Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1971 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .549 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.480.
The average home field advantage for this year is 2.69 points.
Some game locations are unknown and have been estimated. Research continues.
KEY: PR=Final power rating, PS=Pre-season power rating, SOS=strength of schedule.
| Rank | Team | PR | PS | SOS | PF | PA | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Conference |
| 1 | Nebraska | .985 | .843 | .875 | 39.00 | 8.00 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Big 8 |
| 2 | Alabama | .943 | .729 | .939 | 30.67 | 10.17 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | SEC |
| 3 | Oklahoma | .935 | .735 | .865 | 44.50 | 18.08 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big 8 |
| 4 | Georgia | .888 | .701 | .684 | 30.00 | 9.58 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | SEC |
| 5 | Colorado | .875 | .700 | .923 | 30.83 | 18.33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big 8 |
| 6 | Toledo | .851 | .770 | .374 | 31.92 | 8.00 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | MAC |
| 7 | Penn State | .847 | .763 | .529 | 40.33 | 11.42 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Eastern Independent |
| 8 | Arizona State | .847 | .787 | .634 | 38.50 | 16.75 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | WAC |
| 9 | Michigan | .833 | .750 | .447 | 35.08 | 6.92 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big Ten |
| 10 | Auburn | .830 | .804 | .727 | 30.45 | 16.55 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | SEC |
| 11 | Tennessee | .824 | .869 | .674 | 22.50 | 10.08 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 12 | Louisiana State | .811 | .802 | .754 | 29.42 | 12.75 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SEC |
| 13 | Mississippi | .801 | .735 | .734 | 30.25 | 18.50 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 14 | Houston | .798 | .772 | .755 | 28.25 | 16.58 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | South/West Independent |
| 15 | Stanford | .780 | .772 | .703 | 21.75 | 11.25 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Pac 8 |
| 16 | Notre Dame | .761 | .857 | .596 | 22.50 | 8.60 | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Eastern Independent |
| 17 | Southern California | .747 | .820 | .845 | 20.82 | 14.91 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Pac 8 |
| 18 | Iowa State | .747 | .533 | .856 | 28.08 | 20.83 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 19 | Texas | .732 | .873 | .609 | 25.55 | 15.27 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | SWC |
| 20 | Boston College | .731 | .569 | .420 | 23.55 | 10.64 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Eastern Independent |
| 21 | Washington | .721 | .567 | .591 | 32.45 | 17.09 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Pac 8 |
| 22 | North Carolina | .711 | .547 | .528 | 24.00 | 12.67 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | ACC |
| 23 | Utah State | .704 | .476 | .581 | 22.09 | 16.64 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | South/West Independent |
| 24 | Florida State | .701 | .684 | .614 | 25.75 | 14.50 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | South/West Independent |
| 25 | Arkansas | .688 | .788 | .463 | 29.67 | 14.08 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | SWC |
| 26 | Kansas State | .645 | .618 | .858 | 19.91 | 26.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big 8 |
| 27 | New Mexico | .639 | .486 | .602 | 31.00 | 26.55 | 6 | 3 | 2 | .636 | WAC |
| 28 | Ohio State | .638 | .783 | .563 | 22.40 | 12.00 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Big Ten |
| 29 | Oregon | .631 | .592 | .863 | 21.36 | 26.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Pac 8 |
| 30 | Georgia Tech | .628 | .668 | .781 | 17.25 | 17.25 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 31 | West Virginia | .620 | .652 | .534 | 25.45 | 20.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 32 | Northwestern | .615 | .517 | .551 | 19.18 | 16.64 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Big Ten |
| 33 | Air Force | .613 | .701 | .614 | 18.70 | 18.70 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | South/West Independent |
| 34 | Long Beach State | .610 | .554 | .406 | 27.92 | 19.25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | PCAA |
| 35 | Michigan State | .610 | .539 | .653 | 20.45 | 15.36 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Big Ten |
| 36 | Western Michigan | .609 | .534 | .355 | 22.80 | 12.40 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | MAC |
| 37 | Miami (Ohio) | .606 | .633 | .422 | 20.70 | 11.70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | MAC |
| 38 | Villanova | .593 | .554 | .492 | 19.18 | 14.91 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Eastern Independent |
| 39 | Oregon State | .592 | .685 | .792 | 24.36 | 28.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Pac 8 |
| 40 | California | .588 | .635 | .803 | 16.91 | 23.82 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 8 |
| 41 | Idaho | .583 | .349 | .279 | 20.64 | 15.55 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | South/West Independent |
| 42 | Duke | .580 | .515 | .575 | 15.45 | 13.55 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | ACC |
