1973 NCAA Division I football rankings
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football rankings
| season = 1973
| image =
| image_caption =
| preseason_number_1 = USC
| champions = Notre Dame (AP)
Alabama (Coaches)
| conference =
}}
Two human polls comprised the 1973 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Legend
| style="border:1px solid black;" |
| style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| style="background:#9cf; width:20px; border:1px solid black;"|
| | National champion |
| {{center|(#–#)}}
| | Win–loss record |
| {{center|(Italics)}}
| | Number of first place votes |
| {{center|т}}
| | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP Poll
{{clear right}}
{{ColPollTable
|Week1 = 0
|Week2 = 1
|Week3 = 2
|Week4 = 3
|Week5 = 4
|Week6 = 5
|Week7 = 6
|Week8 = 7
|Week9 = 8
|Week10 = 9
|Week11 = 10
|Week12 = 11
|Week13 = 12
|Week14 = 13
|Week15 = 14 (Final)
|Week1Date = Aug{{cite web |title=1973 Preseason AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=407
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week2Date = Sep 10{{cite web |title=September 10, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=408
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week3Date = Sep 17{{cite web |title=September 17, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=409
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week4Date = Sep 24{{cite web |title=September 24, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=410
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week5Date = Oct 1{{cite web |title=October 1, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=411
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week6Date = Oct 8{{cite web |title=October 8, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=412
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week7Date = Oct 15{{cite web |title=October 15, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=413
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week8Date = Oct 22{{cite web |title=October 22, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=414
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week9Date = Oct 29{{cite web |title=October 29, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=415
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week10Date = Nov 5{{cite web |title=November 5, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=416
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week11Date = Nov 12{{cite web |title=November 12, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=417
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week12Date = Nov 19{{cite web |title=November 19, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=418
