October 2, 1973 AP Poll
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State |
| 2 | Nebraska |
| 3 | Alabama |
| 4 | USC |
| 5 | Michigan |
| 6 | Oklahoma |
| 7 | Penn State |
| 8 | Notre Dame |
| 9 | Tennessee |
| 10 | LSU |
| 11 | Oklahoma State |
| 12 | Arizona State |
| 13 | Texas |
| 14 | Houston |
| 15 | Missouri |
| 16 | UCLA |
| 17 | Miami, FL |
| 18 | Colorado |
| 19 | SMU |
| 20 | West Virginia |