| 43 | Southern Mississippi | .574 | .484 | .584 | 18.36 | 17.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | South/West Independent |
| 44 | Oklahoma State | .570 | .586 | .835 | 16.73 | 29.27 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Big 8 |
| 45 | San Jose State | .569 | .387 | .769 | 21.50 | 24.08 | 5 | 6 | 1 | .458 | PCAA |
| 46 | Dartmouth | .568 | .671 | .103 | 23.00 | 11.78 | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Ivy |
| 47 | Cincinnati | .568 | .520 | .414 | 20.45 | 17.09 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 48 | South Carolina | .565 | .571 | .605 | 17.36 | 17.82 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | ACC |
| 49 | Louisville | .560 | .529 | .331 | 19.00 | 11.10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | MVC |
| 50 | Ohio | .555 | .531 | .485 | 24.00 | 17.30 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | MAC |
| 51 | Cornell | .555 | .442 | .103 | 26.67 | 15.11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Ivy |
| 52 | Memphis | .551 | .629 | .600 | 23.18 | 18.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | MVC |
| 53 | Texas Christian | .550 | .485 | .548 | 19.45 | 25.00 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | SWC |
| 54 | Tampa | .548 | .327 | .361 | 29.91 | 14.73 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | South/West Independent |
| 55 | Temple | .541 | .327 | .287 | 27.56 | 15.11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Eastern Independent |
| 56 | San Diego State | .536 | .635 | .504 | 22.27 | 20.91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | PCAA |
| 57 | Hawaii | .530 | .327 | .310 | 23.18 | 20.45 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | South/West Independent |
| 58 | Texas A&M | .526 | .477 | .612 | 13.09 | 19.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 59 | Brigham Young | .524 | .447 | .577 | 20.64 | 18.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | WAC |
| 60 | Washington State | .520 | .391 | .715 | 22.36 | 26.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Pac 8 |
| 61 | Syracuse | .520 | .593 | .516 | 17.91 | 16.27 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 62 | Wyoming | .519 | .485 | .646 | 20.18 | 28.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | WAC |
| 63 | Clemson | .517 | .454 | .624 | 14.09 | 18.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | ACC |
| 64 | Bowling Green State | .512 | .456 | .333 | 26.30 | 20.70 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | MAC |
| 65 | Wake Forest | .509 | .498 | .380 | 19.82 | 16.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | ACC |
| 66 | Kansas | .509 | .583 | .785 | 17.00 | 26.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big 8 |
| 67 | Citadel | .508 | .404 | .050 | 33.27 | 24.73 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Southern |
| 68 | Drake | .507 | .327 | .203 | 24.27 | 16.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MVC |
| 69 | Arizona | .499 | .497 | .599 | 17.36 | 21.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | WAC |
| 70 | Minnesota | .498 | .531 | .617 | 19.27 | 25.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 71 | Army | .494 | .468 | .490 | 14.60 | 20.60 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Eastern Independent |
| 72 | Florida | .489 | .702 | .825 | 15.82 | 27.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SEC |
| 73 | Fresno State | .488 | .459 | .283 | 19.55 | 15.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | PCAA |
| 74 | Illinois | .486 | .363 | .659 | 14.82 | 21.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 75 | William & Mary | .480 | .371 | .395 | 25.27 | 21.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 76 | Vanderbilt | .471 | .513 | .676 | 12.36 | 18.91 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | SEC |
| 77 | Northern Illinois | .468 | .312 | .424 | 18.36 | 21.09 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 78 | Wisconsin | .467 | .424 | .517 | 21.82 | 23.45 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Big Ten |
| 79 | Texas Tech | .460 | .633 | .580 | 11.91 | 12.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SWC |
| 80 | New Mexico State | .454 | .452 | .311 | 20.00 | 18.91 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | South/West Independent |
| 81 | Pittsburgh | .454 | .463 | .793 | 19.64 | 35.27 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 82 | Utah | .451 | .610 | .707 | 22.18 | 28.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | WAC |
| 83 | UCLA | .448 | .742 | .777 | 16.60 | 24.30 | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Pac 8 |
| 84 | Purdue | .447 | .649 | .603 | 21.00 | 22.80 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Big Ten |
| 85 | Texas-El Paso | .444 | .517 | .450 | 15.09 | 19.73 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | WAC |
| 86 | Tulane | .443 | .580 | .699 | 13.82 | 19.55 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | South/West Independent |
| 87 | Kentucky | .431 | .463 | .798 | 13.09 | 25.82 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 88 | Rice | .430 | .476 | .650 | 13.27 | 20.00 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | SWC |