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week13Date = Nov 26{{cite web |title=November 26, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=419
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week14Date = Dec 3{{cite web |title=December 3, 1973 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=420
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week15Date = Jan{{cite web |title=1973 Final AP Football Poll|url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=421
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 24, 2017 }}
|Week1-1 = USC (55)
|Week1-2 = Ohio State (2)
|Week1-3 = Texas (1)
|Week1-4 = Nebraska (2)
|Week1-5 = Michigan (2)
|Week1-6 = Alabama
|Week1-7 = Penn State (1)
|Week1-8 = Notre Dame
|Week1-9 = Tennessee
|Week1-10 = UCLA
|Week1-11 = Colorado т
|Week1-11-Color = tw
|Week1-12 = Oklahoma т
|Week1-13 = Auburn
|Week1-14 = Arizona State
|Week1-15 = Florida
|Week1-16 = LSU
|Week1-17 = NC State
|Week1-18 = Houston
|Week1-19 = North Carolina
|Week1-20 = Texas Tech
|Week2-1 = USC (0–0) (49)
|Week2-1-Color =
|Week2-2 = Nebraska (1–0) (8)
|Week2-2-Color = u
|Week2-3 = Ohio State (0–0) (2)
|Week2-3-Color = d
|Week2-4 = Texas (0–0)
|Week2-4-Color = d
|Week2-5 = Michigan (0–0) (1)
|Week2-5-Color =
|Week2-6 = Alabama (0–0)
|Week2-6-Color =
|Week2-7 = Penn State (0–0) (1)
|Week2-7-Color =
|Week2-8 = Notre Dame (0–0)
|Week2-8-Color =
|Week2-9 = Tennessee (0–0)
|Week2-9-Color =
|Week2-10 = Colorado (0–0)
|Week2-10-Color = u
|Week2-11 = Oklahoma (0–0)
|Week2-11-Color =
|Week2-12 = Auburn (0–0)
|Week2-12-Color = u
|Week2-13 = Arizona State (0–0)
|Week2-13-Color = u
|Week2-14 = Florida (0–0)
|Week2-14-Color = u
|Week2-15 = LSU (0–0)
|Week2-15-Color = u
|Week2-16 = UCLA (0–1)
|Week2-16-Color = d
|Week2-17 = NC State (2–0)
|Week2-17-Color =
|Week2-18 = Houston (0–0)
|Week2-18-Color =
|Week2-19 = North Carolina (0–0)
|Week2-19-Color =
|Week2-20 = Texas Tech (0–0)
|Week2-20-Color =
|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|}}
|Week3-1 = USC (1–0) (38)
|Week3-1-Color =
|Week3-2 = Nebraska (1–0) (8)
|Week3-2-Color =
|Week3-3 = Ohio State (1–0) (11)
|Week3-3-Color =
|Week3-4 = Alabama (1–0) (2)
|Week3-4-Color = u
|Week3-5 = Michigan (1–0)
|Week3-5-Color =
|Week3-6 = Texas (0–0)
|Week3-6-Color = d
|Week3-7 = Penn State (1–0) (1)
|Week3-7-Color =
|Week3-8 = Notre Dame (0–0)
|Week3-8-Color =
|Week3-9 = Oklahoma (1–0)
|Week3-9-Color = u
|Week3-10 = Tennessee (1–0)
|Week3-10-Color = d
|Week3-11 = LSU (1–0)
|Week3-11-Color = u
|Week3-12 = Auburn (1–0)
|Week3-12-Color =
|Week3-13 = Arizona State (1–0)
|Week3-13-Color =
|Week3-14 = NC State (2–0)
|Week3-14-Color = u
|Week3-15 = Florida (1–0)
|Week3-15-Color = d
|Week3-16 = Houston (1–0)
|Week3-16-Color = u
|Week3-17 = Oklahoma State (1–0)
|Week3-17-Color = npr
|Week3-18 = UCLA (0–1)
|Week3-18-Color = d
|Week3-19 = Colorado (0–1)
|Week3-19-Color = d
