford (6-2) | 19 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 16 | Texas A&M (6-2) | 22 | 6 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 17 | Mississippi State (7-1) | 13 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 18 | USC (6-2) | 10 | 8 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 19 | Boise State (7-1) | 21 | 2 | MWC | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 20 | Texas Tech (6-2) | 15 | 5 | Big 12 | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 21 | Nebraska (6-2) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 22 | Louisiana Tech (7-1) | 24 | 2 | WAC | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 23 | West Virginia (5-2) | 25 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 24 | Arizona (5-3) | Pac-12 (South) | |||
| 10 | 2012-10-28 | 25 | UCLA (6-2) | Pac-12 (South) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 1 | Alabama (7-0) | 1 | 59 | SEC (West) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 2 | Oregon (7-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 3 | Florida (7-0) | 3 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 4 | Kansas State (7-0) | 4 | Big 12 | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 5 | Notre Dame (7-0) | 5 | Ind | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 6 | LSU (7-1) | 6 | SEC (West) | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 7 | Oregon State (6-0) | 8 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 8 | Oklahoma (5-1) | 10 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 9 | Ohio State (8-0) | 7 | 2 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 10 | USC (6-1) | 11 | 1 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 11 | Florida State (7-1) | 12 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 12 | Georgia (6-1) | 13 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 13 | Mississippi State (7-0) | 15 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 14 | Clemson (6-1) | 14 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 15 | Texas Tech (6-1) | 18 | 3 | Big 12 | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 16 | Louisville (7-0) | 16 | Big East | ||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 17 | South Carolina (6-2) | 9 | 8 | SEC (East) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 18 | Rutgers (7-0) | 19 | 1 | Big East | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 19 | Stanford (5-2) | 22 | 3 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 20 | Michigan (5-2) | 23 | 3 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 21 | Boise State (6-1) | 24 | 3 | MWC | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 22 | Texas A&M (5-2) | 20 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 23 | Ohio (7-0) | 25 | 2 | MAC (East) | |
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 24 | Louisiana Tech (6-1) | WAC | |||
| 9 | 2012-10-21 | 25 | West Virginia (5-2) | 17 | 8 | Big 12 | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 1 | Alabama (6-0) | 1 | 60 | SEC (West) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 2 | Oregon (6-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 3 | Florida (6-0) | 4 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 4 | Kansas State (6-0) | 6 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 5 | Notre Dame (6-0) | 7 | 2 | Ind | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 6 | LSU (6-1) | 9 | 3 | SEC (West) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 7 | Ohio State (7-0) | 8 | 1 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 8 | Oregon State (5-0) | 10 | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 9 | South Carolina (6-1) | 3 | 6 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 10 | Oklahoma (4-1) | 13 | 3 | Big 12 | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 11 | USC (5-1) | 11 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 12 | Florida State (6-1) | 12 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 13 | Georgia (5-1) | 14 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 14 | Clemson (5-1) | 16 | 2 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 15 | Mississippi State (6-0) | 19 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 16 | Louisville (6-0) | 18 | 2 | Big East | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 17 | West Virginia (5-1) | 5 | 12 | Big 12 | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 18 | Texas Tech (5-1) | Big 12 | |||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 19 | Rutgers (6-0) | 20 | 1 | Big East | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 20 | Texas A&M (5-1) | 22 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 21 | Cincinnati (5-0) | 21 | Big East | ||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 22 | Stanford (4-2) | 17 | 5 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 23 | Michigan (4-2) | 25 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 24 | Boise State (5-1) | 24 | MWC | ||
| 8 | 2012-10-14 | 25 | Ohio (7-0) | MAC (East) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 1 | Alabama (5-0) | 1 | 60 | SEC (West) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 2 | Oregon (6-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 3 | South Carolina (6-0) | 6 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 4 | Florida (5-0) | 10 | 6 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 5 | West Virginia (5-0) | 8 | 3 | Big 12 | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 6 | Kansas State (5-0) | 7 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 7 | Notre Dame (5-0) | 9 | 2 | Ind | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 8 | Ohio State (6-0) | 12 | 4 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 9 | LSU (5-1) | 4 | 5 | SEC (West) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 10 | Oregon State (4-0) | 14 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 11 | USC (4-1) | 13 | 2 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 12 | Florida State (5-1) | 3 | 9 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 13 | Oklahoma (3-1) | 17 | 4 | Big 12 | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 14 | Georgia (5-1) | 5 | 9 | SEC (East) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 15 | Texas (4-1) | 11 | 4 | Big 12 | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 16 | Clemson (5-1) | 15 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 17 | Stanford (4-1) | 18 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 18 | Louisville (5-0) | 19 | 1 | Big East | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 19 | Mississippi State (5-0) | 20 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 20 | Rutgers (5-0) | 22 | 2 | Big East | |
