1971 UPI Rankings
| Final Poll For 1971 Season |
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Votes |
| 1971 UPI |
| 1 | Nebraska | 12-0-0 | | | 2 | Alabama | 11-0-0 | |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 10-1-0 | | | 4 | Michigan | 11-0-0 | |
| 5 | Auburn | 9-1-0 | | | 6 | Arizona State | 10-1-0 | |
| 7 | Colorado | 9-2-0 | | | 8 | Georgia | 10-1-0 | |
| 9 | Tennessee | 9-2-0 | | | 10 | Louisiana State | 8-3-0 | |
| 11 | Penn State | 10-1-0 | | | 12 | Texas | 8-2-0 | |
| 13 | Toledo | 11-0-0 | | | 14 | Houston | 9-2-0 | |
| 15 | Notre Dame | 8-2-0 | | | 16 | Stanford | 8-3-0 | |
| 17 | Iowa State | 8-3-0 | | | 18 | North Carolina | 9-2-0 | |
| 19 | Florida State | 8-3-0 | | | 20 | Mississippi | 9-2-0 | |
| 20 | Arkansas | 8-2-1 | |
|
Great Moments in College Football History
During Nebraska Cornhuskers' home games, their stadium becomes the state's third largest city.
