FBS Rankings as of October 5, 2009
| Rank | Conference | Team | Record | Votes | Last Week's Rank | This Week's Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEC | Alabama | 5-0 | 9.2579 | 1 | Alabama 38 Kentucky 20 |
| 2 | SEC | Florida | 4-0 | 6.3445 | 9 | |
| 3 | WAC | Boise St. | 5-0 | 6.2997 | 4 | Boise St. 34 UC-Davis 16 |
| 4 | ACC | Virginia Tech | 4-1 | 6.2928 | 3 | Virginia Tech 34 Duke 26 |
| 5 | Big 10 | Iowa | 5-0 | 5.8110 | 2 | Iowa 24 Arkansas St. 21 |
| 6 | Mtn West | TCU | 4-0 | 5.2742 | 5 | TCU 39 SMU 14 |
| 7 | SEC | LSU | 5-0 | 5.1770 | 11 | LSU 20 Georgia 13 |
| 8 | Big East | Cincinnati | 5-0 | 5.0036 | 7 | Cincinnati 37 Miami U. 13 |
| 9 | SEC | Auburn | 5-0 | 4.7420 | 16 | Auburn 26 Tennessee 22 |
| 10 | Big 12 | Nebraska | 3-1 | 4.6909 | 10 | |
| 11 | Big 12 | Texas | 4-0 | 4.6287 | 8 | |
| 12 | Big 12 | Kansas | 4-0 | 4.6103 | 22 | |
| 13 | Pac 10 | Stanford | 4-1 | 4.3537 | 27 | Stanford 24 UCLA 16 |
| 14 | Pac 10 | USC | 4-1 | 4.1912 | 31 | USC 30 California 3 |
| 15 | Big 10 | Wisconsin | 5-0 | 4.0377 | 19 | Wisconsin 31 Minnesota 28 |
| 16 | Big East | South Florida | 5-0 | 3.9144 | 14 | South Florida 34 Syracuse 20 |
| 17 | Pac 10 | Oregon | 4-1 | 3.6944 | 18 | Oregon 52 Washington St. 6 |
| 18 | Pac 10 | Arizona | 3-1 | 3.6169 | 12 | |
| 19 | ACC | U. of Miami | 3-1 | 3.4727 | 15 | U. of Miami 21 Oklahoma 20 |
| 20 | ACC | Georgia Tech | 4-1 | 3.4125 | 17 | Georgia Tech 42 Mississippi St. 31 |
| 21 | Ind | Notre Dame | 4-1 | 3.2757 | 28 | Notre Dame 37 Washington 30 |
| 22 | Big 10 | Ohio St. | 4-1 | 3.1817 | 39 | Ohio St. 33 Indiana 14 |
| 23 | ACC | Wake Forest | 3-2 | 3.1769 | 42 | Wake Forest 30 NC State 24 |
| 24 | Pac 10 | UCLA | 3-1 | 3.1472 | 20 | Stanford 24 UCLA 16 |
| 25 | SEC | South Carolina | 4-1 | 2.7957 | 29 | South Carolina 38 S. Carolina St. 14 |
| 26 | ACC | Boston College | 4-1 | 2.7868 | 48 | Boston College 28 Florida St. 21 |
| 27 | Pac 10 | Washington | 2-3 | 2.7821 | 34 | Notre Dame 37 Washington 30 |
| 28 | Big 10 | Penn St. | 4-1 | 2.7524 | 24 | Penn St. 35 Illinois 17 |
| 29 | Big East | Connecticut | 3-1 | 2.7441 | 33 | |
| 30 | Big 10 | Michigan | 4-1 | 2.7058 | 13 | Michigan St. 26 Michigan 20 |
| 31 | ACC | Clemson | 2-3 | 2.7029 | 23 | Maryland 24 Clemson 21 |
| 32 | Big 12 | Missouri | 4-0 | 2.6867 | 30 | |
| 33 | Big 12 | Baylor | 3-1 | 2.5288 | 41 | Baylor 31 Kent State 15 |
| 34 | SEC | Georgia | 3-2 | 2.5181 | 25 | LSU 20 Georgia 13 |
| 35 | Big East | Pittsburgh | 4-1 | 2.4806 | 55 | Pittsburgh 35 Louisville 10 |
| 36 | WAC | Fresno St. | 1-3 | 2.3588 | 37 | |
| 37 | SEC | Tennessee | 2-3 | 2.3196 | 40 | Auburn 26 Tennessee 22 |
| 38 | Big 10 | Michigan St. | 2-3 | 2.2413 | 63 | Michigan St. 26 Michigan 20 |
| 39 | Mid-Am | Cent. Michigan | 4-1 | 2.2360 | 38 | Cent. Michigan 20 Buffalo 13 |
| 40 | Big East | West Virginia | 3-1 | 2.2039 | 50 | West Virginia 35 Colorado 24 |