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 21 | Cincinnati (4-0) | Big East | |||
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 22 | Texas A&M (4-1) | SEC (West) | |||
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 23 | Louisiana Tech (5-0) | WAC | |||
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 24 | Boise State (4-1) | MWC | |||
| 7 | 2012-10-07 | 25 | Michigan (3-2) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 1 | Alabama (5-0) | 1 | 60 | SEC (West) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 2 | Oregon (5-0) | 2 | Pac-12 (North) | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 3 | Florida State (5-0) | 4 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 4 | LSU (5-0) | 3 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 5 | Georgia (5-0) | 5 | SEC (East) | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 6 | South Carolina (5-0) | 6 | SEC (East) | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 7 | Kansas State (4-0) | 7 | Big 12 | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 8 | West Virginia (4-0) | 9 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 9 | Notre Dame (4-0) | 10 | 1 | Ind | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 10 | Florida (4-0) | 11 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 11 | Texas (4-0) | 12 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 12 | Ohio State (5-0) | 14 | 2 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 13 | USC (3-1) | 13 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 14 | Oregon State (3-0) | 18 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 15 | Clemson (4-1) | 17 | 2 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 15 | Texas Christian (4-0) | 15 | Big 12 | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 17 | Oklahoma (2-1) | 16 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 18 | Stanford (3-1) | 8 | 10 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 19 | Louisville (5-0) | 19 | Big East | ||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 20 | Mississippi State (4-0) | 21 | 1 | SEC (West) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 21 | Nebraska (4-1) | 22 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 22 | Rutgers (4-0) | 23 | 1 | Big East | |
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 23 | Washington (3-1) | Pac-12 (North) | |||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 24 | Northwestern (5-0) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| 6 | 2012-09-30 | 25 | UCLA (4-1) | Pac-12 (South) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 1 | Alabama (4-0) | 1 | 59 | SEC (West) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 2 | Oregon (4-0) | 3 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 3 | LSU (4-0) | 2 | 1 | 1 | SEC (West) |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 4 | Florida State (4-0) | 4 | ACC (Atlantic) | ||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 5 | Georgia (4-0) | 5 | SEC (East) | ||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 6 | South Carolina (4-0) | 7 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 7 | Kansas State (4-0) | 15 | 8 | Big 12 | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 8 | Stanford (3-0) | 9 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 9 | West Virginia (3-0) | 8 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 10 | Notre Dame (4-0) | 11 | 1 | Ind | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 11 | Florida (4-0) | 14 | 3 | SEC (East) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 12 | Texas (3-0) | 12 | Big 12 | ||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 13 | USC (3-1) | 13 | Pac-12 (South) | ||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 14 | Ohio State (4-0) | 16 | 2 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 15 | Texas Christian (3-0) | 17 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 16 | Oklahoma (2-1) | 6 | 10 | Big 12 | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 17 | Clemson (3-1) | 10 | 7 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 18 | Oregon State (2-0) | Pac-12 (North) | |||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 19 | Louisville (4-0) | 20 | 1 | Big East | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 20 | Michigan State (3-1) | 21 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 21 | Mississippi State (4-0) | 23 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 22 | Nebraska (3-1) | 25 | 3 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 23 | Rutgers (4-0) | Big East | |||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 24 | Boise State (2-1) | 24 | MWC | ||
| 5 | 2012-09-23 | 25 | Baylor (3-0) | Big 12 | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 1 | Alabama (3-0) | 1 | 58 | SEC (West) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 2 | LSU (3-0) | 3 | 1 | 2 | SEC (West) |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 3 | Oregon (3-0) | 4 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 4 | Florida State (3-0) | 5 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 5 | Georgia (3-0) | 7 | 2 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 6 | Oklahoma (2-0) | 5 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 7 | South Carolina (3-0) | 8 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 8 | West Virginia (2-0) | 9 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 9 | Stanford (3-0) | 21 | 12 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 10 | Clemson (3-0) | 11 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 11 | Notre Dame (3-0) | 20 | 9 | Ind | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 12 | Texas (3-0) | 14 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 13 | USC (2-1) | 2 | 11 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 14 | Florida (3-0) | 18 | 4 | SEC (East) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 15 | Kansas State (3-0) | 15 | Big 12 | ||
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 16 | Ohio State (3-0) | 12 | 4 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 17 | Texas Christian (2-0) | 16 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 18 | Michigan (2-1) | 17 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 19 | UCLA (3-0) | 22 | 3 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 20 | Louisville (3-0) | 19 | 1 | Big East | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 21 | Michigan State (2-1) | 10 | 11 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 22 | Arizona (3-0) | 24 | 2 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 23 | Mississippi State (3-0) | SEC (West) | |||