|Week3-20 = {{ubl|Bowling Green (1–0) т|Missouri (1–0) т}}
|Week3-20-Color = npr
|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|North Carolina|Texas Tech|}}
|Week4-1 = USC (2–0) (36)
|Week4-1-Color =
|Week4-2 = Nebraska (2–0) (12)
|Week4-2-Color =
|Week4-3 = Ohio State (1–0) (8)
|Week4-3-Color =
|Week4-4 = Michigan (2–0) (1)
|Week4-4-Color = u
|Week4-5 = Alabama (2–0) (1)
|Week4-5-Color = d
|Week4-6 = Penn State (2–0) (2)
|Week4-6-Color = u
|Week4-7 = Notre Dame (1–0)
|Week4-7-Color = u
|Week4-8 = Oklahoma (1–0) (1)
|Week4-8-Color = u
|Week4-9 = Tennessee (2–0)
|Week4-9-Color = u
|Week4-10 = LSU (2–0)
|Week4-10-Color = u
|Week4-11 = Auburn (2–0)
|Week4-11-Color = u
|Week4-12 = Oklahoma State (2–0)
|Week4-12-Color = u
|Week4-13 = Arizona State (2–0)
|Week4-13-Color =
|Week4-14 = Texas (0–1)
|Week4-14-Color = u
|Week4-15 = Houston (2–0)
|Week4-15-Color = u
|Week4-16 = Florida (2–0)
|Week4-16-Color = d
|Week4-17 = UCLA (1–1)
|Week4-17-Color = u
|Week4-18 = Miami (FL) (1–0)
|Week4-18-Color = npr
|Week4-19 = NC State (2–1)
|Week4-19-Color = d
|Week4-20 = Missouri (2–0)
|Week4-20-Color =
|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|Bowling Green|Colorado|}}
|Week5-1 = Ohio State (2–0) (35)
|Week5-1-Color = u
|Week5-2 = Nebraska (3–0) (10)
|Week5-2-Color =
|Week5-3 = Alabama (3–0) (6)
|Week5-3-Color = u
|Week5-4 = USC (2–0–1) (3.5)
|Week5-4-Color = d
|Week5-5 = Michigan (3–0) (2)
|Week5-5-Color = d
|Week5-6 = Oklahoma (1–0–1) (1.5)
|Week5-6-Color = u
|Week5-7 = Penn State (3–0) (3)
|Week5-7-Color = d
|Week5-8 = Notre Dame (2–0)
|Week5-8-Color = d
|Week5-9 = Tennessee (3–0)
|Week5-9-Color =
|Week5-10 = LSU (3–0)
|Week5-10-Color =
|Week5-11 = Oklahoma State (3–0)
|Week5-11-Color = u
|Week5-12 = Arizona State (3–0)
|Week5-12-Color = u
|Week5-13 = Texas (1–1)
|Week5-13-Color = u
|Week5-14 = Houston (3–0)
|Week5-14-Color = u
|Week5-15 = Missouri (3–0)
|Week5-15-Color = u
|Week5-16 = UCLA (2–1)
|Week5-16-Color = u
|Week5-17 = Miami (FL) (2–0)
|Week5-17-Color = u
|Week5-18 = Colorado (2–1)
|Week5-18-Color = npr
|Week5-19 = SMU (3–0)
|Week5-19-Color = npr
|Week5-20 = West Virginia (3–0)
|Week5-20-Color = npr
|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|Auburn|Florida|NC State|}}
|Week6-1 = Ohio State (3–0) (41)
|Week6-1-Color =
|Week6-2 = Nebraska (4–0) (9)
|Week6-2-Color =
|Week6-3 = Alabama (4–0) (6)
|Week6-3-Color =
|Week6-4 = USC (3–0–1) (1)
|Week6-4-Color =
|Week6-5 = Michigan (4–0) (1)
|Week6-5-Color =
|Week6-6 = Oklahoma (2–0–1)
|Week6-6-Color =
|Week6-7 = Penn State (4–0) (3)
|Week6-7-Color =
|Week6-8 = Tennessee (4–0)
|Week6-8-Color = u
|Week6-9 = Notre Dame (3–0)
|Week6-9-Color = d
|Week6-10 = LSU (4–0)
|Week6-10-Color =
|Week6-11 = Arizona State (4–0)
|Week6-11-Color = u
|Week6-12 = Missouri (4–0)
|Week6-12-Color = u
|Week6-13 = Texas (2–1)
|Week6-13-Color =
