Return to the college football ratings index
Final power ratings for the 1981 season are listed below. Home field advantage for this year was .551 and the root for determining point spreads was 1.301.
The average home field advantage for this year is 3.19 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 | Clemson | .933 | .708 | .717 | 28.17 | 8.75 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | ACC |
| 2 | Penn State | .903 | .851 | .950 | 30.92 | 13.50 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Eastern Independent |
| 3 | Pittsburgh | .902 | .878 | .805 | 32.08 | 13.33 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | Eastern Independent |
| 4 | Nebraska | .863 | .865 | .869 | 30.33 | 10.42 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Big 8 |
| 5 | Georgia | .852 | .785 | .714 | 31.00 | 10.17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | SEC |
| 6 | Texas | .850 | .757 | .782 | 21.83 | 13.17 | 10 | 1 | 1 | .875 | SWC |
| 7 | Southern Methodist | .837 | .664 | .575 | 33.18 | 12.45 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | SWC |
| 8 | Miami (Florida) | .836 | .693 | .851 | 22.27 | 13.18 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Southern Independent |
| 9 | North Carolina | .831 | .791 | .690 | 31.25 | 12.50 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | ACC |
| 10 | Alabama | .813 | .896 | .702 | 24.67 | 12.58 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | SEC |
| 11 | Arizona State | .789 | .690 | .609 | 35.82 | 17.55 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | Pac 10 |
| 12 | Michigan | .783 | .821 | .713 | 29.58 | 13.50 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Big Ten |
| 13 | Brigham Young | .783 | .818 | .555 | 38.69 | 19.69 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .846 | WAC |
| 14 | Southern Mississippi | .779 | .678 | .548 | 25.42 | 9.00 | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Southern Independent |
| 15 | Southern California | .778 | .869 | .755 | 24.50 | 14.17 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Pac 10 |
| 16 | Washington | .776 | .752 | .610 | 23.42 | 14.25 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Pac 10 |
| 17 | West Virginia | .764 | .563 | .698 | 23.67 | 12.92 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Eastern Independent |
| 18 | UCLA | .744 | .763 | .831 | 25.17 | 16.42 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Pac 10 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | .740 | .869 | .786 | 28.42 | 16.08 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Big 8 |
| 20 | Ohio State | .740 | .787 | .650 | 32.25 | 21.08 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Big Ten |
| 21 | Iowa | .735 | .462 | .752 | 21.67 | 13.08 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big Ten |
| 22 | Arkansas | .733 | .737 | .731 | 27.08 | 18.25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SWC |
| 23 | Hawaii | .731 | .573 | .424 | 29.82 | 11.82 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | WAC |
| 24 | Houston | .723 | .758 | .797 | 19.83 | 14.50 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | SWC |
| 25 | Mississippi State | .722 | .674 | .694 | 17.67 | 11.42 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SEC |
| 26 | Washington State | .719 | .501 | .637 | 24.75 | 16.42 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .708 | Pac 10 |
| 27 | Missouri | .713 | .720 | .687 | 23.00 | 13.25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 28 | Drake | .706 | .468 | .373 | 22.91 | 17.82 | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | MVC |
| 29 | Florida | .701 | .634 | .736 | 23.67 | 13.83 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SEC |
| 30 | Wyoming | .699 | .500 | .549 | 31.27 | 18.45 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | WAC |
| 31 | Utah | .693 | .535 | .478 | 29.18 | 18.82 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | WAC |
| 32 | San Jose State | .680 | .585 | .480 | 31.67 | 21.17 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | PCAA |
| 33 | Texas A&M | .672 | .626 | .743 | 23.33 | 16.92 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | SWC |
| 34 | Illinois | .667 | .425 | .721 | 26.09 | 26.18 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Big Ten |
| 35 | Toledo | .661 | .428 | .402 | 22.50 | 14.17 | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | MAC |