| 41 | ACC | NC State | 3-2 | 2.1461 | 45 | Wake Forest 30 NC State 24 |
| 42 | Big 12 | Oklahoma St. | 3-1 | 2.0850 | 21 | |
| 43 | ACC | Florida St. | 2-3 | 2.0685 | 35 | Boston College 28 Florida St. 21 |
| 44 | Mtn West | Utah | 3-1 | 2.0412 | 44 | |
| 45 | USA | Houston | 3-1 | 2.0321 | 6 | UTEP 58 Houston 41 |
| 46 | SEC | Mississippi | 3-1 | 2.0093 | 54 | Mississippi 23 Vanderbilt 7 |
| 47 | WAC | Idaho | 4-1 | 1.9389 | 59 | Idaho 31 Colorado St. 29 |
| 48 | Mid-Am | N. Illinois | 3-2 | 1.9331 | 57 | N. Illinois 38 W. Michigan 3 |
| 49 | SEC | Arkansas | 2-2 | 1.8830 | 47 | Arkansas 47 Texas A&M 19 |
| 50 | Pac 10 | Oregon St. | 3-2 | 1.8553 | 46 | Oregon St. 28 Arizona St. 17 |
| 51 | ACC | North Carolina | 3-2 | 1.8141 | 32 | Virginia 16 North Carolina 3 |
| 52 | SEC | Kentucky | 2-2 | 1.7925 | 72 | Alabama 38 Kentucky 20 |
| 53 | Mtn West | BYU | 4-1 | 1.7742 | 65 | BYU 35 Utah St. 17 |
| 54 | Big 12 | Oklahoma | 2-2 | 1.7726 | 71 | U. of Miami 21 Oklahoma 20 |
| 55 | Pac 10 | California | 3-2 | 1.7265 | 56 | USC 30 California 3 |
| 56 | SEC | Mississippi St. | 2-3 | 1.7098 | 51 | Georgia Tech 42 Mississippi St. 31 |
| 57 | Big East | Rutgers | 3-1 | 1.7031 | 60 | |
| 58 | Ind | Navy | 3-2 | 1.6757 | 76 | Navy 16 Air Force 13 |
| 59 | Big 10 | Minnesota | 3-2 | 1.6490 | 70 | Wisconsin 31 Minnesota 28 |
| 60 | USA | Southern Miss | 3-2 | 1.6388 | 58 | UAB 30 Southern Miss 17 |
| 61 | Big 12 | Texas Tech | 3-2 | 1.6196 | 26 | Texas Tech 48 New Mexico 28 |
| 62 | Mid-Am | Ohio U. | 3-2 | 1.5782 | 68 | Ohio U. 44 Bowling Green 37 |
| 63 | ACC | Virginia | 1-3 | 1.5674 | 75 | Virginia 16 North Carolina 3 |
| 64 | Sun Belt | Mid. Tenn. St. | 3-1 | 1.5518 | 62 | |
| 65 | Sun Belt | Arkansas St. | 1-3 | 1.4679 | 102 | Iowa 24 Arkansas St. 21 |
| 66 | ACC | Duke | 2-3 | 1.4404 | 84 | Virginia Tech 34 Duke 26 |
| 67 | Big 12 | Kansas St. | 3-2 | 1.4307 | 73 | Kansas St. 24 Iowa St. 23 |
| 68 | Big 10 | Purdue | 1-4 | 1.3247 | 61 | Northwestern 27 Purdue 21 |
| 69 | Sun Belt | Troy | 2-2 | 1.3206 | 86 | |
| 70 | Big 10 | Indiana | 3-2 | 1.3126 | 36 | Ohio St. 33 Indiana 14 |
| 71 | Pac 10 | Arizona St. | 2-2 | 1.2860 | 43 | Oregon St. 28 Arizona St. 17 |
| 72 | USA | UTEP | 2-3 | 1.2291 | 99 | UTEP 58 Houston 41 |
| 73 | USA | East Carolina | 3-2 | 1.2056 | 83 | East Carolina 21 Marshall 17 |
| 74 | Sun Belt | La.-Lafayette | 2-2 | 1.1804 | 78 | |
| 75 | USA | SMU | 2-2 | 1.1785 | 85 | TCU 39 SMU 14 |
| 76 | Big 12 | Iowa St. | 3-2 | 1.1761 | 49 | Kansas St. 24 Iowa St. 23 |
| 77 | USA | Marshall | 3-2 | 1.1675 | 52 | East Carolina 21 Marshall 17 |
| 78 | Mid-Am | Bowling Green | 1-4 | 1.1496 | 66 | Ohio U. 44 Bowling Green 37 |
| 79 | Big 12 | Texas A&M | 3-1 | 1.1448 | 53 | Arkansas 47 Texas A&M 19 |
| 80 | Mtn West | Colorado St. | 3-2 | 1.1409 | 80 | Idaho 31 Colorado St. 29 |
| 81 | Mtn West | Air Force | 3-2 | 1.1242 | 81 | Navy 16 Air Force 13 |