|Week6-14 = Houston (4–0)
|Week6-14-Color =
|Week6-15 = UCLA (3–1)
|Week6-15-Color = u
|Week6-16 = Miami (FL) (2–1)
|Week6-16-Color = u
|Week6-17 = Colorado (3–1)
|Week6-17-Color = u
|Week6-18 = Tulane (3–0)
|Week6-18-Color = npr
|Week6-19 = Kansas (3–1)
|Week6-19-Color = npr
|Week6-20 = Miami (OH) (4–0)
|Week6-20-Color = npr
|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|Oklahoma State|SMU|West Virginia|}}
|Week7-1 = Ohio State (4–0) (39)
|Week7-1-Color =
|Week7-2 = Alabama (5–0) (6)
|Week7-2-Color = u
|Week7-3 = Oklahoma (3–0–1) (8)
|Week7-3-Color = u
|Week7-4 = Michigan (5–0) (1)
|Week7-4-Color = u
|Week7-5 = Penn State (5–0) (4)
|Week7-5-Color = u
|Week7-6 = USC (4–0–1)
|Week7-6-Color = d
|Week7-7 = Missouri (5–0) (1)
|Week7-7-Color = u
|Week7-8 = Notre Dame (4–0)
|Week7-8-Color = u
|Week7-9 = LSU (5–0)
|Week7-9-Color = u
|Week7-10 = Tennessee (5–0)
|Week7-10-Color = d
|Week7-11 = Nebraska (4–1)
|Week7-11-Color = d
|Week7-12 = Arizona State (5–0)
|Week7-12-Color = d
|Week7-13 = UCLA (4–1)
|Week7-13-Color = u
|Week7-14 = Houston (5–0)
|Week7-14-Color =
|Week7-15 = Miami (FL) (3–1)
|Week7-15-Color = u
|Week7-16 = Colorado (4–1)
|Week7-16-Color = u
|Week7-17 = Tulane (4–0)
|Week7-17-Color = u
|Week7-18 = Kansas (4–1)
|Week7-18-Color = u
|Week7-19 = Arizona (5–0)
|Week7-19-Color = npr
|Week7-20 = Miami (OH) (5–0)
|Week7-20-Color =
|Week7Dropped = {{ubl|Texas|}}
|Week8-1 = Ohio State (5–0) (35)
|Week8-1-Color =
|Week8-2 = Alabama (6–0) (12)
|Week8-2-Color =
|Week8-3 = Oklahoma (4–0–1) (8)
|Week8-3-Color =
|Week8-4 = Michigan (6–0) (1)
|Week8-4-Color =
|Week8-5 = Penn State (6–0) (4)
|Week8-5-Color =
|Week8-6 = USC (5–0–1)
|Week8-6-Color =
|Week8-7 = Missouri (6–0) (1)
|Week8-7-Color =
|Week8-8 = Notre Dame (5–0)
|Week8-8-Color =
|Week8-9 = LSU (6–0)
|Week8-9-Color =
|Week8-10 = Nebraska (5–1)
|Week8-10-Color = u
|Week8-11 = Arizona State (6–0)
|Week8-11-Color = u
|Week8-12 = Houston (6–0)
|Week8-12-Color = u
|Week8-13 = UCLA (5–1)
|Week8-13-Color =
|Week8-14 = Tennessee (5–1)
|Week8-14-Color = d
|Week8-15 = Tulane (5–0)
|Week8-15-Color = u
|Week8-16 = Miami (OH) (6–0)
|Week8-16-Color = u
|Week8-17 = Kansas (4–2)
|Week8-17-Color = u
|Week8-18 = Texas Tech (5–1)
|Week8-18-Color = npr
|Week8-19 = Texas (3–2)
|Week8-19-Color = npr
|Week8-20 = Richmond (6–0)
|Week8-20-Color = npr
|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|Arizona|Colorado|Miami (FL)|}}
|Week9-1 = Ohio State (6–0) (36)
|Week9-1-Color =
|Week9-2 = Alabama (7–0) (12)
|Week9-2-Color =
|Week9-3 = Oklahoma (5–0–1) (9)
|Week9-3-Color =
|Week9-4 = Michigan (7–0) (1)
|Week9-4-Color =
|Week9-5 = Notre Dame (6–0)
|Week9-5-Color = u
|Week9-6 = Penn State (7–0) (4)
|Week9-6-Color = d
|Week9-7 = LSU (7–0)
|Week9-7-Color = u
|Week9-8 = Arizona State (7–0)
|Week9-8-Color = u
|Week9-9 = USC (5–1–1)
|Week9-9-Color = d