| 36 | Miami (Ohio) | .661 | .554 | .440 | 18.09 | 14.00 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .773 | MAC |
| 37 | South Carolina | .658 | .706 | .812 | 18.75 | 18.50 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Southern Independent |
| 38 | Kansas | .656 | .506 | .672 | 15.67 | 16.25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Big 8 |
| 39 | Navy | .647 | .643 | .583 | 20.33 | 15.25 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Eastern Independent |
| 40 | Wisconsin | .646 | .463 | .694 | 22.33 | 18.25 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Big Ten |
| 41 | Notre Dame | .642 | .820 | .740 | 21.09 | 14.55 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 42 | Florida State | .640 | .846 | .784 | 21.82 | 26.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern Independent |
| 43 | Oklahoma State | .630 | .528 | .703 | 16.42 | 18.00 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Big 8 |
| 44 | Tulsa | .627 | .595 | .618 | 27.64 | 17.82 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MVC |
| 45 | Furman | .627 | .596 | .397 | 26.64 | 19.09 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Southern |
| 46 | Virginia Tech | .626 | .590 | .474 | 21.09 | 11.64 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Southern Independent |
| 47 | West Texas A&M | .623 | .497 | .577 | 22.45 | 19.36 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MVC |
| 48 | Tennessee | .619 | .635 | .588 | 20.33 | 22.08 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | SEC |
| 49 | Duke | .610 | .442 | .730 | 19.09 | 20.91 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | ACC |
| 50 | McNeese State | .610 | .688 | .373 | 28.73 | 17.91 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Southland |
| 51 | Citadel | .605 | .530 | .378 | 22.91 | 13.73 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Southern |
| 52 | Maryland | .603 | .734 | .779 | 21.09 | 17.64 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | ACC |
| 53 | Southern Illinois | .597 | .416 | .442 | 21.27 | 15.82 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MVC |
| 54 | Yale | .594 | .538 | .053 | 28.50 | 14.70 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Ivy |
| 55 | Tennessee-Chattanooga | .594 | .611 | .370 | 19.73 | 15.64 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Southern |
| 56 | Tulane | .592 | .597 | .543 | 19.36 | 13.09 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern Independent |
| 57 | Syracuse | .589 | .580 | .785 | 22.55 | 24.09 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Eastern Independent |
| 58 | San Diego State | .588 | .508 | .597 | 25.36 | 20.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | WAC |
| 59 | Iowa State | .583 | .578 | .706 | 17.18 | 19.82 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Big 8 |
| 60 | Auburn | .582 | .646 | .677 | 16.91 | 15.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SEC |
| 61 | Central Michigan | .580 | .695 | .393 | 20.27 | 11.91 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | MAC |
| 62 | Boston College | .579 | .552 | .773 | 22.09 | 27.09 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 63 | Temple | .577 | .549 | .755 | 18.10 | 19.50 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Eastern Independent |
| 64 | Minnesota | .570 | .528 | .556 | 24.91 | 24.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Big Ten |
| 65 | Baylor | .566 | .748 | .663 | 22.91 | 22.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | SWC |
| 66 | Arizona | .565 | .566 | .489 | 23.00 | 18.64 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Pac 10 |
| 67 | North Carolina State | .560 | .668 | .787 | 16.55 | 20.27 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | ACC |
| 68 | Arkansas State | .557 | .364 | .515 | 16.09 | 14.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southland |
| 69 | Cincinnati | .554 | .389 | .561 | 15.55 | 17.00 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Eastern Independent |
| 70 | Purdue | .554 | .715 | .672 | 22.00 | 21.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 71 | Michigan State | .553 | .547 | .659 | 23.91 | 22.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Big Ten |
| 72 | Nevada-Las Vegas | .548 | .590 | .629 | 27.17 | 36.08 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Southern Independent |