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 24 | Boise State (1-1) | MWC | |||
| 4 | 2012-09-16 | 25 | Nebraska (2-1) | Big Ten (Legends) | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 1 | Alabama (2-0) | 1 | 48 | SEC (West) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 2 | USC (2-0) | 2 | 8 | Pac-12 (South) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 3 | LSU (2-0) | 3 | 3 | SEC (West) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 4 | Oregon (2-0) | 4 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 5 | Florida State (2-0) | 6 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 5 | Oklahoma (2-0) | 5 | Big 12 | ||
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 7 | Georgia (2-0) | 7 | SEC (East) | ||
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 8 | South Carolina (2-0) | 9 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 9 | West Virginia (1-0) | 10 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 10 | Michigan State (2-0) | 11 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 11 | Clemson (2-0) | 12 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 12 | Ohio State (2-0) | 14 | 2 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 13 | Virginia Tech (2-0) | 15 | 2 | ACC (Coastal) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 14 | Texas (2-0) | 17 | 3 | Big 12 | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 15 | Kansas State (2-0) | 21 | 6 | Big 12 | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 16 | Texas Christian (1-0) | 20 | 4 | Big 12 | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 17 | Michigan (1-1) | 19 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 18 | Florida (2-0) | 24 | 6 | SEC (East) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 19 | Louisville (2-0) | 23 | 4 | Big East | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 20 | Notre Dame (2-0) | 22 | 2 | Ind | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 21 | Stanford (2-0) | 25 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 22 | UCLA (2-0) | Pac-12 (South) | |||
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 23 | Tennessee (2-0) | SEC (East) | |||
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 24 | Arizona (2-0) | Pac-12 (South) | |||
| 3 | 2012-09-09 | 25 | BYU (2-0) | Ind | |||
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 1 | Alabama (1-0) | 2 | 1 | 45 | SEC (West) |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 2 | USC (1-0) | 1 | 1 | 11 | Pac-12 (South) |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 3 | LSU (1-0) | 3 | 4 | SEC (West) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 4 | Oregon (1-0) | 5 | 1 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 5 | Oklahoma (1-0) | 4 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 6 | Florida State (1-0) | 7 | 1 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 7 | Georgia (1-0) | 6 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 8 | Arkansas (1-0) | 10 | 2 | SEC (West) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 9 | South Carolina (1-0) | 9 | SEC (East) | ||
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 10 | West Virginia (1-0) | 11 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 11 | Michigan State (1-0) | 13 | 2 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 12 | Clemson (1-0) | 14 | 2 | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 13 | Wisconsin (1-0) | 12 | 1 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 14 | Ohio State (1-0) | 18 | 4 | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 15 | Virginia Tech | 16 | 1 | ACC (Coastal) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 16 | Nebraska (1-0) | 17 | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 17 | Texas (1-0) | 15 | 2 | Big 12 | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 18 | Oklahoma State (1-0) | 19 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 19 | Michigan (0-1) | 8 | 11 | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 20 | Texas Christian | 20 | Big 12 | ||
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 21 | Kansas State (1-0) | 22 | 1 | Big 12 | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 22 | Notre Dame (1-0) | Ind | |||
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 23 | Louisville | 25 | 2 | Big East | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 24 | Florida (1-0) | 23 | 1 | SEC (East) | |
| 2 | 2012-09-02 | 25 | Stanford (1-0) | 21 | 4 | Pac-12 (North) | |
| Wk | Date | Rk | School | Prev | Chng | 1st | Conf |
| 1 | Preseason | 1 | USC | NA | — | 25 | Pac-12 (South) |
| 1 | Preseason | 2 | Alabama | NA | — | 17 | SEC (West) |
| 1 | Preseason | 3 | LSU | NA | — | SEC (West) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 4 | Oklahoma | NA | — | 1 | Big 12 |
| 1 | Preseason | 5 | Oregon | NA | — | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 6 | Georgia | NA | — | SEC (East) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 7 | Florida State | NA | — | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 8 | Michigan | NA | — | 1 | Big Ten (Legends) |
| 1 | Preseason | 9 | South Carolina | NA | — | SEC (East) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 10 | Arkansas | NA | — | SEC (West) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 11 | West Virginia | NA | — | Big 12 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 12 | Wisconsin | NA | — | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 13 | Michigan State | NA | — | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 14 | Clemson | NA | — | ACC (Atlantic) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 15 | Texas | NA | — | Big 12 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 16 | Virginia Tech | NA | — | ACC (Coastal) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 17 | Nebraska | NA | — | Big Ten (Legends) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 18 | Ohio State | NA | — | Big Ten (Leaders) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 19 | Oklahoma State | NA | — | Big 12 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 20 | Texas Christian | NA | — | Big 12 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 21 | Stanford | NA | — | Pac-12 (North) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 22 | Kansas State | NA | — | Big 12 | |
| 1 | Preseason | 23 | Florida | NA | — | SEC (East) | |
| 1 | Preseason | 24 | Boise State | NA | — | MWC | |
| 1 | Preseason | 25 | Louisville | NA | — | Big East |
BCS Playoff Standings