| 89 | Virginia Tech | .430 | .532 | .488 | 22.64 | 24.73 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 90 | Miami (Florida) | .430 | .505 | .571 | 15.82 | 20.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 91 | Richmond | .430 | .436 | .466 | 11.91 | 17.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 92 | Dayton | .428 | .469 | .428 | 15.00 | 21.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 93 | Columbia | .424 | .266 | .126 | 18.44 | 15.11 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 94 | Southern Methodist | .423 | .558 | .587 | 13.73 | 20.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SWC |
| 95 | Mississippi State | .419 | .533 | .915 | 10.91 | 28.27 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | SEC |
| 96 | Colgate | .414 | .406 | .134 | 28.70 | 26.20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Eastern Independent |
| 97 | Tulsa | .405 | .472 | .585 | 15.73 | 27.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MVC |
| 98 | Pacific | .392 | .500 | .525 | 16.00 | 18.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | PCAA |
| 99 | Navy | .388 | .374 | .749 | 13.27 | 30.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 100 | Harvard | .367 | .506 | .121 | 20.00 | 18.56 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Ivy |
| 101 | Furman | .362 | .343 | .076 | 18.27 | 17.00 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Southern |
| 102 | Holy Cross | .358 | .231 | .324 | 18.80 | 23.90 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Eastern Independent |
| 103 | East Carolina | .356 | .300 | .417 | 18.10 | 30.00 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Southern |
| 104 | Colorado State | .352 | .461 | .531 | 16.09 | 25.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | WAC |
| 105 | Kent | .342 | .390 | .529 | 15.36 | 27.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MAC |
| 106 | Missouri | .341 | .723 | .926 | 8.45 | 23.64 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big 8 |
| 107 | North Carolina State | .330 | .466 | .501 | 13.36 | 24.91 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | ACC |
| 108 | Maryland | .328 | .323 | .495 | 20.36 | 25.73 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | ACC |
| 109 | Princeton | .325 | .477 | .144 | 21.67 | 17.78 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Ivy |
| 110 | Yale | .322 | .585 | .151 | 16.67 | 17.33 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Ivy |
| 111 | Virginia | .320 | .420 | .507 | 12.18 | 24.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | ACC |
| 112 | Santa Barbara | .317 | .312 | .459 | 14.73 | 27.45 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | PCAA |
| 113 | Rutgers | .315 | .418 | .202 | 17.55 | 22.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Eastern Independent |
| 114 | Wild Card U | .314 | .327 | .259 | 17.11 | 22.70 | 41 | 60 | 2 | .408 | |
| 115 | Indiana | .314 | .388 | .451 | 13.82 | 23.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big Ten |
| 116 | North Texas | .302 | .491 | .452 | 14.09 | 29.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 117 | Iowa | .253 | .433 | .680 | 11.00 | 34.45 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big Ten |
| 118 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | .247 | .327 | .351 | 18.64 | 30.27 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | South/West Independent |
| 119 | Wichita State | .245 | .215 | .243 | 13.55 | 24.36 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 120 | West Texas A&M | .212 | .552 | .309 | 13.00 | 25.55 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | MVC |
| 121 | Marshall | .204 | .304 | .453 | 5.70 | 29.90 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Eastern Independent |
| 122 | Xavier | .203 | .262 | .381 | 13.40 | 24.20 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Eastern Independent |
| 123 | Baylor | .199 | .380 | .506 | 7.40 | 23.60 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | SWC |
| 124 | Texas-Arlington | .186 | .327 | .301 | 8.55 | 24.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | South/West Independent |
| 125 | Pennsylvania | .176 | .370 | .171 | 13.33 | 23.00 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Ivy |
| 126 | Los Angeles State | .167 | .154 | .238 | 9.00 | 26.90 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | PCAA |
| 127 | Virginia Military Institute | .152 | .208 | .371 | 7.09 | 23.36 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Southern |
| 128 | Davidson | .135 | .314 | .226 | 12.20 | 28.90 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Southern |
| 129 | Brown | .100 | .237 | .201 | 15.44 | 26.44 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | Ivy |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| Big 8 | .701 | .665 | .865 | 56 | 36 | 1 | .608 | 8 |
| SEC | .691 | .685 | .772 | 73 | 41 | 1 | .639 | 10 |
| Pac 8 | .628 | .650 | .761 | 45 | 41 | 2 | .523 | 8 |
| MAC | .579 | .552 | .416 | 40 | 23 | 0 | .635 | 6 |
| WAC | .534 | .536 | .593 | 43 | 44 | 2 | .494 | 8 |
| South/West Independent | .525 | .501 | .507 | 84 | 82 | 1 | .506 | 15 |
| Big Ten | .516 | .538 | .574 | 50 | 58 | 1 | .463 | 10 |
| SWC | .501 | .584 | .569 | 39 | 46 | 3 | .460 | 8 |
| Eastern Independent | .495 | .475 | .454 | 98 | 89 | 4 | .524 | 18 |
| ACC | .482 | .474 | .527 | 40 | 49 | 0 | .449 | 8 |
| PCAA | .440 | .429 | .455 | 33 | 44 | 1 | .429 | 7 |
| MVC | .397 | .459 | .389 | 30 | 45 | 1 | .401 | 7 |
| Ivy | .355 | .444 | .140 | 37 | 35 | 0 | .514 | 8 |
| Southern | .346 | .339 | .286 | 29 | 45 | 1 | .393 | 7 |
This page has been accessed times since June 2, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net