Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1979 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .552 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.462.
The average home field advantage for this year is 2.82 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 | Alabama | .942 | .897 | .620 | 31.92 | 5.58 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | SEC |
| 2 | Southern California | .913 | .876 | .786 | 32.42 | 14.25 | 11 | 0 | 1 | .958 | Pac 10 |
| 3 | Houston | .887 | .743 | .786 | 24.58 | 11.25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | SWC |
| 4 | Ohio State | .886 | .740 | .665 | 32.50 | 10.50 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big Ten |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | .882 | .771 | .718 | 24.25 | 9.67 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Eastern Independent |
| 6 | Oklahoma | .879 | .875 | .665 | 33.83 | 12.08 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Big 8 |
| 7 | Brigham Young | .869 | .694 | .610 | 40.33 | 13.58 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | WAC |
| 8 | Arkansas | .861 | .804 | .801 | 23.67 | 11.00 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SWC |
| 9 | Texas | .853 | .823 | .848 | 18.42 | 8.67 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | SWC |
| 10 | Nebraska | .851 | .814 | .687 | 31.67 | 10.92 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big 8 |
| 11 | Florida State | .844 | .698 | .644 | 27.17 | 13.33 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | South/West Independent |
| 12 | Temple | .812 | .571 | .662 | 33.25 | 16.50 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Eastern Independent |
| 13 | Central Michigan | .811 | .660 | .442 | 26.45 | 12.09 | 10 | 0 | 1 | .955 | MAC |
| 14 | Washington | .805 | .704 | .739 | 26.75 | 12.83 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Pac 10 |
| 15 | North Carolina | .791 | .617 | .795 | 24.17 | 13.92 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | ACC |
| 16 | Penn State | .787 | .862 | .880 | 21.42 | 14.75 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Eastern Independent |
| 17 | McNeese State | .783 | .538 | .484 | 19.42 | 11.25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Southland |
| 18 | Clemson | .771 | .728 | .800 | 17.08 | 9.67 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | ACC |
| 19 | Purdue | .769 | .643 | .665 | 23.92 | 18.83 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Big Ten |
| 20 | Baylor | .759 | .590 | .838 | 21.50 | 15.58 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SWC |
| 21 | Michigan | .749 | .845 | .692 | 26.00 | 12.58 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 22 | North Carolina State | .743 | .699 | .848 | 23.45 | 19.36 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | ACC |
| 23 | Texas A&M | .739 | .722 | .868 | 22.09 | 14.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | SWC |
| 24 | Auburn | .739 | .618 | .628 | 30.00 | 21.64 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | SEC |
| 25 | Tulane | .734 | .445 | .590 | 26.50 | 14.92 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | South/West Independent |
| 26 | South Carolina | .727 | .580 | .815 | 20.50 | 17.08 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | South/West Independent |
| 27 | Notre Dame | .717 | .848 | .766 | 22.09 | 17.91 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 28 | Maryland | .706 | .752 | .718 | 18.00 | 12.27 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | ACC |
| 29 | Louisiana State | .705 | .688 | .743 | 22.92 | 12.58 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SEC |
| 30 | Wake Forest | .695 | .314 | .829 | 20.00 | 23.58 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | ACC |
| 31 | Indiana | .691 | .480 | .649 | 26.17 | 21.00 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 32 | Tennessee | .691 | .595 | .711 | 25.92 | 19.58 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SEC |
| 33 | Syracuse | .689 | .493 | .800 | 27.00 | 24.42 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Eastern Independent |
| 34 | Missouri | .686 | .712 | .712 | 21.67 | 13.83 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Big 8 |
| 35 | California | .682 | .642 | .837 | 21.42 | 16.17 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Pac 10 |
| 36 | Utah State | .681 | .527 | .616 | 31.55 | 24.55 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | PCAA |