| 73 | Stanford | .548 | .673 | .713 | 28.55 | 25.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Pac 10 |
| 74 | Virginia Military Institute | .537 | .397 | .343 | 16.50 | 15.60 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Southern |
| 75 | Utah State | .535 | .592 | .555 | 18.55 | 19.09 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | PCAA |
| 76 | Colgate | .530 | .426 | .239 | 23.80 | 15.10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Eastern Independent |
| 77 | Texas-Arlington | .525 | .458 | .528 | 18.36 | 22.73 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southland |
| 78 | Mississippi | .523 | .539 | .780 | 15.18 | 25.82 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | SEC |
| 79 | Wichita State | .520 | .386 | .577 | 23.64 | 22.00 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | MVC |
| 80 | Vanderbilt | .517 | .358 | .753 | 19.18 | 25.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SEC |
| 81 | Western Michigan | .515 | .540 | .365 | 18.73 | 15.45 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | MAC |
| 82 | Pacific | .514 | .394 | .631 | 15.45 | 23.00 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | PCAA |
| 83 | East Carolina | .510 | .572 | .646 | 22.00 | 26.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern Independent |
| 84 | Indiana State | .510 | .463 | .389 | 22.45 | 14.91 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | MVC |
| 85 | Rutgers | .499 | .640 | .637 | 12.64 | 18.91 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Eastern Independent |
| 86 | Bowling Green State | .495 | .436 | .407 | 14.09 | 12.00 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | MAC |
| 87 | New Mexico | .489 | .489 | .592 | 18.75 | 19.25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | WAC |
| 88 | Wake Forest | .483 | .554 | .704 | 19.73 | 33.18 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | ACC |
| 89 | Texas Christian | .483 | .386 | .758 | 20.91 | 27.18 | 2 | 7 | 2 | .273 | SWC |
| 90 | Rice | .478 | .471 | .786 | 16.64 | 31.55 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | SWC |
| 91 | Louisville | .470 | .538 | .493 | 16.36 | 19.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern Independent |
| 92 | East Tennessee State | .464 | .350 | .363 | 17.36 | 21.09 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Southern |
| 93 | California | .462 | .557 | .866 | 17.91 | 26.09 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Pac 10 |
| 94 | Kentucky | .459 | .530 | .802 | 12.18 | 20.18 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | SEC |
| 95 | Holy Cross | .457 | .330 | .216 | 22.73 | 19.55 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Eastern Independent |
| 96 | Fresno State | .450 | .428 | .419 | 24.00 | 27.18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | PCAA |
| 97 | Ohio | .449 | .471 | .405 | 20.73 | 23.36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | MAC |
| 98 | Louisiana Tech | .447 | .453 | .470 | 18.64 | 21.91 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Southland |
| 99 | Richmond | .446 | .379 | .495 | 20.73 | 21.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southern Independent |
| 100 | Louisiana-Monroe | .446 | .461 | .306 | 28.09 | 22.82 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern Independent |
| 101 | Air Force | .441 | .344 | .574 | 15.55 | 22.91 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | WAC |
| 102 | William & Mary | .432 | .357 | .463 | 17.45 | 25.27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Southern Independent |
| 103 | Lamar | .427 | .390 | .442 | 15.73 | 19.45 | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Southland |
| 104 | Colorado | .425 | .437 | .820 | 12.82 | 29.27 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big 8 |
| 105 | Louisiana State | .420 | .690 | .636 | 15.36 | 24.73 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | SEC |
| 106 | Appalachian State | .418 | .503 | .448 | 21.45 | 18.27 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Southern |
| 107 | Indiana | .416 | .566 | .752 | 13.09 | 26.64 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Big Ten |
| 108 | Kansas State | .415 | .411 | .812 | 14.91 | 27.00 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Big 8 |
| 109 | Western Carolina | .406 | .417 | .455 | 21.27 | 27.00 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Southern |
