Preseason 1998 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State |
| 2 | Florida State |
| 3 | Florida |
| 4 | Nebraska |
| 5 | Michigan |
| 6 | Kansas State |
| 7 | UCLA |
| 8 | Arizona State |
| 9 | LSU |
| 10 | Tennessee |
| 11 | West Virginia |
| 12 | North Carolina |
| 13 | Penn State |
| 14 | Texas A&M |
| 15 | Colorado State |
| 16 | Virginia |
| 17 | Syracuse |
| 18 | Washington |
| 19 | Georgia |
| 20 | Wisconsin |
| 21 | SMU |
| 22 | Notre Dame |
| 23 | Michigan State |
| 24 | Arizona |
| 25 | Auburn |