| 37 | Texas-Arlington | .678 | .472 | .444 | 30.73 | 15.09 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Southland |
| 38 | East Carolina | .676 | .707 | .476 | 34.55 | 17.55 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | South/West Independent |
| 39 | Nevada-Las Vegas | .673 | .438 | .395 | 30.83 | 25.00 | 9 | 1 | 2 | .833 | South/West Independent |
| 40 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | .672 | .579 | .346 | 31.73 | 19.73 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Southern |
| 41 | Rutgers | .672 | .659 | .485 | 22.09 | 15.82 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Eastern Independent |
| 42 | UCLA | .666 | .749 | .904 | 23.36 | 23.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Pac 10 |
| 43 | San Diego State | .656 | .587 | .564 | 26.00 | 25.09 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | WAC |
| 44 | Arizona State | .647 | .713 | .741 | 25.50 | 17.33 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Pac 10 |
| 45 | Southern Mississippi | .646 | .609 | .568 | 20.73 | 13.27 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | South/West Independent |
| 46 | Virginia | .636 | .301 | .591 | 23.45 | 12.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | ACC |
| 47 | Oklahoma State | .626 | .556 | .660 | 17.36 | 19.27 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Big 8 |
| 48 | Lamar | .623 | .276 | .527 | 24.73 | 19.82 | 6 | 3 | 2 | .636 | Southland |
| 49 | Arizona | .621 | .584 | .712 | 20.33 | 20.25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | Pac 10 |
| 50 | Toledo | .617 | .282 | .469 | 19.36 | 17.27 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | MAC |
| 51 | Stanford | .614 | .724 | .656 | 23.55 | 21.73 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Pac 10 |
| 52 | Georgia | .610 | .728 | .654 | 18.73 | 17.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | SEC |
| 53 | West Texas A&M | .608 | .419 | .577 | 22.09 | 17.36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | MVC |
| 54 | Navy | .598 | .637 | .507 | 16.36 | 14.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Eastern Independent |
| 55 | Hawaii | .596 | .464 | .507 | 30.00 | 19.36 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | WAC |
| 56 | Miami (Ohio) | .593 | .659 | .497 | 20.27 | 12.91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 57 | San Jose State | .586 | .528 | .523 | 29.73 | 27.36 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | PCAA |
| 58 | Southern Methodist | .586 | .579 | .746 | 20.55 | 21.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 59 | Iowa | .586 | .388 | .709 | 21.73 | 19.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 60 | Utah | .586 | .523 | .733 | 22.25 | 24.67 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | WAC |
| 61 | East Tennessee State | .586 | .319 | .342 | 25.27 | 13.64 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Southern |
| 62 | Oregon | .585 | .413 | .625 | 18.18 | 19.27 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 10 |
| 63 | Minnesota | .583 | .510 | .722 | 24.00 | 24.64 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Big Ten |
| 64 | Texas Tech | .579 | .704 | .855 | 12.82 | 16.55 | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | SWC |
| 65 | Southern Illinois | .572 | .403 | .281 | 21.09 | 17.09 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | MVC |
| 66 | Indiana State | .569 | .291 | .295 | 25.09 | 22.55 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | MVC |
| 67 | Miami (Florida) | .569 | .553 | .698 | 17.36 | 21.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 68 | Kentucky | .563 | .650 | .611 | 16.36 | 13.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 69 | Western Michigan | .559 | .487 | .501 | 16.91 | 11.55 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 70 | Long Beach State | .556 | .453 | .442 | 18.64 | 22.27 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | PCAA |
| 71 | West Virginia | .553 | .468 | .770 | 16.82 | 25.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 72 | Ball State | .548 | .701 | .438 | 24.73 | 17.36 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 73 | Boston College | .543 | .381 | .630 | 19.55 | 19.55 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 74 | Virginia Tech | .542 | .469 | .624 | 20.36 | 20.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 75 | Yale | .539 | .493 | .050 | 21.44 | 10.44 | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | Ivy |