| 110 | Texas Tech | .404 | .603 | .774 | 18.00 | 27.09 | 1 | 9 | 1 | .136 | SWC |
| 111 | Dartmouth | .403 | .336 | .062 | 20.80 | 13.70 | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | Ivy |
| 112 | Kent | .387 | .315 | .403 | 13.09 | 15.64 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MAC |
| 113 | Fullerton State | .381 | .378 | .522 | 18.09 | 24.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | PCAA |
| 114 | Harvard | .371 | .364 | .070 | 21.80 | 17.30 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Ivy |
| 115 | Army | .364 | .384 | .491 | 11.45 | 19.27 | 3 | 7 | 1 | .318 | Eastern Independent |
| 116 | Wild Card U | .363 | .333 | .467 | 18.23 | 27.51 | 25 | 52 | 0 | .325 | |
| 117 | Oregon | .354 | .604 | .659 | 14.09 | 22.45 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Pac 10 |
| 118 | Georgia Tech | .350 | .480 | .811 | 11.27 | 28.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Southern Independent |
| 119 | Ball State | .350 | .576 | .348 | 14.27 | 19.82 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | MAC |
| 120 | Virginia | .343 | .482 | .791 | 11.55 | 23.73 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | ACC |
| 121 | North Texas | .340 | .589 | .659 | 10.09 | 21.36 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Southern Independent |
| 122 | Princeton | .334 | .360 | .050 | 23.30 | 30.50 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Ivy |
| 123 | Long Beach State | .314 | .578 | .494 | 15.00 | 23.20 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | PCAA |
| 124 | New Mexico State | .297 | .374 | .375 | 14.27 | 26.00 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MVC |
| 125 | Northern Illinois | .291 | .493 | .318 | 14.55 | 19.73 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | MAC |
| 126 | Illinois State | .277 | .319 | .229 | 14.50 | 19.00 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | MVC |
| 127 | Louisiana-Lafayette | .274 | .492 | .506 | 12.27 | 20.82 | 1 | 9 | 1 | .136 | Southland |
| 128 | Memphis | .273 | .394 | .672 | 7.45 | 19.00 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Southern Independent |
| 129 | Colorado State | .263 | .525 | .814 | 13.67 | 41.83 | 0 | 12 | 0 | .000 | WAC |
| 130 | Oregon State | .254 | .294 | .665 | 13.18 | 42.64 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Pac 10 |
| 131 | Marshall | .233 | .239 | .451 | 8.55 | 25.82 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Southern |
| 132 | Texas-El Paso | .228 | .251 | .569 | 13.27 | 40.09 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | WAC |
| 133 | Cornell | .226 | .352 | .132 | 14.80 | 25.60 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Ivy |
| 134 | Brown | .216 | .419 | .102 | 15.30 | 25.00 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Ivy |
| 135 | Northwestern | .203 | .252 | .787 | 7.45 | 45.91 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | Big Ten |
| 136 | Eastern Michigan | .121 | .234 | .390 | 8.00 | 30.73 | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | MAC |
| 137 | Columbia | .116 | .138 | .132 | 11.60 | 24.30 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Ivy |
| 138 | Pennsylvania | .101 | .139 | .113 | 13.30 | 32.40 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Ivy |
| Conference | PR | PS | SOS | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct | Teams |
| SWC | .638 | .639 | .734 | 54 | 44 | 5 | .549 | 9 |
| Big 8 | .628 | .614 | .757 | 49 | 42 | 2 | .538 | 8 |
| ACC | .623 | .626 | .743 | 41 | 37 | 1 | .525 | 7 |
| SEC | .621 | .639 | .708 | 61 | 51 | 3 | .543 | 10 |
| Eastern Independent | .616 | .585 | .633 | 83 | 59 | 3 | .583 | 13 |
| Pac 10 | .599 | .627 | .684 | 58 | 54 | 2 | .518 | 10 |
| Big Ten | .587 | .557 | .695 | 59 | 55 | 0 | .518 | 10 |
| WAC | .546 | .505 | .572 | 51 | 50 | 2 | .505 | 9 |
| Southern Independent | .530 | .565 | .613 | 77 | 90 | 1 | .461 | 15 |
| MVC | .520 | .440 | .448 | 45 | 40 | 2 | .529 | 8 |
| Southern | .486 | .456 | .401 | 43 | 40 | 4 | .517 | 8 |
| PCAA | .479 | .493 | .517 | 29 | 36 | 1 | .447 | 6 |
| Southland | .473 | .474 | .472 | 28 | 34 | 4 | .455 | 6 |
| MAC | .451 | .474 | .387 | 51 | 58 | 2 | .468 | 10 |
| Ivy | .295 | .331 | .089 | 33 | 45 | 2 | .425 | 8 |
This page has been accessed times since May 15, 1999.
Last Updated on 09/15/13
By James Howell
Email: cfootball@jhowell.net