|Week9-10 = UCLA (6–1)
|Week9-10-Color = u
|Week9-11 = Tennessee (6–1)
|Week9-11-Color = u
|Week9-12 = Missouri (6–1)
|Week9-12-Color = d
|Week9-13 = Nebraska (5–1–1)
|Week9-13-Color = d
|Week9-14 = Tulane (6–0)
|Week9-14-Color = u
|Week9-15 = Texas Tech (6–1)
|Week9-15-Color = u
|Week9-16 = Miami (OH) (7–0)
|Week9-16-Color =
|Week9-17 = Colorado (5–2)
|Week9-17-Color = npr
|Week9-18 = Houston (6–1)
|Week9-18-Color = d
|Week9-19 = Auburn (5–2) т
|Week9-19-Color = tnpr
|Week9-20 = Texas (4–2) т
|Week9-20-Color =
|Week9Dropped = {{ubl|Kansas|Richmond|}}
|Week10-1 = Ohio State (7–0) (35)
|Week10-1-Color =
|Week10-2 = Alabama (8–0) (14)
|Week10-2-Color =
|Week10-3 = Oklahoma (6–0–1) (7)
|Week10-3-Color =
|Week10-4 = Michigan (8–0) (1)
|Week10-4-Color =
|Week10-5 = Notre Dame (7–0) (1)
|Week10-5-Color =
|Week10-6 = Penn State (8–0) (4)
|Week10-6-Color =
|Week10-7 = LSU (8–0)
|Week10-7-Color =
|Week10-8 = USC (6–1–1)
|Week10-8-Color = u
|Week10-9 = UCLA (7–1)
|Week10-9-Color = u
|Week10-10 = Missouri (7–1)
|Week10-10-Color= u
|Week10-11 = Nebraska (6–1–1)
|Week10-11-Color= u
|Week10-12 = Texas Tech (7–1)
|Week10-12-Color= u
|Week10-13 = Texas (5–2)
|Week10-13-Color= u
|Week10-14 = Arizona State (7–1)
|Week10-14-Color= d
|Week10-15 = Houston (7–1)
|Week10-15-Color= u
|Week10-16 = Tennessee (6–2)
|Week10-16-Color= d
|Week10-17 = Miami (OH) (8–0)
|Week10-17-Color= d
|Week10-18 = Kansas (5–2–1)
|Week10-18-Color= npr
|Week10-19 = Kent State (7–1)
|Week10-19-Color= npr
|Week10-20 = Pittsburgh (5–2–1)
|Week10-20-Color= npr
|Week10Dropped = {{ubl|Auburn|Colorado|Tulane|}}
|Week11-1 = Ohio State (8–0) (35)
|Week11-1-Color =
|Week11-2 = Alabama (8–0) (13)
|Week11-2-Color =
|Week11-3 = Oklahoma (7–0–1) (10)
|Week11-3-Color =
|Week11-4 = Michigan (9–0) (1)
|Week11-4-Color =
|Week11-5 = Notre Dame (8–0) (1)
|Week11-5-Color =
|Week11-6 = Penn State (9–0) (1)
|Week11-6-Color =
|Week11-7 = LSU (8–0)
|Week11-7-Color =
|Week11-8 = UCLA (8–1)
|Week11-8-Color = u
|Week11-9 = USC (7–1–1)
|Week11-9-Color = d
|Week11-10 = Nebraska (7–1–1)
|Week11-10-Color= u
|Week11-11 = Texas (6–2)
|Week11-11-Color= u
|Week11-12 = Texas Tech (8–1)
|Week11-12-Color=
|Week11-13 = Arizona State (8–1)
|Week11-13-Color= u
|Week11-14 = Missouri (7–2)
|Week11-14-Color= d
|Week11-15 = Houston (8–1)
|Week11-15-Color=
|Week11-16 = Tennessee (6–2)
|Week11-16-Color=
|Week11-17 = Miami (OH) (9–0)
|Week11-17-Color=
|Week11-18 = Kansas (6–2–1)
|Week11-18-Color=
|Week11-19 = Arizona (8–1)
|Week11-19-Color= npr
|Week11-20 = NC State (6–3)
|Week11-20-Color= npr
|Week11Dropped = {{ubl|Kent State|Pittsburgh|}}
|Week12-1 = Ohio State (9–0) (34)
|Week12-1-Color =
|Week12-2 = Alabama (9–0) (16)
|Week12-2-Color =
|Week12-3 = Oklahoma (8–0–1) (9)
|Week12-3-Color =
|Week12-4 = Michigan (10–0) (1)
|Week12-4-Color =
|Week12-5 = Notre Dame (8–0) (1)