| 76 | Michigan State | .539 | .705 | .680 | 21.82 | 23.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 77 | Ohio | .538 | .354 | .447 | 21.64 | 15.82 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 78 | Western Carolina | .524 | .435 | .374 | 25.45 | 18.36 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern |
| 79 | Tulsa | .520 | .589 | .487 | 17.73 | 20.09 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MVC |
| 80 | New Mexico | .503 | .553 | .506 | 17.58 | 19.08 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | WAC |
| 81 | Northern Illinois | .497 | .346 | .498 | 16.09 | 18.73 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | MAC |
| 82 | Washington State | .494 | .513 | .780 | 21.91 | 33.27 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Pac 10 |
| 83 | Georgia Tech | .493 | .609 | .637 | 13.82 | 17.27 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | South/West Independent |
| 84 | Mississippi | .491 | .576 | .682 | 22.82 | 27.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SEC |
| 85 | Colorado State | .487 | .531 | .698 | 14.75 | 20.08 | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | WAC |
| 86 | Louisville | .486 | .540 | .623 | 15.18 | 18.36 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | South/West Independent |
| 87 | Virginia Military Institute | .485 | .391 | .368 | 14.36 | 19.09 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Southern |
| 88 | Citadel | .484 | .439 | .402 | 23.00 | 25.18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern |
| 89 | Mississippi State | .482 | .665 | .714 | 14.73 | 16.27 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 90 | Texas Christian | .469 | .341 | .864 | 11.55 | 20.55 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | SWC |
| 91 | North Texas | .465 | .700 | .512 | 16.55 | 21.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 92 | Wisconsin | .462 | .496 | .693 | 18.91 | 28.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Big Ten |
| 93 | Villanova | .454 | .422 | .382 | 20.09 | 20.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 94 | Memphis | .446 | .538 | .459 | 15.09 | 20.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | South/West Independent |
| 95 | Furman | .440 | .534 | .423 | 25.55 | 28.45 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern |
| 96 | Colorado | .435 | .651 | .679 | 15.27 | 24.91 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 97 | Fresno State | .432 | .422 | .519 | 22.27 | 27.45 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | PCAA |
| 98 | Bowling Green State | .431 | .472 | .557 | 17.64 | 24.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MAC |
| 99 | Appalachian State | .427 | .464 | .554 | 23.91 | 24.36 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Southern |
| 100 | Louisiana-Lafayette | .427 | .444 | .486 | 13.36 | 15.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southland |
| 101 | Kansas State | .423 | .428 | .618 | 14.00 | 20.45 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 102 | Arkansas State | .421 | .567 | .447 | 15.18 | 17.09 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southland |
| 103 | Brown | .419 | .442 | .087 | 21.89 | 14.33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Ivy |
| 104 | Iowa State | .419 | .657 | .655 | 12.45 | 20.09 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 105 | Wyoming | .416 | .496 | .573 | 15.50 | 23.00 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | WAC |
| 106 | Holy Cross | .408 | .376 | .289 | 15.82 | 16.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 107 | Kansas | .403 | .446 | .764 | 15.64 | 31.45 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 108 | Colgate | .403 | .419 | .212 | 14.70 | 16.30 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Eastern Independent |
| 109 | Duke | .397 | .504 | .722 | 13.82 | 24.00 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | ACC |
| 110 | Illinois | .391 | .389 | .694 | 14.18 | 24.18 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | Big Ten |
| 111 | Cincinnati | .384 | .586 | .725 | 14.18 | 25.55 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Eastern Independent |
| 112 | Connecticut | .379 | .319 | .371 | 13.09 | 15.73 | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | Eastern Independent |