| 82 | WAC | Louisiana Tech | 2-2 | 1.1203 | 93 | Louisiana Tech 27 Hawaii 6 |
| 83 | ACC | Maryland | 2-3 | 1.1162 | 106 | Maryland 24 Clemson 21 |
| 84 | Mid-Am | Temple | 2-2 | 1.0892 | 94 | Temple 24 E. Michigan 12 |
| 85 | Sun Belt | North Texas | 1-3 | 1.0425 | 69 | |
| 86 | Big East | Syracuse | 2-3 | 1.0333 | 92 | South Florida 34 Syracuse 20 |
| 87 | Mid-Am | Toledo | 3-2 | 1.0308 | 79 | Toledo 37 Ball State 30 |
| 88 | Big 10 | Northwestern | 3-2 | 1.0049 | 110 | Northwestern 27 Purdue 21 |
| 89 | SEC | Vanderbilt | 2-3 | 0.9820 | 67 | Mississippi 23 Vanderbilt 7 |
| 90 | Sun Belt | Florida Int'l | 0-4 | 0.9339 | 64 | La.-Monroe 48 Florida Int'l 35 |
| 91 | WAC | San Jose St. | 1-3 | 0.9278 | 104 | |
| 92 | USA | Central Florida | 3-2 | 0.9040 | 96 | Central Florida 32 Memphis 14 |
| 93 | USA | Tulsa | 4-1 | 0.9036 | 107 | Tulsa 27 Rice 10 |
| 94 | Sun Belt | La.-Monroe | 3-2 | 0.9000 | 87 | La.-Monroe 48 Florida Int'l 35 |
| 95 | Mtn West | San Diego St. | 2-3 | 0.8604 | 91 | San Diego St. 34 New Mexico St. 17 |
| 96 | USA | UAB | 2-3 | 0.8529 | 115 | UAB 30 Southern Miss 17 |
| 97 | Big 12 | Colorado | 1-3 | 0.8469 | 89 | West Virginia 35 Colorado 24 |
| 98 | WAC | Nevada | 1-3 | 0.8360 | 105 | Nevada 63 UNLV 28 |
| 99 | Pac 10 | Washington St. | 1-4 | 0.8247 | 103 | Oregon 52 Washington St. 6 |
| 100 | Mid-Am | W. Michigan | 2-3 | 0.7640 | 74 | N. Illinois 38 W. Michigan 3 |
| 101 | WAC | Hawaii | 2-2 | 0.7586 | 77 | Louisiana Tech 27 Hawaii 6 |
| 102 | Mtn West | Wyoming | 3-2 | 0.7184 | 90 | Wyoming 30 Fla. Atlantic 28 |
| 103 | Mid-Am | Buffalo | 1-4 | 0.7157 | 117 | Cent. Michigan 20 Buffalo 13 |
| 104 | WAC | Utah St. | 1-3 | 0.7141 | 88 | BYU 35 Utah St. 17 |
| 105 | Big East | Louisville | 1-3 | 0.6886 | 97 | Pittsburgh 35 Louisville 10 |
| 106 | Mid-Am | Kent State | 2-3 | 0.6783 | 109 | Baylor 31 Kent State 15 |
| 107 | Big 10 | Illinois | 1-3 | 0.6226 | 114 | Penn St. 35 Illinois 17 |
| 108 | Sun Belt | Fla. Atlantic | 0-4 | 0.6048 | 95 | Wyoming 30 Fla. Atlantic 28 |
| 109 | Mtn West | UNLV | 2-3 | 0.5965 | 82 | Nevada 63 UNLV 28 |
| 110 | Mid-Am | Miami U. | 0-5 | 0.5879 | 111 | Cincinnati 37 Miami U. 13 |
| 111 | Mid-Am | Ball State | 0-5 | 0.5865 | 101 | Toledo 37 Ball State 30 |
| 112 | Mid-Am | Akron | 1-3 | 0.5306 | 100 | |
| 113 | Ind | Army | 2-3 | 0.5020 | 98 | Tulane 17 Army 16 |
| 114 | Sun Belt | W. Kentucky | 0-4 | 0.4883 | 116 | |
| 115 | USA | Tulane | 2-2 | 0.4677 | 119 | Tulane 17 Army 16 |
| 116 | USA | Memphis | 1-4 | 0.4479 | 108 | Central Florida 32 Memphis 14 |
| 117 | WAC | New Mexico St. | 2-3 | 0.4171 | 118 | San Diego St. 34 New Mexico St. 17 |
| 118 | Mid-Am | E. Michigan | 0-4 | 0.4054 | 113 | Temple 24 E. Michigan 12 |
| 119 | USA | Rice | 0-5 | 0.3504 | 112 | Tulsa 27 Rice 10 |
| 120 | Mtn West | New Mexico | 0-5 | 0.2535 | 120 | Texas Tech 48 New Mexico 28 |