|Week12-5-Color =
|Week12-6 = Penn State (10–0) (1)
|Week12-6-Color =
|Week12-7 = LSU (9–0)
|Week12-7-Color =
|Week12-8 = UCLA (9–1)
|Week12-8-Color =
|Week12-9 = USC (8–1–1)
|Week12-9-Color =
|Week12-10 = Nebraska (8–1–1)
|Week12-10-Color=
|Week12-11 = Texas (7–2)
|Week12-11-Color=
|Week12-12 = Texas Tech (9–1)
|Week12-12-Color=
|Week12-13 = Arizona State (9–1)
|Week12-13-Color=
|Week12-14 = Houston (8–1)
|Week12-14-Color= u
|Week12-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0)
|Week12-15-Color= u
|Week12-16 = NC State (7–3)
|Week12-16-Color= u
|Week12-17 = Tulane (8–1)
|Week12-17-Color= npr
|Week12-18 = Oklahoma State (5–2–2)
|Week12-18-Color= npr
|Week12-19 = Missouri (7–3)
|Week12-19-Color= d
|Week12-20 = {{ubl|Kansas (6–3–1) т|Pittsburgh (6–3–1) т|item1_style=background-color:#FFE6E6}}
|Week12-20-Color= npr
|Week12Dropped = {{ubl|Arizona|Tennessee|}}
|Week13-1 = Alabama (10–0) (36)
|Week13-1-Color = u
|Week13-2 = Oklahoma (9–0–1) (20)
|Week13-2-Color = u
|Week13-3 = Ohio State (9–0–1) (2)
|Week13-3-Color = d
|Week13-4 = Michigan (10–0–1) (1)
|Week13-4-Color =
|Week13-5 = Notre Dame (9–0) (2)
|Week13-5-Color =
|Week13-6 = Penn State (11–0) (2)
|Week13-6-Color =
|Week13-7 = USC (9–1–1)
|Week13-7-Color = u
|Week13-8 = LSU (9–1)
|Week13-8-Color = d
|Week13-9 = Texas (8–2)
|Week13-9-Color = u
|Week13-10 = UCLA (9–2)
|Week13-10-Color= d
|Week13-11 = Arizona State (10–1)
|Week13-11-Color= u
|Week13-12 = Texas Tech (10–1)
|Week13-12-Color=
|Week13-13 = Nebraska (8–2–1)
|Week13-13-Color= d
|Week13-14 = Houston (9–1)
|Week13-14-Color=
|Week13-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0)
|Week13-15-Color=
|Week13-16 = NC State (8–3)
|Week13-16-Color=
|Week13-17 = Kansas (7–3–1)
|Week13-17-Color= u
|Week13-18 = Maryland (8–3)
|Week13-18-Color= npr
|Week13-19 = Tennessee (7–3)
|Week13-19-Color= npr
|Week13-20 = Missouri (7–4)
|Week13-20-Color= d
|Week13Dropped = {{ubl|Oklahoma State|Pittsburgh|Tulane|}}
|Week14-1 = Alabama (11–0) (34)
|Week14-1-Color =
|Week14-2 = Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16)
|Week14-2-Color =
|Week14-3 = Notre Dame (10–0) (2)
|Week14-3-Color = u
|Week14-4 = Ohio State (9–0–1) (2)
|Week14-4-Color = d
|Week14-5 = Michigan (10–0–1) (1)
|Week14-5-Color = d
|Week14-6 = Penn State (11–0) (3)
|Week14-6-Color =
|Week14-7 = USC (9–1–1)
|Week14-7-Color =
|Week14-8 = Texas (8–2)
|Week14-8-Color = u
|Week14-9 = UCLA (9–2)
|Week14-9-Color = u
|Week14-10 = Arizona State (10–1)
|Week14-10-Color= u
|Week14-11 = Texas Tech (10–1)
|Week14-11-Color= u
|Week14-12 = Nebraska (8–2–1)
|Week14-12-Color= u
|Week14-13 = LSU (9–2)
|Week14-13-Color= d
|Week14-14 = Houston (10–1)
|Week14-14-Color=
|Week14-15 = Miami (OH) (10–0)
|Week14-15-Color=
|Week14-16 = NC State (8–3)
|Week14-16-Color=
|Week14-17 = Tulane (9–2)
|Week14-17-Color= npr