| 113 | Drake | .368 | .324 | .433 | 19.82 | 22.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 114 | Princeton | .363 | .263 | .157 | 18.44 | 17.67 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Ivy |
| 115 | William & Mary | .360 | .513 | .417 | 12.64 | 20.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | South/West Independent |
| 116 | Cornell | .355 | .294 | .091 | 23.89 | 16.89 | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | Ivy |
| 117 | Rice | .355 | .375 | .950 | 11.00 | 38.00 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | SWC |
| 118 | Florida | .348 | .648 | .835 | 9.64 | 24.09 | 0 | 10 | 1 | .045 | SEC |
| 119 | Pacific | .345 | .426 | .376 | 16.20 | 19.30 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | PCAA |
| 120 | Louisiana-Monroe | .340 | .404 | .404 | 14.36 | 19.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | South/West Independent |
| 121 | Wild Card U | .335 | .319 | .411 | 15.16 | 24.70 | 33 | 58 | 3 | .367 | |
| 122 | Fullerton State | .335 | .369 | .419 | 17.55 | 21.55 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | PCAA |
| 123 | Northwestern State | .322 | .412 | .453 | 15.89 | 28.11 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | South/West Independent |
| 124 | Army | .318 | .426 | .681 | 8.73 | 28.00 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | Eastern Independent |
| 125 | Dartmouth | .317 | .432 | .107 | 10.89 | 9.56 | 4 | 4 | 1 | .500 | Ivy |
| 126 | Illinois State | .308 | .284 | .359 | 17.64 | 23.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Eastern Independent |
| 127 | Vanderbilt | .300 | .392 | .707 | 16.27 | 38.00 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | SEC |
| 128 | Louisiana Tech | .296 | .610 | .552 | 10.18 | 20.18 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Southland |
| 129 | Northwestern | .289 | .248 | .723 | 10.45 | 35.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Big Ten |
| 130 | Texas-El Paso | .284 | .247 | .565 | 9.64 | 24.18 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | WAC |
| 131 | Oregon State | .283 | .426 | .748 | 13.36 | 36.00 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Pac 10 |
| 132 | New Mexico State | .280 | .444 | .519 | 15.91 | 33.36 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | MVC |
| 133 | Eastern Michigan | .280 | .341 | .424 | 10.27 | 21.45 | 2 | 8 | 1 | .227 | MAC |
| 134 | Air Force | .258 | .342 | .449 | 11.55 | 23.00 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | South/West Independent |
| 135 | Harvard | .245 | .347 | .105 | 16.44 | 17.44 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Ivy |
| 136 | Kent | .229 | .426 | .509 | 11.55 | 27.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | MAC |
| 137 | Wichita State | .224 | .377 | .567 | 9.55 | 27.73 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | MVC |
| 138 | Marshall | .202 | .239 | .521 | 8.64 | 28.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Southern |
| 139 | Richmond | .146 | .424 | .487 | 7.18 | 24.64 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | South/West Independent |
| 140 | Columbia | .099 | .234 | .155 | 8.33 | 23.89 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | Ivy |
| 141 | Pennsylvania | .054 | .269 | .135 | 11.11 | 27.89 | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | Ivy |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| ACC | .677 | .559 | .757 | 46 | 32 | 2 | .588 | 7 |
| SWC | .676 | .631 | .840 | 55 | 45 | 3 | .549 | 9 |
| Pac 10 | .631 | .635 | .753 | 58 | 54 | 3 | .517 | 10 |
| Big Ten | .594 | .544 | .689 | 58 | 54 | 2 | .518 | 10 |
| Big 8 | .590 | .643 | .680 | 47 | 44 | 0 | .516 | 8 |
| SEC | .587 | .646 | .690 | 53 | 59 | 1 | .473 | 10 |
| Eastern Independent | .557 | .533 | .577 | 93 | 82 | 4 | .531 | 16 |
| WAC | .550 | .512 | .594 | 47 | 45 | 1 | .511 | 8 |
| Southland | .538 | .484 | .490 | 35 | 30 | 2 | .537 | 6 |
| South/West Independent | .513 | .528 | .544 | 90 | 93 | 6 | .492 | 17 |
| MAC | .510 | .473 | .478 | 53 | 53 | 4 | .500 | 10 |
| PCAA | .489 | .454 | .482 | 30 | 33 | 2 | .477 | 6 |
| Southern | .478 | .425 | .416 | 43 | 44 | 1 | .494 | 8 |
| MVC | .449 | .407 | .451 | 34 | 42 | 1 | .448 | 7 |
| Ivy | .299 | .347 | .111 | 32 | 39 | 1 | .451 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since May 15, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net