|Week14-18 = Maryland (8–3)
|Week14-18-Color=
|Week14-19 = Kansas (7–3–1)
|Week14-19-Color= d
|Week14-20 = Tennessee (8–3)
|Week14-20-Color= d
|Week14Dropped = {{ubl|Missouri|}}
|Week15-1 = Notre Dame (11–0) (33)
|Week15-1-Color = nc
|Week15-2 = Ohio State (10–0–1) (11)
|Week15-2-Color = u
|Week15-3 = Oklahoma (10–0–1) (16)
|Week15-3-Color = d
|Week15-4 = Alabama (11–1)
|Week15-4-Color = d
|Week15-5 = Penn State (12–0)
|Week15-5-Color = u
|Week15-6 = Michigan (10–0–1)
|Week15-6-Color = d
|Week15-7 = Nebraska (9–2–1)
|Week15-7-Color = u
|Week15-8 = USC (9–2–1)
|Week15-8-Color = d
|Week15-9 = Arizona State (11–1) т
|Week15-9-Color = tu
|Week15-10 = Houston (11–1) т
|Week15-10-Color= u
|Week15-11 = Texas Tech (11–1)
|Week15-11-Color=
|Week15-12 = UCLA (9–2)
|Week15-12-Color= d
|Week15-13 = LSU (9–3)
|Week15-13-Color=
|Week15-14 = Texas (8–3)
|Week15-14-Color= d
|Week15-15 = Miami (OH) (11–0)
|Week15-15-Color=
|Week15-16 = NC State (9–3)
|Week15-16-Color=
|Week15-17 = Missouri (8–4)
|Week15-17-Color= npr
|Week15-18 = Kansas (7–4–1)
|Week15-18-Color= u
|Week15-19 = Tennessee (8–4)
|Week15-19-Color= u
|Week15-20 = {{ubl|Maryland (8–4) т| Tulane (9–3) т}}
|Week15-20-Color= d
|Week15Dropped = {{ubl|}}
}}
Final Coaches Poll
This was the last season in which the final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, in early December.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WwUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-pcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3554%2C2505802 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania)|agency=UPI/AP |title=Tide tops both polls |date=December 4, 1973 |page=20}}
Alabama received 21 of the 34 first-place votes; Oklahoma received nine, Ohio State two, Notre Dame one, and Michigan one.
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |
| Ranking
! Team ! Conference ! Bowl |
|---|
| 1
| Alabama | SEC | Lost Sugar, 23–24 |
| 2
| Oklahoma | none |
| 3
| Big Ten | Won Rose, 42–21 |
| 4
| Won Sugar, 24–23 |
| 5
| Independent | Won Orange, 16–9 |
| 6
| Michigan | Big Ten | none |
| 7
| USC | Pac-8 | Lost Rose, 21–42 |
| 8
| Texas | Lost Cotton, 3–19 |
| 9
| UCLA | Pac-8 | none |
| 10
| WAC | Won Fiesta, 28–7 |
| rowspan=2|11
| Nebraska | Big Eight | Won Cotton, 19–3 |
| Texas Tech
| Southwest | Won Gator, 28–19 |
| 13
| Houston | Independent | Won Bluebonnet, 47–7 |
| 14
| LSU | SEC | Lost Orange, 9–16 |
| rowspan=2|15
| Kansas | Big Eight | Lost Liberty, 18–31 |
| Tulane
| Independent | Lost Bluebonnet, 7–47 |
| 17
| Won Tangerine, 16–7 |
| 18
| Maryland | ACC | Lost Peach, 16–17 |
| rowspan=2|19
| PCAA | none |
| Florida
| SEC | Lost Tangerine, 7–16 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NCAA football rankings navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1973 NCAA Division I Football Rankings}}